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Boone, North Carolina

Coordinates:36°12′40″N81°40′01″W/ 36.21111°N 81.66694°W/36.21111; -81.66694
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Boone
Town
West King Street
West King Street
Flag of Boone
Flag
Official seal of Boone
Seal
Nickname:
The Heart of the High Country
Coordinates:36°12′40″N81°40′01″W/ 36.21111°N 81.66694°W/36.21111; -81.66694
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyWatauga
Incorporated1872
Named forDaniel Boone
Government
• TypeCouncil–manager
• MayorTim Futrelle[1]
Area
[4]
• Total6.35 sq mi (16.45 km2)
• Land6.33 sq mi (16.40 km2)
• Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
[2]
3,232 ft (985 m)
Population
(2020)
• Total19,092
• Density3,014.68/sq mi (1,164.00/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP codes
28607-28608
Area code828
FIPS code37-07080[3]
GNISfeature ID2405303[2]
Websitewww.townofboone.net

Booneis a town in and thecounty seatofWatauga County, North Carolina,United States. Located in theBlue Ridge Mountainsof western North Carolina, Boone is the home ofAppalachian State Universityand the headquarters of the disaster and medical relief organizationSamaritan's Purse.The population was 19,092 at the2020 census.[5]

The town is named for famousAmerican pioneerand explorerDaniel Boone,and every summer from 1952 has hosted an outdooramphitheatredrama,Horn in the West,portraying the British settlement of the area during theAmerican Revolutionary Warand featuring the contributions of its namesake. It is the largest community and the economic hub of the seven-county region of Western North Carolina known as theHigh Country.

History

[edit]
Boone as seen fromHoward Knob

Boone took its name from the famous pioneer and explorerDaniel Boone,who on several occasions camped at a site generally agreed to be within the present city limits. Daniel's nephews, Jesse and Jonathan (sons of brother Israel Boone), were members of the town's first church,[6]Three Forks Baptist, still in existence today.[7]

Boone was served by thenarrow gaugeEast Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad(nicknamed "Tweetsie") until the flood of 1940. The flood washed away much of the tracks and it was decided not to replace them.

Boone is the home ofAppalachian State University,a constituent member of theUniversity of North Carolina. Appalachian State is the sixth-largest university in the seventeen-campus system. Caldwell Community College & Technical Institutealso operates a satellite campus in Boone.

"Horn in the West"is a dramatization of the life and times of the early settlers of the mountain area.[8]It features Daniel Boone as one of its characters, and has been performed in an outdooramphitheaternear the town every summer since 1952, except for when COVID-19 necessitated canceling the 2020 performances.[9] The original actor in the role of "Daniel Boone" wasNed Austin.[10]His "Hollywood Star" stands on a pedestal on King Street in downtown Boone. He was followed in the role by Glenn Causey, who portrayed the rugged frontiersman for 41 years, and whose image is still seen in many of the depictions of Boone featured in the area today.[citation needed]

Boone is notable for being home to the Junaluska community. Located in the hills just north of Downtown Boone, a free black community has existed in the area since before theCivil War.Although integration in the mid-20th century led to many of the businesses in the neighborhood closing in favor of their downtown counterparts, descendants of the original inhabitants still live in the neighborhood. Junaluska is also home to one of the few majority-African AmericanMennonite Brethrencongregations.[11]

Boone is a center forbluegrass musiciansandAppalachianstorytellers.Notable artists associated with Boone include the lateGrammy Award-winningbluegrass guitar playerDoc Watsonand the late guitaristMichael Houser,one of the founding members of and the lead guitarist for the bandWidespread Panic,as well asOld Crow Medicine Show,The Blue Rags,andEric Church,all who are Boone natives.

TheBlair Farm,Daniel Boone Hotel,Jones House,John Smith Miller House,andUS Post Office-Booneare listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[12]

Geography and climate

[edit]

Boone has an elevation of 3,333 feet (1,016 m) above sea level. An earlier survey gave the elevation as 3,332 ft and since then it has been published as 3,333 ft (1,016 m). Boone has the highest elevation of any town of its size (over 10,000 population) east of theMississippi River.As such, Boone features, depending on theisothermused, awarm-summer humid continental climate(KöppenDfb), a rarity for the Southeastern United States, bordering on anoceanic climate(Cfb)[13]and straddles the boundary betweenUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones6B and 7A;[14]the elevation also results in enhanced precipitation, with 59.13 inches (1,500 mm) of average annual precipitation. Compared to the lower elevations of the Carolinas, winters are long and cold, with frequent sleet and snowfall. The daily average temperature in January is 31.5 °F (−0.3 °C),[15]which gives Boone a winter climate more similar to coastal southernNew Englandrather than the Southeast, where ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa)predominates. Blizzard-like conditions are not unusual during winters. Summers are warm, but far cooler and less humid than lower regions to the south and east, with a July daily average temperature of 68.4 °F (20.2 °C).[15]Boone receives on average nearly 25 inches (64 cm) of snowfall annually, far higher than the lowland areas in the rest ofNorth Carolina.[16]On January 21, 1985, the temperature fell to −24 °F (−31 °C).

Climate data for Boone, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1920–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 78
(26) 		75
(24) 		81
(27) 		89
(32) 		87
(31) 		94
(34) 		96
(36) 		91
(33) 		92
(33) 		87
(31) 		80
(27) 		73
(23) 		93
(34)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 60.1
(15.6) 		62.5
(16.9) 		69.9
(21.1) 		76.7
(24.8) 		80.2
(26.8) 		83.9
(28.8) 		85.6
(29.8) 		84.5
(29.2) 		81.3
(27.4) 		75.6
(24.2) 		68.1
(20.1) 		61.5
(16.4) 		86.9
(30.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 41.4
(5.2) 		44.7
(7.1) 		51.7
(10.9) 		61.7
(16.5) 		69.4
(20.8) 		75.8
(24.3) 		79.0
(26.1) 		77.8
(25.4) 		72.2
(22.3) 		63.0
(17.2) 		53.0
(11.7) 		45.0
(7.2) 		61.2
(16.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.5
(−0.3) 		34.2
(1.2) 		40.5
(4.7) 		49.3
(9.6) 		57.6
(14.2) 		64.7
(18.2) 		68.4
(20.2) 		67.1
(19.5) 		61.3
(16.3) 		51.2
(10.7) 		41.3
(5.2) 		34.9
(1.6) 		50.2
(10.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.6
(−5.8) 		23.8
(−4.6) 		29.2
(−1.6) 		36.9
(2.7) 		45.8
(7.7) 		53.7
(12.1) 		57.7
(14.3) 		56.3
(13.5) 		50.3
(10.2) 		39.3
(4.1) 		29.6
(−1.3) 		24.7
(−4.1) 		39.1
(3.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 3.9
(−15.6) 		8.8
(−12.9) 		14.3
(−9.8) 		24.3
(−4.3) 		32.6
(0.3) 		43.6
(6.4) 		49.6
(9.8) 		48.5
(9.2) 		38.4
(3.6) 		26.2
(−3.2) 		17.6
(−8.0) 		10.2
(−12.1) 		1.5
(−16.9)
Record low °F (°C) −24
(−31) 		−8
(−22) 		−6
(−21) 		13
(−11) 		24
(−4) 		33
(1) 		38
(3) 		33
(1) 		25
(−4) 		14
(−10) 		−6
(−21) 		−11
(−24) 		−24
(−31)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 4.39
(112) 		3.64
(92) 		4.77
(121) 		5.52
(140) 		5.46
(139) 		5.59
(142) 		5.11
(130) 		5.56
(141) 		5.73
(146) 		4.69
(119) 		4.44
(113) 		4.23
(107) 		59.13
(1,502)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.6
(17) 		6.7
(17) 		4.8
(12) 		1.0
(2.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.3
(0.76) 		1.0
(2.5) 		5.2
(13) 		25.6
(65)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 4.3
(11) 		3.9
(9.9) 		3.4
(8.6) 		0.6
(1.5) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.7
(1.8) 		3.8
(9.7) 		8.4
(21)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) 11.7 11.5 12.3 12.9 14.0 14.3 14.1 13.3 10.9 9.8 9.2 11.9 145.9
Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) 3.7 3.8 2.5 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.7 2.6 14.6
Source:NOAA[15][16]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880167—
1890144−13.8%
19001557.6%
191017915.5%
1920374108.9%
19301,295246.3%
19401,78838.1%
19502,97366.3%
19603,68624.0%
19708,754137.5%
198010,19116.4%
199012,91526.7%
200013,4724.3%
201017,12227.1%
202019,09211.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]

2020 census

[edit]
Boone racial composition[18]
Race Number Percentage
White(non-Hispanic) 13,701 71.76%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic) 1,783 9.34%
Native American 31 0.16%
Asian 645 3.38%
Pacific Islander 7 0.04%
Other/Mixed 1,154 6.04%
HispanicorLatino 1,771 9.28%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 19,092 people, 5,905 households, and 1,641 families residing in the town.

2000 census

[edit]

As of thecensus[3]of 2000, there were 13,472 people, 4,374 households, and 1,237 families residing in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 2,307.0 people per square mile (890.7 people/km2). There were 4,748 housing units at an average density of 813.0 per square mile (313.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.98%White,3.42%Black or African American,0.30%Native American,1.19%Asian,0.05%Pacific Islander,0.46% fromother races,and 0.60% fromtwo or more races.1.64% of the population wereHispanic or Latinoof any race.[3]

There were 4,374 households, out of which 9.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 71.7% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.63.[3]

In the town, the population was spread out, with 5.8% under 18, 65.9% from 18 to 24, 12.1% from 25 to 44, 9.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there are 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.[3]

Themedian incomefor a household in the town was $20,541, and the median income for a family was $49,762. Theper capita incomewas $12,256. Males had a median income of $28,060 versus $20,000 for females. About 9.2% of families and 37.0% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 6.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older.[3]

Media

[edit]

Newspaper

[edit]

Boone is mainly served by three local newspapers:

A smaller newspaper,The Appalachian,is Appalachian State University's campus newspaper; it is published once a week on Thursdays.[20]In addition to the locally printed papers, a monthly entertainment pamphlet,Kraut Creek Revival,has limited circulation and is funded by a Denver, NC-based newspaper.

Radio

[edit]

Law and government

[edit]

Boone operates under amayor–council government.The city council consists of five members. The mayor presides over the council and casts a vote in the event of a tie. As of December 2021,the Town Council members were Mayor Tim Futrelle and Councilors: Edie Tugman (Mayor Pro-Tem), Todd Carter, Virginia Roseman, Jon Dalton George, and Rebecca Nenow.[22]

Development

[edit]

Industrial, commercial, and residential development in Boone is controversial due to its location in the mountains of Appalachia. On October 16, 2009, the town council accepted the "Boone 2030 Land Use Plan."[23]The document is not in any way law, but is used by the town council, board of adjustment, and other committees to guide decision-making as to what types of development are appropriate.[24]

In 2009, theNorth Carolina Department of Transportationbegan widening 1.1 miles of U.S. 421 (King Street) to a 4-to-6-lane divided highway with a raised concrete median from U.S. 321 (Hardin Street) to east of N.C. 194 (Jefferson Road), including a new entrance and exit to the new Watauga High School, at a cost of $16.2 million.[25]The widening has displaced 25 businesses and 63 residences east of King Street.[26]The project was slated to be completed by December 31, 2011, but construction continued into 2012.

Sports

[edit]

Boone is home to theAppalachian State Mountaineers,which field varsity teams in 17 sports, 7 for men and 10 for women. Appalachian State's football program has been successful with the Mountaineers winning three straight national championships in 2005, 2006, and 2007, the only team in North Carolina, public or private, to win an NCAA national championship in football.[27]

Aside from college sports, Boone also has local baseball and soccer teams. The Boone Bigfoots were formed in 2021 and compete in theCoastal Plain League,a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league. The Bigfoots play their home games atBeaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.Boone's entry in theNational Premier Soccer LeagueisAppalachian FC,which plays home games atASU Soccer Stadiumin the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.[28]

Points of interest

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]
Doc Watson sculpture in downtown Boone

Sister city

[edit]

Boone has onesister city,as designated bySister Cities International:

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Mayor & Town Council | Boone, NC".townofboone.net.RetrievedMay 23,2022.
  2. ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Boone, North Carolina
  3. ^abcdef"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 1996.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  4. ^"ArcGIS REST Services Directory".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  5. ^"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Boone town, North Carolina".census.gov.United States Census Bureau.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
  6. ^"Philosophy of Ministry".Three Forks Baptist Church.Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 13,2017.
  7. ^Arthur, John Preston (1915).A History of Watauga County, North Carolina.Richmond: Everett Waddey Co. p. 30.RetrievedJanuary 13,2017.
  8. ^"Horn in the West to host auditions for 69th season".Watauga Democrat.January 23, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2020.RetrievedAugust 10,2020.
  9. ^"69th Season of Horn in the West Postponed Until 2021".WataugaOnline.May 14, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2020.RetrievedAugust 10,2020.
  10. ^"Original 'Horn in the West' member recalls premiere".Watauga Democrat.July 22, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2020.RetrievedAugust 10,2020.
  11. ^"Invisible Appalachia: Junaluska".Our State.January 30, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on February 1, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 31,2019.
  12. ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
  13. ^"Boone, Township of Boone, Watauga County, North Carolina, United States".Mindat.org.RetrievedFebruary 25,2024.
  14. ^"What is my arborday.org Hardiness Zone?".Arborday.org.Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2015.RetrievedJuly 14,2017.
  15. ^abc"NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Archivedfrom the original on July 22, 2015.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  16. ^ab "Station: Boone 1 SE, NC".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedMay 11,2021.
  17. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2016.
  18. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 20,2021.
  19. ^"About Us | Site".Wataugademocrat.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2017.RetrievedJuly 14,2017.
  20. ^"About Us".theappalachianonline.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2020.RetrievedOctober 4,2020.
  21. ^"WFDD in the High Country on 100.1".WFDD.org.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2016.RetrievedOctober 19,2015.
  22. ^Lasure, Kayla."Roseman appointed to Boone Town Council".Archivedfrom the original on August 4, 2021.RetrievedMarch 1,2021.Alt URL
  23. ^"Boone2030Blogspot".TownOfBoone.Archivedfrom the original on August 12, 2011.RetrievedOctober 31,2010.
  24. ^"Boone 2030 Land Use Plan PDF"(PDF).Lawrence Group. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 17, 2011.RetrievedOctober 31,2010.
  25. ^"NC DOT US421 Widening Project".NCDOT. Archived fromthe originalon July 31, 2009.RetrievedOctober 31,2010.
  26. ^"statedotpaves".Wataugademocrat. March 16, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2012.RetrievedAugust 9,2009.
  27. ^"Schools with the most FCS football national championships | NCAA".ncaa.RetrievedJune 23,2024.
  28. ^"Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex".hcsoccer.RetrievedJune 23,2024.
  29. ^Sam Adams - Tournament Results | Tennessee PGAArchivedNovember 25, 2020, at theWayback Machine.PGA Tennessee Section.Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  30. ^Chris Austin | country music singer | MerleFest | Blue Ridge National Heritage AreaArchivedJuly 27, 2020, at theWayback Machine.Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  31. ^RUFUS L. EDMISTEN - Carolinas Bo xing Hall of Fame.Carolinas Bo xing Hall of Fame.Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  32. ^Former Senator Steve Goss dies at 65ArchivedJuly 27, 2020, at theWayback Machine.Watauga Democrat.Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  33. ^"Franklin Graham - Biography".samaritanspurse.org.RetrievedApril 14,2023.
  34. ^http:// thebaseballcube /players/profile.asp?ID=12149ArchivedJuly 27, 2020, at theWayback Machine.The Baseball Cube. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  35. ^https:// pro-football-reference /players/H/HollJo21.htmArchivedNovember 16, 2018, at theWayback Machine.Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  36. ^"Ryder Jones Stats".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedApril 10,2021.
  37. ^Ryder Jones ProfileArchivedMarch 10, 2019, at theWayback Machine.The Baseball Cube.Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  38. ^abNCPrepTrackArchivedMarch 7, 2019, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  39. ^http:// thebaseballcube /players/profile.asp?ID=19016ArchivedJuly 27, 2020, at theWayback Machine.The Baseball Cube. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  40. ^"About Sister Cities | Town of Collingwood".collingwood.ca.Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2018.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
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