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Statesville, North Carolina

Coordinates:35°47′03″N80°52′18″W/ 35.78417°N 80.87167°W/35.78417; -80.87167
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Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville City Hall, built c. 1890–92
Statesville City Hall,builtc. 1890–92
Official seal of Statesville, North Carolina
Official logo of Statesville, North Carolina
Nickname:
States-vegas
Location of Statesville, North Carolina
Location of Statesville, North Carolina
Coordinates:35°47′03″N80°52′18″W/ 35.78417°N 80.87167°W/35.78417; -80.87167
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyIredell
Government
• MayorCosti Kutteh
Area
• Total25.44 sq mi (65.88 km2)
• Land25.32 sq mi (65.59 km2)
• Water0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation850 ft (260 m)
Population
• Total28,419
• Density1,122.17/sq mi (433.28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP Codes
28625, 28677, 28687
Area code(s)704, 980
FIPS code37-64740[3]
GNISfeature ID2405526[2]
Websitewww.statesvillenc.net

Statesvilleis a city in and thecounty seatofIredell County, North Carolina,United States, and it is part of theCharlotte metropolitan area.[4]Statesville was established in 1789 by an act of theNorth Carolina Legislature.[5]The population was 28,419 at the time of the2020 census.

History

[edit]

In 1753,Scots-IrishPresbyteriansandGermanLutherans, who had originally settled inPennsylvania,began arriving in what would become Statesville in 1789[5]to plant crops in the fertile soil where game and water were also plentiful. The settlement, known asFourth Creek Congregation,was named for the freshwater stream running to the north of the present-day city center, the fourth creek west of the neighboring settlement ofSalisbury.The center of the settlement was a log cabin where thePresbyteriansworshiped and where the First Presbyterian Church is located today.

U.S. Court House and Post Office in 1900
Madison building in Statesville Commercial Historic District (1982)

In 1755, colonial governorArthur Dobbsauthorized the construction of the colony's frontier fort, which was located approximately 3 miles (5 km) due north of the Fourth Creek settlement. Built and garrisoned by North Carolina provincial soldiers,Fort Dobbsdefended British North America's western frontier in the colony of North Carolina during theFrench and Indian WarandAnglo-Cherokee War.Fort Dobbs combined the functions of a militarybarracks,fortification, refuge for settlers, provisioning depot and center for negotiations with Native Americans.[6]

The state legislature dividedRowan Countyin 1788, and the new county was named "Iredell" forJames Iredell,associate justice of the first Supreme Court during the presidency ofGeorge Washington.[7][8]

One year later, the legislature selected a spot for the county seat. The Fourth Creek Congregation was chosen, and the settlement became known as "Statesville". The 1800 US Census lists the town as "States Ville", which was later combined as "Statesville". In 1800, there were 95 inhabitants in "States Ville", including 68 free white persons and 27 slaves.[9]

As early as 1833, Statesville's leaders began laying track for railroads to connect thePiedmontarea of North Carolina with the rest of the country.[5]

By 1858, Statesville was growing rapidly and soon afterward began leading the state in the production oftobaccoand tobacco products, the manufacture and blending ofwhiskey,and became a large distribution center for roots and herbs.[5]

On August 27, 1891, a passenger train derailed on the Bostian Bridge,[10]a 300-foot-long (91 m) bridge, and seven cars fell down. About 30 people died in the accident.[11]

Geography

[edit]

Statesville is in central Iredell County, in the western part of thePiedmontregion of North Carolina.

According to theU.S. Census Bureau,Statesville has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.1 km2), of which 24.2 square miles (62.8 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.48%, are water.[12]The north side of Statesville is drained by Fourth Creek, while the south side is drained by Third Creek. Both creeks flow east, joining just before reaching theSouth Yadkin RivernearCooleemee.

Climate

[edit]

Statesville has ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa) like most of the state of North Carolina, although its higher elevation leads to cooler temperatures than much of the Piedmont. Summers are generally hot and humid, with mild nights, while winters are usually cool with chilly nights and sporadic snowfall. Severe thunderstorms can be an issue during summer, with wind speeds of 60 mph and even gusts of 95 mph being recorded during these storms.[13]

Climate data for Statesville
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27)
83
(28)
93
(34)
95
(35)
99
(37)
105
(41)
105
(41)
106
(41)
104
(40)
96
(36)
85
(29)
80
(27)
106
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 48.8
(9.3)
52.9
(11.6)
60.5
(15.8)
70.1
(21.2)
77.4
(25.2)
84.1
(28.9)
87.3
(30.7)
85.5
(29.7)
79.7
(26.5)
70.8
(21.6)
60
(16)
51.6
(10.9)
69.1
(20.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 37.6
(3.1)
40.6
(4.8)
47.6
(8.7)
56.9
(13.8)
65.5
(18.6)
73.3
(22.9)
77.0
(25.0)
75.4
(24.1)
69.2
(20.7)
56.3
(13.5)
47.1
(8.4)
37.9
(3.3)
57.0
(13.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 26.4
(−3.1)
28.4
(−2.0)
34.7
(1.5)
43.7
(6.5)
53.6
(12.0)
62.5
(16.9)
66.8
(19.3)
65.2
(18.4)
58.8
(14.9)
45.8
(7.7)
34.3
(1.3)
28.9
(−1.7)
45.8
(7.6)
Record low °F (°C) −8
(−22)
−7
(−22)
5
(−15)
17
(−8)
28
(−2)
36
(2)
44
(7)
44
(7)
30
(−1)
16
(−9)
6
(−14)
−3
(−19)
−8
(−22)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 3.71
(94)
3.18
(81)
3.99
(101)
4.05
(103)
3.70
(94)
4.27
(108)
4.42
(112)
4.91
(125)
3.87
(98)
3.23
(82)
3.38
(86)
3.94
(100)
46.65
(1,184)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.4
(6.1)
0.8
(2.0)
0.4
(1.0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.3
(3.3)
4.9
(12.4)
Source: NOAA[14]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
180095
1850215
186032048.8%
1870683113.4%
18801,06255.5%
18902,318118.3%
19003,14135.5%
19104,59946.4%
19207,89571.7%
193010,49032.9%
194011,4409.1%
195016,90147.7%
196019,84417.4%
197020,0070.8%
198018,622−6.9%
199017,567−5.7%
200023,32032.7%
201024,5325.2%
202028,41915.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

2020 census

[edit]
Statesville racial composition[16]
Race Number Percentage
White(non-Hispanic) 14,154 49.8%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic) 9,054 31.86%
Native American 56 0.2%
Asian 545 1.92%
Other/Mixed 1,301 4.58%
HispanicorLatino 3,309 11.64%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 28,419 people, 10,628 households, and 6,536 families residing in the city.

2010 census

[edit]

As of thecensus[3]of 2010, there were 24,633 people, 9,338 households, and 5,957 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,195.8 inhabitants per square mile (461.7/km2). There were 10,041 housing units at an average density of 489.1 per square mile (188.8/km2). The racial composition of the city was: 59.94%White,31.87%BlackorAfrican American,7.11%HispanicorLatino American,2.71%Asian American,0.18%Native American,0.02%Native HawaiianorOther Pacific Islander,3.84%some other races,and 1.42%two or more races.

There were 9,338 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.[3]

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.[3]

The median income for a household in the city was $31,925, and the median income for a family was $41,694. Males had a median income of $31,255 versus $22,490 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $19,328. About 12.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.[3]

Arts and culture

[edit]

Historic sites

[edit]

Museums

[edit]

The GovernorZebulon VanceHouse and Museum is operated by theUnited Daughters of the Confederacy;Vance lived in the house at the end of theU.S. Civil War.Other museums include Iredell Museums,[20]Heritage Museum, and The Children's Museum.

Sports

[edit]

Statesville was home to aminor league baseballteams of various names, mainly theStatesville Owls,from 1939 until 1969. They played in several leagues over the years including theTar Heel League(1939–1940),North Carolina State League(1942, 1947–1952),Western Carolina League(1960–1962), andWestern Carolinas League(1963–1969). They were league champions in their respective league in 1940, 1948, and 1962. The field was located at Statesville Senior High School and thus named Senior High Stadium.[21]

Education

[edit]

The city is part of the Iredell–Statesville School District. Schools within the city limits include East Iredell Elementary, N.B. Mills Elementary, Oakwood Middle School, Pressly Elementary, and Statesville High School. Schools serving Statesville residents but located outside the city limits include Cloverleaf Elementary School, East Iredell Middle School, and Third Creek Elementary School.[22]

Wayside Elementary School was an elementary school located off Salisbury Road in eastern Statesville. The current school building opened in 1941 and closed in 2002 when Wayside School and Alan D. Rutherford School merged to form Third Creek Elementary. The former Wayside building is currently home to the UAW 3520 headquarters, while the former Alan D. Rutherford site is home to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Administrative Annex, now known as the Alan D. Rutherford Education Building.

Statesville Christian Schoolis a non-denominational K4–12 private school serving the greater Statesville area.[23]

Mitchell Community College,founded as a Presbyterian women's college in 1852, is now a publiccommunity college.In the 2008–2009 academic year, it became the first community college in the United States to be accepted intoNASA's University Student Launch Initiative competition.[24]

Media

[edit]

Print

[edit]

Radio

[edit]
  • WAME,"Real Country 550 & 92.9" is an AM/FM station at 550 kHz and 92.9 mHz that playsclassic countrymusic.[26]
  • WSIC,1400 AM & 100.7 FM, has a news-talk format.[27]

In addition, the signals of many stations from the Charlotte area andPiedmont Triadregion reach Statesville.

Infrastructure

[edit]

Highways

[edit]

Interstate 40andInterstate 77intersect in the northeastern part of the city, andUS 21,US 64,andUS 70run through the center of Statesville.

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"ArcGIS REST Services Directory".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  2. ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Statesville, North Carolina
  3. ^abcde"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  4. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.Archivedfrom the original on May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  5. ^abcdKeever, Homer M.;Iredell Piedmont County,with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mild red Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, copyright, November 1976
  6. ^"Grand Opening of Fort Dobbs".fortdobbs.org.Archivedfrom the original on September 24, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 24,2019.
  7. ^John L. Cheney, Jr., ed. (1975).North Carolina Government, 1585-1974, A Narrative and Statistical History.
  8. ^Lewis, J.D."North Carolina General Assemblies, 1800s".Carolana.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2019.RetrievedNovember 28,2019.
  9. ^"United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-5KZ:accessed 19 December 2018), States Ville, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 675, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 29; FHL microfilm 337,905.
  10. ^Moose, Bill."Bostian Bridge Train Wreck | NCpedia".ncpedia.org.Encyclopedia of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Press.RetrievedOctober 25,2023.
  11. ^Gast, Phil (August 28, 2010)."'Ghost train' hunter killed by train in North Carolina ".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on August 29, 2010.RetrievedAugust 29,2010.
  12. ^"Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Statesville city, North Carolina".American Factfinder.U.S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedApril 9,2018.
  13. ^"Trees down, storm damage in Statesville after severe weather".wcnc.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
  14. ^"Statesville Climate Info".NOAA.RetrievedMay 15,2021.
  15. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  16. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 21,2021.
  17. ^abcdefghijklmn"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
  18. ^"STATESVILLE SYNAGOGUE LEARNS IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE NATION".Charlotte Observer.January 19, 1997.
  19. ^"North Carolina Highway marker 46, Fourth Creek Congregation".Archivedfrom the original on February 7, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 6,2019.
  20. ^"Iredell County Museums".iredellmuseums.org.Archivedfrom the original on July 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 27,2019.
  21. ^"Scraps from Statesville, Part 2".futureangles.mlbogs.
  22. ^"Schools".Iredell–Statesville School District.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2019.RetrievedApril 9,2018.
  23. ^"Statesville Christian School"(PDF).statesvillechristian.org.Archived(PDF)from the original on February 12, 2019.RetrievedDecember 27,2019.
  24. ^Powell, William S. (1970).Higher Education in North Carolina.Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History.Archivedfrom the original on December 29, 2019.RetrievedDecember 29,2019.
  25. ^"Statesville Record & Landmark home page".statesville.Archivedfrom the original on December 17, 2019.RetrievedDecember 27,2019.
  26. ^"RealCountry929".realcountry929.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2016.RetrievedDecember 27,2019.
  27. ^"WSICfm".WSICfm.Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2019.RetrievedDecember 27,2019.
  28. ^"Breon Borders".Duke Athletics.RetrievedJuly 9,2017.
  29. ^The Infestation: The "Fallen Angel" Chris Cole.Bleacher Report.Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  30. ^Barry Moore Stats.Baseball-Reference.Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  31. ^Graham, Nicholas (2012)."William S. Powell".ncpedia.org.Archivedfrom the original on May 11, 2019.RetrievedAugust 23,2013.,updated 2015 by Government & Heritage Library staff
  32. ^William Sharpe - NC Highway Historical Marker Program.Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  33. ^"Monday Mansions: NASCAR driver Mike Skinner's home!".WXII-TV.August 4, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on January 24, 2016.RetrievedOctober 20,2015.