Statesville, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Statesville, North Carolina | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Iredell |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Costi Kutteh |
| Area | |
| - Total | 20.6 sq mi (53.4 km²) |
| - Land | 20.5 sq mi (53.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²) |
| Elevation | 919 ft (280 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 23,320 |
| - Density | 1,135.9/sq mi (438.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 28625, 28677, 28687 |
| Area code(s) | 704 |
| FIPS code | 37-64740[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0995438[2] |
Statesville is a city in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,320 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Iredell County[3].
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[edit] Geography
Statesville is located at (35.786793, -80.878531)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²), of which, 20.5 square miles (53.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.34%) is water.
[edit] History
In 1753, Scots-Irish Presbyterians and German Lutherans, who originally settled in Pennsylvania, began arriving in Statesville to plant crops in the fertile soil where game and water were also plentiful. The settlement, known as Fourth Creek Congregation, was named for the fresh water stream, which was the fourth creek west of the neighboring settlement of Salisbury. The center of the settlement was a log cabin where the Presbyterians worshiped and where the First Presbyterian Church is located today.
In 1755, the colonial governor Arthur Dobbs authorized the construction of the colony’s frontier fort, which was located approximately three miles due north of the Fourth Creek settlement. Built and garrisoned by North Carolina provincial soldiers, Fort Dobbs defended the British North America’s western frontier in the colony of North Carolina during the French and Indian War. Fort Dobbs combined the functions of a military barracks, fortification, refuge for settlers, provisioning depot and center for negotiations with native Americans.
The state legislature divided Rowan County in 1788, and the new county was named Iredell for James Iredell, associate justice of the first Supreme Court during the presidency of George Washington.
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.
As early as 1833, Statesville's leaders began laying track for railroads to connect the Piedmont area of North Carolina with the rest of the country.
Statesville served as the temporary capital of North Carolina during the final months of the Civil War when Union troops occupied Raleigh and forced Gov. Zebulon Vance to relocate the confederate state government.
By 1858, Statesville was growing rapidly and soon afterward began leading the state in the production of tobacco and tobacco products, the manufacture and blending of whiskey, and became a large distribution center for roots and herbs.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 23,320 people, 9,338 households, and 5,957 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,135.9 people per square mile (438.6/km²). There were 10,041 housing units at an average density of 489.1/sq mi (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.94% White, 31.87% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.11% of the population.
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.
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.
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. The per capita income for the city was $19,328. About 12.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable residents
- Rockie Lynne - country music artist.
- Chris Cole - Professional Skateboarder - He currently lives in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
- Stephen C. Reber - Archbishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America
- Vinson Smith - National Football League linebacker
- Newman Ivey White - Percy Bysshe Shelley expert and American folklorist
- Mark Flake - Postmodern artist and avante garde musician
- Jamie McMurray - NASCAR driver
[edit] Trivia
- Statesville is home to the world's largest Bojangles'.
- Despite its common sounding name, there are only four cities named Statesville in the U.S. These cities are located in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
- Tom Dula (Dooley in the old folk song) was tried and hanged in Statesville. The hanging supposedly took place on Depot Hill.
- Parts of the movie Leatherheads, starring George Clooney were filmed in Statesville.
- The movie The Boneyard featuring Phyllis Diller was filmed in the abandoned Davis Hospital in Statesville.
- The TV movie The Ryan White Story was also filmed in Statesville, at South Iredell High School and on Bost Street in the downtown area.
- Rapper Petey Pablo mentions Statesville in his song "Raise Up"
Justin Moose- Professional Soccer Player D.C. United and Vancouver Whitecaps
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Statesville Record & Landmark
- Official website of Statesville, NC
- Kiwanis Club of Statesvile
- Statesville Chamber of Commerce
- StatesvilleWeather.net
- Statesville, North Carolina is at coordinates Coordinates:
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