Leland North Carolina
The Town of Leland is located on the scenic Brunswick River, just five minutes west of the historic river city of Wilmington, North Carolina. Leland, which has emerged as one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Cape Fear region, is home to a number of beautiful championship golf courses, over fifty places of worship, and a vibrant business community. As the Town of Leland grows, we are committed to maintaining our down-home, small-town atmosphere. Leland... the Gateway to Brunswick County... a great place to put down roots
The Town of Leland, North Carolina is located on the scenic Brunswick River, just five minutes west of the historic river city of Wilmington. Leland has emerged as one of the fastest growing communities in Southeastern North Carolina and is the centerpiece of northern Brunswick County’s continuing economic expansion.
Leland’s strategic location, warm climate, low tax rate and friendly atmosphere make our town an ideal place to put down roots. Our town offers convenient access to Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, the coastal town of Southport, and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Beaches. Leland and Brunswick County are home to a number of beautiful championship golf courses. When the planned US 17 Bypass is completed, travelers will be able to conveniently access Leland from Interstate 40 without traveling through Wilmington. Leland… the Gateway to Brunswick County.
Leland NC Recent History, Future Growth
Leland first incorporated in 1989 with a population of approximately 1,800. Our town grew slightly over the next ten years and had a population of 1,938 in 2000. In recent years our town has experienced explosive growth. By July of 2002 our population had reached 4,216, and was 4,703 by the end of 2003.
Leland is poised for even greater growth in the years to come. In late 2004, our town doubled its geographic size by completing the voluntary annexation of a 4,900-acre tract of land commonly known as Brunswick Forest. The landowners who requested the voluntary annexation have asked that the property be zoned for mixed-use development. The build-out of this property should result in an additional 10,000 residential units and will likely push our population to well over 20,000, making us the largest municipality in Brunswick County. We are committed to maintaining our small-town atmosphere and quality of life as Leland enters this new era of growth and prosperity. Source: Leland NC
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Leland North Carolina
Hampstead North Carolina
Hampstead North Carolina
The Village of Hampstead NC is in the area of Pender County north of Wilmington on US Hwy. 17. Just a few years ago, it was just a “wide spot” in the road with a couple of fish houses and a small grocery store. Bordered on the south by New Hanover County and Wilmington , on the west by Holly Shelter Game Preserve, on the north by Onslow County and on the east by the sound and Topsail Island. Today it is a place that has become very attractive to those who come to visit and those searching for a new start.
Because of lower taxes and inexpensive property, Hampstead is an up-and-coming place to live where many retirees have moved from places such as Pennsylvania , New York and New Jersey . In fact, there are families from all over the nation that have found Hampstead to be a good place to raise a family or to spend the latter years of their lives.
Hampstead NC is now home to four of the top golf courses in southeastern North Carolina : Castle Bay Golf Club, Olde Point Golf Club, Belvedere Plantation Golf Club, and Topsail Greens Golf Club. Each of these is centered in residential developments where you can live in the same area you play golf. Just recently, there have been plans revealed by a Wilmington developer for the development of a large commercial/ residential area on US Hwy. 17. Included in this are two commercial areas and 500 lots for single-family homes.
Hampstead is home to schools that serve the eastern part of Pender County , including part of Topsail Island . There are two elementary schools: North Topsail Elementary and South Topsail Elementary. There are approved plans for a third school, Central Topsail Elementary, in the near future. There is one middle school, Topsail Middle School and one high school, Topsail High School . Presently, there are approved plans for a new high school to replace the present one because of the tremendous growth of the area. All of these schools have received the highest honors available in the State of North Carolina
Because it is not incorporated, Hampstead is served by a branch of the Pender County Library, the Pender County Health Department and Pender County Animal Control.
The Hampstead area is served by two of the top volunteer fire departments in southeastern North Carolina , Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department and Sloop Point Volunteer Fire Department. The area is also served by Pender EMS for emergencies and the Pender County Sheriff’s Department.
Pender County is presently developing a county water system for the Hampstead area and is planning to add a sewer system in the future. This will spur more growth in the area and bring in more commercial development as well as residential. To add to the growth in the area and to alleviate traffic problems, the NCDOT has approved the development of a bypass around Hampstead that will tie in to the new I-140 bypass around Wilmington to the south and west. This will greatly improve infrastructure for more growth in the area.
Every year, there are events where Hampstead comes together such as the Spot Festival, the Relay For Life and the Hampstead Expo. The Spot Festival is a long held tradition that celebrates one of the most abundant and favorite fish found in the area. The Relay For Life is a walkathon sponsored by local groups to raise support for the American Cancer Association. The Hampstead Expo is an event sponsored by the Greater Hampstead Chamber of Commerce that brings local businesses together with the people of the community, encouraging local people to support their local businesses.
Whether it’s gathering for a fish fry, a pig pickin’ or to help a neighbor in need, the people of Hampstead create the feel of a real community where your neighbors really care about you.
If you talk to those who have either moved here or have lived here all of their lives, they all will tell you that they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
George Washington passed through here in 1791, and spent the night at a tavern not too far from here. The monument at its base was placed there by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1925.
Hampstead NC was once a small fishing village and a whistle stop alongside the Atlantic Coast Line RR. Now it is probably the fastest growing area in the state, as more and more folks are choosing to live here. Many neighborhoods front the waterway, more are along the numerous creeks and even more line the area's four golf courses.
The land side of the sound is officially referred to as Topsail Township, and includes many small unincorporated communities, and the larger community of Hampstead.
There are still quaint fishing shacks on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway, though most are being replaced by much larger homes as new people * move into the area.
Highway 17 is being widened to a four lane coastal highway from Virginia to Florida, and offers convenient access to Wilmington, Jacksonville, and Interstate 40.
Now we have it all - a hamburger place, gas and taco place, take out pizza and take out Chinese, grocery store, drug store, hardware store, doctors and dentists and lawyers, a nice library, an oil change place, a few shopping strips and some excellent nurseries.
There are two wholesale-only fresh fish dealers, a very nice marina, and full service boat yard **, and lots of golf courses.
Every September, J. H. Lea & Sons contributes about 5,000 lbs. of fish to the yearly Spot Festival, the event of the year in the town.
History is everywhere, mostly related to marauders, both pirates and Yankees. Topsail Inlet was a frequently used entrance to Topsail Sound, a hideout for Blackbeard, Steede Bonnett and Captain Kidd, and Union raiders found it strategic to raid the salt works nearby, and generally disrupt waterborne commerce.
The bottom picture shows breastworks from the Civil War days. Breastworks were earthen walls piled up around gun emplacements, and these are near the entrance to Virginia Creek. There are more near Topsail Inlet.
Hampstead NC, and in fact all of Pender County, is seeing growth and change come quickly, and farmlands once used for blueberries and tobacco are growing houses and neighborhoods as development of the area increases.
Source: Hampstead NC
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Nags Head North Carolina
Nags Head North Carolina
Nags Head, an area of North Carolina's Outer Banks known for its beaches yet rich in history and steeped in tradition. The Town of Nags Head is working to build a community populated by diverse groups whose common bond is a love of the Outer Banks.
The mission of the Town of Nags Head is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, property owners and visitors of the town, to fulfill the requirements placed on it by the State of North Carolina and to facilitate the achievement of community goals by providing municipal services in a flexible, cost effective, customer friendly manner and to achieve this through an open, consensus driven process that treats all with respect.
The Town of Nags Head NC is working to build a community with an economy based on family vacation tourism. The base of that economy is a high quality beach experience. Important elements in developing and maintaining this economy are:
* A relaxed-paced beach community comprised primarily of low-density development and open spaces
* A diverse supply of accommodations, including single-family homes, hotels, and multi-family dwelling units, that attract and are accessible to visitors from a wide range of economic and social strata
* A natural environment typified by clean water and a landscape of sand dunes and non-invasive, salt tolerant vegetation
* A group of friends soak in the beautiful Nags Head sunshine.
healthy, well-maintained oceanfront beach that is accessible and usable; not blocked by large structures
* A carefully managed sound front that preserves the natural and beneficial functions of the estuarine environment while balancing respect for private property rights and the need to provide public access.
* A built environment that reflects the heritage of “Old Nags Head”
* A well-organized pattern of land uses that, when combined with a transportation system that accommodates a variety of travel modes, promotes an active and accessible community
* Commercial services provided by locally owned and operated businesses that share in the building of our community
* Recreational amenities and attractions, both commercial and non-commercial that are wholesome and appeal to a broad spectrum of family members, age groups and interests.
Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea. Tales of land pirates that lured ships ashore in stormy weather may be the possible origin of the town's name. Or it may have been carried across the sea by English explorers who were reminded of a similar location of the English coast, a high point on the Scilly Islands, the last sight of old England that the earlier explorers were to see on their voyage to the New World.
We'll never know the true origin, but legend and lore insists that early 18th century ''Bankers,'' realizing how profitable piracy was for sea-going scoundrels such as Blackbeard, developed their own unique method as land-based pirates. Horses with lanterns tied to their necks were walked up and down the beach at night. Merchant skippers in the off-shore waters would mistakenly think the lights were of other ships closer to shore. They would then change course and run aground, with the Bankers pillaging their cargoes.
Around 1830, Nags Head became known as a plush resort area and remains so today, with a wealth of activities nearby to please a variety of tastes. Jockey's Ridge is the last vestige of the giant moving sand dunes that once towered over the beaches and greeted the first explorers. Surrounding Jockey's Ridge State Park, thousands of vacation homes beckon travelers of a different sort to the wide sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere of an Outer Banks vacation. Modern day Bankers no longer need a lantern tied around a horse to lure visitors. With plenty of beaches and world-record fishing, golfing and shopping to nature trails, wildlife refuges, shipwreck remains and historic sites, its all here!
Source: Nags Head NC
Kitty Hawk North Carolina
Kitty Hawk North Carolina
Once a remote area, Kitty Hawk NC has grown into a summer resort area and provides some of the best beach recreation on the North Carolina Coast.When Orville Wright stepped ashore in Kitty Hawk Village in the fall of 1900, he probably already knew that he and his brother were destined to make history as discoverers of flight. After all, they had chosen this remote fishing village on the Outer Banks partly for privacy from prying eyes. Three years later, they would indeed break the bonds of earth for the first time in their heavier than air flying machine. From that moment forward, Kitty Hawk would forever be associated with the Wright Brothers as the birthplace of aviation -although the actual flight took place four miles south from the base of Kill Devil Hill.
Source: Kitty Hawk NC
Kill Devil Hills North Carolina
Kill Devil Hills North Carolina
The name Kill Devil Hills can be dated back to the colonial era. Shipwrecks were common at the time, and many of the ships were transporting barrels of rum. Upon a shipwreck, locals would scavenge the ship and hide the rum they found behind the same large sand dunes where the Wright brothers later flew the first plane. The locals said that the rum was strong enough to "kill the devil," so the dunes where they would hide the rum were nicknamed 'Kill Devil Hills
Hillsborough North Carolina
Hillsborough North Carolina
Hillsborough NC is ideally located at the junction of interstates 40 and 85 in North Carolina's Central Piedmont Region. The town is 5.35 square miles and is on the western edge of the greater Triangle area. With a population of a little more than 6,000 people, Hillsborough remains the flourishing small town it has been since the 18th century. It is an excellent stopover for long-distance travelers or a destination for day trips from the greater Triangle and Triad areas and from southern Virginia.
Hillsborough NC is a small town with a big history. The downtown historic district — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — features more than 100 homes, churches and buildings from the late 18th and 19th centuries. Among those buildings open to the public is the Visitors Center, which served as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s headquarters when he surrendered the largest of the Confederate armies to Gen. William T. Sherman, leading to the Civil War’s end.
Today, Hillsborough is a tourist and permanent destination and a haven for artists and writers. The town is centrally located in North Carolina with fast access to the Triad and other Triangle cities. Interstate 85 runs through the town, and Interstate 40 is just outside its limits.
Barbecue lovers descend on the town each June for the annual Hog Day, and the downtown comes alive Friday evenings with arts and entertainment the last Friday of each month during warm weather. In addition to Revolutionary War reenactments and guided tours of the historic district, Hillsborough is home to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area and several other trails. Work is beginning on a riverwalk.
Hillsborough NC is a nice place to visit, but it's an even nicer place in which to live and do business.
There has been a village on this site for hundreds of years, beginning with three successive Native American villages spanning from AD 1000 to 1710.
Orange County was founded in 1752. Two years later Hillsborough was laid out by William Churton on land where the Great Indian Trading Path crossed the Eno River. The street names — Tryon, Wake, King, Queen, Churton — still recall this early history. William Churton first laid out the town of Hillsborough, then called Orange, on 400
General Cornwallis acres granted by the Honorable John Earl Granville. He provided for spacious public squares at each intersection of main streets. In 1766, however, this plan was abandoned, and in spite of the hilly situation of the town, the familiar checkerboard-and-cross street plan was employed. Hillsborough took its present name in 1766 after the Irish peer, William Hill, Earl of Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1768 to 1772 under George III in 1754.
Hillsborough was a center of political activity during the Colonial
General Sherman and Revolutionary period. Several royal and elected governors lived here, as did a signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Hooper, whose house still stands. The War of the Regulation (1766-1771) ended here. The town hosted the third Provincial Congress (1775); the state’s constitutional Convention of 1778, which demanded that a Bill of Rights be added to the U.S. Constitution; and five General Assemblies (1778, 1780, 1782-1784). General Cornwallis raised the Royal Standard here in 1781. Hillsborough remained a political and cultural
Courthouse center in the nineteenth century. It was from temporary headquarters near town that General Joseph E. Johnston rode out to surrender the largest of the Confederate armies to General Sherman in 1865.
There remain more than 100 late eighteenth and nineteenth century structures that illustrate the Town's early history. In addition, there are numerous secondary buildings, bridges, millsites and dams along the Eno, and Native American relics from the locations of ancients towns stretching back thousands of years.
Source Hillsborough NC
Chatham North Carolina
Chatham North Carolina
Founded in 1771 and located at the geographic center of the state, Chatham County NC encompasses an area of more than 707 square miles and is known at the "The Heart of North Carolina." The county is situated between two of the state’s three largest centers of population and commerce, the Triangle Region and the Piedmont Triad.
Pittsboro, the county seat located in the middle of the county, is just 20 minutes away from Research Triangle Park, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill. It also is just 30 minutes from Greensboro and Raleigh. This gives us easy access to Raleigh-Durham Airport and major universities, such as University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, North Carolina A & T University and Elon University.
The county has four incorporated towns within the county: Siler City, Pittsboro (county seat), Goldston and Cary, which has a small area in the eastern part of the county. We also have many unincorporated communities across the county, all of which have a rich history and unique rural features.
Small specialized farms, including organic vegetables and unique nurseries, are important in our county along with tourism, real estate and the arts. Beef cattle and poultry also are important to our agricultural economy.
We have a wide array of artists sprinkled throughout the county that produce high-quality pottery, paintings, sculpture, metalwork, fiber arts, jewelry, yard art and mixed media. However, manufacturing remains the source of jobs for Chatham County.
Chatham County is the home of Jordan Lake, a major recreational lake and water reservoir, but it also has several important rivers, including the Rocky River, the Haw River and the Deep River. The latter two converge to form the Cape Fear River.
Our diverse population includes a mix of both lifelong residents and newcomers, with increasing ethnic/racial diversity. Like most areas, our population is growing older, but we do have an influx of young people as well. We have one of the more highly educated working-age populations in the state
Records show that settlers from Europe arrived in the area as early as the mid 1700s, including a Quaker settlement formed in 1751. Early settlers entered from the north through a trading route of the Catawba Indians and from the south through the Cape Fear River Valley.
The Colonial Assembly established Chatham County NC through legislation introduced on December 5, 1770, which was effective on April 1, 1771. The county was formed from a portion of what was once Orange County. The county was named for the Earl of Chatham, William Pitt, who was a "defender of American rights in the British Parliament."
The legislation forming Chatham County NC noted that the new county was needed to provide greater access to inhabitants living in the southern part of the county. It was too difficult and expensive for those residents to travel to the Orange County government seat (Hillsborough) to conduct business.
In the early years, the county was governed by justices of the peace, which served the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. The justices were appointed by the state’s General Assembly. For a period of time, the justices also appointed other county officials, which included the sheriff, coroner, constables, clerk, register, county attorney, standard-keeper, entry-taker and surveyor, rangers (which dealt with stray animals), and overseers of roads.
Reconstruction and the new State Constitution of 1868 established a five-member board of county commissioners, divided the county into townships, and radically changed the court system. Justices of the peace were eliminated from county government in 1894.
In 1977, the county adopted the council-manager form of government and appointed the first county manager. We now have five county commissioners elected to four-year staggered terms. They must reside in specific districts but are elected by voters at large.
The county was named for the Earl of Chatham in England, who was William Pitt…now you know how Pittsboro also got its name.
Jordan Lake is named for Benjamin Everett, a former United States senator from our state.
Moncure once served as the western-most inland port in the state, linked all the way to the coast by steamships.
Those steamships often brought tourists from the coast escaping the heat and mosquitoes of summer. They often stayed in Pittsboro, which was a resort destination during this time.
British General Cornwallis camped in Pittsboro during the Revolutionary War.
The community of Bonlee was originally called Dunlap Mills, but changed its name after having a town contest.
The Camelback Truss Bridge is an historic bridge that remains in place over the Deep River and connects us to Lee County, but it no longer carries highway traffic. It has been preserved as a park by a group of committed citizens initiated by Margaret Jordan-Ellis.
This historic marker on US 15/501 commemorates the amazing accomplishments of George Moses Horton, a slave who was an accomplished poet well before he learned to read and write.
Photo by Duane Hall
Locks on the Deep River once were used to transport coal to the coast.
Goldston once had a movie theater on the second floor of what is now Miller Heating and Air.
George Moses Horton, who lived most of his life as a slave in the county, is Chatham County's official poet. He composed many poems before he learned to read and write, but published the first book by a Southern black author, The Hope of Liberty (1829). A University of North Carolina faculty member's wife taught him to read and write in 1828 and arranged the initial publication of his poems. Horton tried several times to buy his freedom from slavery, but was only freed at the end of the Civil War. A book on Horton, The Black Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry, is still available through local bookstores.
Tod R. Edwards was a prominent early resident of Siler City. This African-American leader owned a well-respected jewelry and watch repair store and photography shop, but he started out as a barber.
Miscellaneous Chatham County Facts:
Siler City still has an operating stockyard auction house.
The nation’s leading bicycle mail order and retail company, Performance Bicycles, is located in Chatham County.
The county has several traditional artists tours, including the Tour de Moncure (held in partnership with Moore County) and the Annual Studio Tour.
The county generally ranks between fifteenth and seventeenth in the state in terms of land size, depending on the source of information.
The Carnivore Preservation Trust, located just east of Pittsboro, houses several wild animals, but it has the largest captive population of Asian bearcats in the nation.
Chatham County NC has one of only two Five-Diamond rated hotel and restaurant (ratings by AAA) in the entire state--The Fearrington House Inn and Restaurant.
Piedmont Biofuels Cooperative in Pittsboro has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach to producing alternative fuels from renewable resources.
Source: Chatham County NC
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Monday, July 30, 2007
Top USA Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach Outer Banks, NC
Top USA Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach Outer Banks, NC
The national winner of America's Top Beaches for 2007 is Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, located on Ocracoke Island at the southern end of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Known for its laid back atmosphere, unadorned picturesque beauty, abundant wildlife and quaint village center, Ocracoke Island is located at the southern end of the North Carolina Outer Banks.
This is the first year in the history of the list that a beach outside of Florida or Hawaii has been selected as the national winner. In addition, three Florida beaches on are the 2007 list, along with three in the Northeast, two in Hawaii, and one in California, making the Southeastern United States the clear overall winning region for 2007.
Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, known throughout the United States and internationally as Dr. Beach, is regarded as the country's leading authority on beach quality and ratings. A Ph.D. coastal scientist, professor of environmental studies and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University and acclaimed author, Dr. Leatherman is perhaps best known for his annual America's Best Beaches Top 10 List.
Dr. Leatherman's first Top Beach list was issued in 1991. Since then, every year around Memorial Day, beach goers and beach communities anxiously await his latest list of the ten best public recreational beaches for swimming, walking, scenery, sports, and other activities. Beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean are objectively evaluated using a rating scale that covers 50 different criteria, ranging from beach width, sand quality, water temperature and strengths of currents to human impact issues such as lifeguards, the presence of litter and undesirable noise
The complete list of the ten America's Top Beaches for 2007 includes:
Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach - Outer Banks, North Carolina - National Winner
Caladesi Island State Park - Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
Coopers Beach, Southampton - New York
Hanalei Bay, Kauai - Hawaii
Coast Guard Beach - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Hamoa Beach, Maui - Hawaii
Main Beach - East Hampton, New York
Coronado Beach - San Diego, California
Lighthouse Point Park - Daytona Beach, Florida
Siesta Beach - Sarasota, Florida
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Waynesville North Carolina
Waynesville North Carolina
Waynesville NC is blessed with the ideal year-round climate, beautiful mountain scenery and warm Southern hospitality. Proud of our southern mountain heritage, we are building the future with a concern for preserving the past. We're far enough south that spring comes pretty early, bringing a fantastic display of natural blooming beauty to the mountainsides as Dogwood, Redbud Trees and an amazing number of wildflowers put on their show. Our Summer heat is tempered by our cool mountain elevations and evening temperatures drop to create some of the most relaxing evening environments. In the fall our hardwood forests put on a spectacular fall foliage color display attracting more Visitors than other time of the year. The winter brings a quiet, slower season while providing us with some of the best skiing in the south.
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About 40% of our County is occupied by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pisgah National Forest and the Harmon Den Wildlife Refuge, where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets the Great Smoky Mountains. The central part of the county is well suited for business and agriculture and is easily accessible to major population centers of the east and southeast U.S. - Our location is a major feature. Haywood County encompasses 546 square miles and has a population of about 52,000. There are four incorporated towns: Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, and Clyde. With a mild southern climate and cool mountain elevations ranging to over 6000 feet, Haywood County is an excellent location any time of the year for business or recreation
The Town of Waynesville was founded in 1809 by Colonel Robert Love, a Revolutionary War soldier. He donated land for the courthouse, jail and public square, and named the Town after his commander in the war, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
Waynesville also has a connection to another war. With news of General Lee's surrender traveling slowly, the Civil War continued in Western North Carolina. The final shots of that war, east of the Mississippi River, were fired near Sulphur Springs, and General James Martin surrendered honorably on May 9, 1865.
The Town of Waynesville NC was incorporated in 1871. In July 1995 the Towns of Hazelwood and Waynesville merged into one community and continued to grow with a population today of 9,482. With a great climate, growing cultural environment, extensive recreation areas and educational opportunities for all ages, Waynesville rates very high on quality of life issues.
Source Waynesville NC
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Calabash North Carolina
Calabash North Carolina
Calabash is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, in the Wilmington metro area. The population was 711 at the 2000 census. It prides itself as the "Seafood Capital of the World" because of the town's large amount of "Calabash-style" seafood restaurants
Calabash NC was named after gourds that grew in the region, which were used for drinking. Since the 1930s, Calabash has been known for its distinctive style of fried seafood, which has come to be known as "calabash style." The town has many seafood restaurants and is often referred to as the "Seafood Capital of the World."
Calabash style buffets are also in many southeastern coastal towns. Myrtle Beach, SC is home to a great majority of these restaurants as the city is very close to Calabash, NC.
Calabash is no longer the sleepy little fishing village, but it still retains much of its fishing village atmosphere. The family seafood restaurants of old are now run by many of their descendents. Calabash is an outstanding place to visit, dine, and to live and work.
Today it is has ab abundance of fine restaurants, shops and golf courses. It is home to 1300 residents, who benefit from a well run Town Government, one of the best equipped Fire Departments in the area as well as a fine EMS. Additional amenities within the town include a medical center, dentist, banks, hardware store, auto services, gas stations, as well as a fleet of shrimp boats, fishing boats, and a beautiful view of the Calabash River.
The Town of Calabash is located in Brunswick County on the southeastern coast of North Carolina and is the southern most city in North Carolina bordering South Carolina. It is 25 miles North of Myrtle Beach, SC and 50 miles South of Wilmington, NC. The
closest highway is ‘Highway 17’.
CLIMATE: Moderate and we enjoy all four seasons. We rarely have snowfall in the winter.
Primarily a fishing village with shrimp boats docking daily during the season selling fresh caught shrimp. Charter boats for tours and deep sea fishing are also available.
The Town is famous for its 'Calabash Seafood'. This type of flavoring originated here and is unique. Others have tried to copy it with little success. If you want to taste the real 'Calabash Seafood', you must come to Calabash.
Calabash NC has all the amenities any Town would need.
Fire Department: Calabash Fire Department- one of the best and well equipped Fire Departments in the area. Has an ISO rating of 6 which is excellent .
Police: The area is patrolled by the Brunswick County Police Department. The crime rate is very low in this area.
Banks- Medical/Dental Offices-Churches-Post Office-Hardware Stores- Veterinarian- Deli and Pastry Shop-Souvenirs-Jewlery-ice cream parlors-supermarkets-clothing stores-cleaners-lawyers and most of all restaurants. Check our current Business Directory for a detailed list.
Calabash is within 6-10 miles of two beautiful sandy beaches and 25 miles to great entertainment in Myrtle Beach SC. Golf courses abound in this area. Almost all are public courses and very well maintained.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina
Ocean Isle Beach North Carolina
The northernmost sub-tropical region on the East Coast! Enjoy our mild winter weather, spectacular beach and great Golf Specials on over 100 area courses!
Ocean Isle Beach is one of the southernmost of North Carolina's unique barrier islands. Miles and miles of powder white sand, sun-danced waves, and windswept marshlands make our community one of the loveliest places on the earth.
In contrast to other resort areas along the southeastern coast, Ocean Isle has chosen to avoid the everyday hustle and bustle. Instead, this resort island has sustained a family beach atmosphere and has proudly kept itself on a low-key, low-rise course. It's the perfect place for vacationers who want to relax and enjoy a quiet, refreshing time.
Ocean Isle Beach lies between the historic port of Wilmington, N.C. and the tourist attractions of Myrtle Beach, S.C.. Although Ocean Isle Beach has grown and developed over the years, it has maintained its relaxed and leisurely charm.
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, is located on the southern coastline of North Carolina. This coastal barrier island was incorporated as the Town of Ocean Isle Beach in 1959. The island is approximately seven miles long and provides a family beach environment. The current year-round resident population is approximately 425, with a seasonal population of 25,000
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Thursday, July 26, 2007
Waxhaw North Carolina
Waxhaw North Carolina
Waxhaw NC is a historic yet progressive town located in Union County and south of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Waxhaw’s uniqueness is defined by its diverse character of antique stores, scenic horse farms, and a downtown district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Waxhaw NC is located in a historic region called the Waxhaws, and in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The area is wooded with rolling hills. Waxhaw is also in the region where gold was first found in the United States, and the Howie Gold Mine is not far from the city limits. Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States, was born nearby in 1767. There is some disagreement as to which of the Carolinas was his actual birthplace, due to the very close proximity of the NC/SC border.
Although it is such a small city, Waxhaw NC is surprisingly well-known in the Charlotte area, with annual events such as the Fourth of July Parade (known for its outrageous floats). Waxhaw is also known around the world, specifically in missions groups, due to the location of a Wycliffe Bible Translators base and airport known as JAARS.
Waxhaw takes its name from the Waxhaws, both the name for the area and the name for the Indian tribe that once inhabited it. The community dates back to the 1700s, but it wasn't until 1888 that the railroad, laying tracks to Atlanta, brought prosperity. Tracks still run through the center of town along the green, grassy strip dividing two rows of stores.
The community was once dependent on cotton, but when the fiber lost its luster in the early 1960s, Waxhaw reshaped itself as an antique and fine dining center. The Town currently has dozens of specialty shops and dining ranging from mom & pop restaurants to fine dining bistros. (Not all shops are clustered together, so explore.).
The Waxhaw Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places, and Waxhaw has some wonderful old houses near the center of town. Residents and town government are also working on beautification plans. A beautiful Town Park is conveniently located in downtown Waxhaw. For new housing nearby, look along NC 75 East & West of Waxhaw, as well as Hwy 16 North of Waxhaw.
Near Waxhaw is Cane Creek Park, a 1,050-acre park that draws visitors with its beauty and its activities. A lot of folks had a hand in this park, which opened in 1978. The facility, on Harkey Road south of Waxhaw, was a cooperative venture between Union County, the Union Conservation District and the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Source: Waxhaw NC
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County, NC Facts and Information
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Formed in 1849 from Orange County to the east, Alamance County has been the site of significant historical events, textiles, manufacturing, and agriculture in North Carolina.
As of 2006, the estimated population of the county and MSA was 142,661. Its county seat is Graham.
Before being formed as a county, the region had at least one known small Southeastern tribe of Native American in the 1700s - the Sissipahaw who lived in the area bound by modern Saxapahaw, Hawfields and Haw River locations in the county European Americans entered the region largely following Native American trading paths that became the basis of the railroad and interstate highway routes[4]. The county was formed January 29, 1849 from Orange County. It was named after Great Alamance Creek, site of the Battle of Alamance (May 16, 1771), in which militia under the command of Governor William Tryon crushed the Regulator movement. The Great Alamance Creek, and in turn the Little Alamance Creek, according to legend, were named after a local Native American word to describe the blue mud that was found at the bottom of the creeks.
Several other small battles occurred during the American Revolution in the Alamance County area during the lead-up to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, including Pyle's Massacre and the Battle of Lindley's Mill, and the Battle of Clapp's Mill.
Civil War and aftermath
In 1861, the United States began to fragment due to growing questions of states' rights concerning issues of money, agriculture, representation, and slavery. In February of that year, a peace conference was held in Washington, DC. North Carolina sent five delegates to this conference, including Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin of Haw River, an Alamance County community. Justice Ruffin was opposed to secession, but was voted down. Later on, President Buchanan said that if Ruffin had persisted, the war might have been averted. In March, 1861, Alamance County residents voted against North Carolina's secession from the Union, 1,114 to 254. Hostilities would later prove that vote moot.
Alamance County joined the rest of North Carolina as the state split off from the Union and joined the Confederate States. Although no battles took place in the county itself, Alamance County did send its share of sons and brothers to the front lines. Only in the last months of the war did the residents of the county see a significant number of troops. Most important of these events was when President Jefferson Davis dictated a note to General Johnston for Union General Sherman. General Johnston delivered that note, stopping in Company Shops to drop off some of the last of his men.
Alamance County Courthouse in Graham, NC.Some of the most significant effects of the Civil War were seen after the war. Alamance County briefly became a center of natioanl attention when, in 1870, a confrontation between local residents and an apparently corrupt Army colonel led to several people being wrongfully accused and arrested for various crimes. Only after involvement by a U. S. District Judge were these men and women freed and cleared of crimes. This event came to be known as the Kirk-Holden War, and it lead to the impeachment and removal of Governor William Holden by the North Carolina Legislature in 1871.
Textiles
The Holt family began the textile industry in the county in the 1800s. Textiles became the county's largest source of industry and nearly every community in the county contained a textile mill by the early 1900s. Most of the mills were located along the Haw River which provided a cheap easy source of energy. Glencoe, Saxapahaw, Swepsonville, Bellemont, Alamance, Haw River and Burlington all contained textile mills and all these communities were located on the Haw River or tributaries of the river. The Holt's became famous for producing "Alamance Plaids" used mainly in tablecloths. Most of the plants have now gone out of business. Burlington was, also, home to Burlington Industries.
Dairy industry
The county was once the state leader in dairy production. Several dairies including Melville Dairy in Burlington were headquartered in the county. With increasing real estate prices and a slump in milk prices, most dairy farms have been sold and many of them developed for real estate purposes.
Airplanes and radars
During World War II Fairchild built airplanes at a plant on the eastern side of Burlington. Among the planes built at the plant were the AT-21 gunner used to train bomber pilots. Near the Fairchild plant was the Western Electric Burlington works. The plant built radar equipment and guidance systems for missiles on top of many other electronics for the government. The guidance system for the Titan missile was built there. The plant was closed in 1992 and sat abandoned until 2005, when it was purchased by a local businessman for manufacturing
Politics
Alamance County has provided North Carolina with three of its governors and two U. S. Senators: Governor Thomas Holt, Governor and U. S. Senator Kerr Scott, Governor Robert W. (Bob) Scott (Kerr Scott's son), and U. S. Senator B. Everett Jordan.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,126 km² (435 mi²). 1,114 km² (430 mi²) of it is land and 12 km² (5 mi²) of it (1.10%) is water.
The county is in the Piedmont physiographical region. The county has a general rolling terrain with the Cane Creek Mountains rising to over 970 ft.[7] in the south central part of the county just north of Snow Camp. Bass Mountain one of the prominent hills in the range is home to a world renowned Bluegrass music festival every year. There are also isolated monadnocks in the northern part of the county that rise to near or over 900 ft. above sea level.
The largest river that flows through Alamance County is the Haw River, which eventually feeds into Jordan Lake in Chatham County, eventually leading to the Cape Fear River. The county is also home to numerous creeks, streams, and ponds, including the Great Alamance Creek, where a portion of the Battle of Alamance was fought. There are 3 large municipal reservoirs: Lake Cammack, Lake Mackintosh, and Graham-Mebane Lake (formerly Quaker Lake).
ARTS
Paramount Theater serves as the center of dramatic presentations in the community.
Old Dam at Cedarock Park
Alamance County, Burlington, Graham, Elon, Haw River, Swepsonville, and Mebane all have other small parks that are not listed here. Major parks include:
Alamance County
Cedarock Park, located 6 miles south of the Intersection of Interstate 85/40 and NC Highway 49. Cedarock Park is home to the Cedarock Historic Farm, an Old Mill Dam, and 2 Disc Golf Courses.
City of Burlington
City Park, located in Burlington off of U.S. Highway 70 (Church Street), and is home to a Dentzel Carousel built between 1906 and 1910 and several train-based rides, signifying Burlington's place in history as the Company Shops Train Depot.
Indian Valley Golf Course, an 18-hole operated by the City of Burlington
Lake Mackintosh Marina, located off of Huffman Mill Rd.
ECONOMY
Today, Alamance County is often described as a "bedroom" community, with many residents living in the county and working elsewhere due to low tax rates, although the county is still a major player in the textile and manufacturing industries.
The current county-wide tax rate for Alamance County residents is 57.5 cents per $100 valuation. This does not include tax rates imposed by municipalities or fire districts.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 130,800 people, 51,584 households, and 35,541 families residing in the county. The population density was 117/km² (304/mi²). There were 55,463 housing units at an average density of 50/km² (129/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.61% White, 18.76% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.19% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 6.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 51,584 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,168, and the median income for a family was $46,479. Males had a median income of $31,906 versus $23,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,391. About 7.60% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
Famous People From Alamance County NC
Jacob Brent, born in Graham, starred as Mr. Mistoffelees in the broadway and home video version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.
Billy Bryan, Center for the Denver Broncos from 1977-1988 grew up in Burlington.
Several generations of Alex Haley's family may have lived in Alamance County as noted in his 1976 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family - coming from Africa to Virginia, to Caswell County to Alamance County and moving to Tennessee after the Emancipation Proclamation
Governor Thomas Holt, Governor of North Carolina from 1891-1893.
John "John Boy" Isley born and raised in Graham, is "John Boy" of the John Boy and Billy Show broadcast on radio stations around the nation.
Charley Jones, born in Alamance County, major league baseball player
U. S. Senator B. Everett Jordan, U. S. Senator (Class 2) from 1958-1973
Don Kernodle, born in Burlington, wrestler who appeared in Paradise Alley with Sylvester Stallone
Jack McKeon, Manager of the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins has lived in Alamance County.
Blanche Taylor Moore, a convicted murderer whose life story was portrayed in the television movie "Black Widow: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story", starring Elizabeth Montgomery.
Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner (2001-2003)
Tequan Richmond, born in Burlington, stars as Drew Rock in Everybody Hates Chris, and played a young Ray Charles in the movie Ray
Governor Robert W. (Bob) Scott (Kerr Scott's son), Governor of North Carolina from 1969-1973
Governor and U. S. Senator Kerr Scott, Governor of North Carolina from 1949-1953, U. S. Senator (Class 2) from 1954-1958
Nash County, North Carolina
Nash County, NC Facts and Information
Nash County was formed in 1777 from the western part of Edgecombe County. Located in the northeast section of the state, it is bounded by Edgecombe, Wilson, Johnston, Franklin, and Halifax counties. It was named for General Francis Nash (1742-77), of Hillsborough, a soldier who was mortally wounded while fighting under General George Washington at Germantown during the American Revolution. Nashville, the county seat, was settled in 1780 and chartered in 1815. First land grants in the area date back to 1743.
Nash County has a total area of 542.71 square miles, with 540.33 square miles of land area. The average temperature is 61.9 degrees with the average temperature in January of 39° F and the average July temperature of 78° F. The average rainfall is 43 inches. The elevation of Nash County is 180 feet above sea level.
After the Revolution, which touched the county only lightly, Nash County settled down to a pace that made it one of the State's leading farm areas. Since the Civil War, it has been known primarily as a leading agricultural county, but it has experienced steady industrial growth since that time. Currently, only 2.4% of the total employment within the county is classified as agricultural. However, Nash County ranks 8th in area devoted to farmland in North Carolina.
Nash County could be classified as either a northern coastal plain county or a far eastern piedmont county. It has a primarily rolling terrain with sandy soil, however, brick and tile clays are found along the Tar River, which flows through Nash County and Rocky Mount. A granite belt is located relatively close to the surface and extends westward from the city for about 20 miles.
The average rainfall in Nash County is 43 inches. The average temperature is 61.9 degrees with the January average temperature 39 degrees Fahrenheit and the average July temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nash County Population
According to the most recent census results, the population of Nash County in 2000 was 87,420 making it the 30th largest county in the state. The largest city within the county is Rocky Mount, with a population of 55,893 according to the most recent census results, population of the Rocky Mount MSA was 145,571. Other Nash County towns and their latest census counts are:
Nashville - 4,309
Red Oak - 2,723
Sharpsburg - 2,421
Spring Hope - 1,261
Middlesex - 838
Dortches - 809
Whitakers - 799
Bailey - 670
Castalia - 340
Momeyer - 291
Nash County has an abundant water supply from the Tar River and its tributary creeks. A 1,400 acre reservoir on the Tar River, southwest of Rocky Mount, was completed in 1971. In addition to ensuring an abundant water supply, it offers attractive recreational areas with fishing, water skiing and boating.
HEALTH CARE
Nash Health Care Systems encompasses Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, Coastal Plain Hospital & Counseling Center and Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center. Nash General Hospital, a 300-bed acute care facility, was opened in 1971. This seven-story facility was the first hospital in the state to have all-private rooms. Expansion has created Nash Day Hospital, the first freestanding outpatient facility in the nation. Nash Day offers radiology, radiation oncology, surgery, rehabilitation, laboratory and endoscopy services. Nash Day is also home to the Rocky Mount Heartburn Treatment Center, a nationally recognized center of excellence for the treatment of heartburn. Coastal Plain Hospital & Psychiatric Center is a 50-bed psychiatric care and substance abuse center. Opened in November 1999, Aldridge Rehab Center is a 23-bed comprehensive rehabilitation state-of-the-art facility featuring a therapeutic swimming pool and gymnasium as well as an innovative walking garden. The number for Nash Health Care Systems is (252) 443-8000.
Edgecombe-Nash Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services is located at 500 Nash Medical Arts Mall on the Nash General Hospital campus. This agency provides and/or makes referrals to private vendors for a number of services for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse needs. These include outpatient therapy, emergency services, consultation and education, case management; Referral to inpatient psychiatric services for children, adolescents, adults, and elderly individuals who are acutely mentally ill; Referral to Inpatient hospitalization detoxification services for individuals who are alcohol or drug abusers; referral to Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program for consumers with severe and persistent mental illness; Adult developmental activity program (ADAP) for individuals who are developmentally disabled; Alcohol and drug education traffic schools (ADETS), Drug education schools (DES) and Inpatient hospitalization detoxification services for individuals who are alcohol or drug abusers; Provision of and referral to either social setting, non-hospital medical, or outpatient detoxification services for individuals who are alcoholics as well as forensic services for individuals of all disability groups. Their phone number is (252) 937-8141.
TRANSPORTATION
Nash County features a range of transportation facilities. Served by the main line of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, along the eastern boundary, the Nash County Railroad serves the central portion of the county and the southern portion of the county is served by Norfolk and Southern Railroad. The county is also served by a network of major highways including US Highways 301, 264, 64; Interstate 95 and state highways 97, 48, 58, and 44. There are also numerous motor freight carrier terminals in the Rocky Mount area.
Regional air service as well as shuttle service to Raleigh-Durham International Airport is provided by the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport which opened in 1970. Located on NC Highway 97, RWI is just a short drive of 6.5 miles from Rocky Mount and only minutes from industrial traffic routes.
Carolina Trailways, a regional bus company that has been operating in North Carolina since the 1920s, now owned by Greyhound, provides scheduled intercity bus service to the Rocky Mount Terminal.
North Carolina's state-supported Carolinian and Piedmont trains and Amtrak's north-south Silver Meteor, Silver Palm and Silver Star trains have scheduled daily service to the Rocky Mount train station.
Nash-Edgecombe Transportation Service (NETS) provides subscription and dial-a-ride transportation for rural residents of Nash County. Dial-A-Ride transportation services (DARTS), operates dial-a-ride paratransit service for certain authorized residents of the City of Rocky Mount who begin and end their trips within 3/4 mile of Rocky Mount Transit's fixed routes.
Rocky Mount Transit operates fixed-route buses for the city of Rocky Mount.
EDUCATION
Rocky Mount is the home of North Carolina Wesleyan College. This four-year co-educational liberal arts college began operations in 1960 on a 200-acre campus. Shaw University of Raleigh has a center in Rocky Mount and offers a component of liberal arts instruction. The Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools serve 17,480 students from 28 campuses including three consolidated high schools and one alternative high school.
Private and parochial schools are also available in the area. Our Lady of Perpetual Help enrolls approximately 250 students in the P-7 program. Falls Road Baptist School, Grace Christian School, NEW Christian Academy, The Enfield Academy and the Rocky Mount Academy are K-12 programs enrolling approximately 1,100 students.
Nash County's continuing educational needs are being met by Nash Community College, offering a full curriculum in vocational college transfer courses as well as providing free literacy and basic skills education to adults. Their program includes courses in trades and industry, business administration, information technology, nursing and secretarial science.
North Carolina State University and East Carolina University are an easy one-hour drive from Nash County.
CULTURAL
The Rocky Mount Arts and Crafts Center offers unique opportunities in the visual and performing arts for the Nash County area. The Center contains an art gallery, theater, classrooms and an art studio. Regular art exhibits, courses in interior design, painting, sculpture, ceramics, crewel, theater-related courses and other arts and crafts activities are offered to all ages.
The area's cultural activities are also enhanced by the Community Concert Series of Symphony Orchestras, the North Carolina Wesleyan Concert Series and professional plays at North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Braswell Library houses houses Adult Collections and Resources with over 23,000 fiction, 33,000 nonfiction, and 2,500 reference titles, 370 periodical holdings, 2400 audio and 700 videos. The Children's and Youth Collections and Resources holds over 19,000 fiction, 11,000 nonfiction, and 560 reference titles and over 1000 videos and 1,000 cassette titles plus 30 magazines. A Spanish language collection of books, audio and videos has over 400 titles. The Nash County Bookmobile maintains an on-board collection that numbers between 2,500 and 3,000 titles, and the shelves back at their library office hold another 6,500 or so. The Bookmobile borrows from Braswell's circulating collection when necessary.
The Spring Hope Historical museum is sponsored and maintained by the Spring Hope Historical Association and is dedicated to the premise that a preservation of the past is a true legacy for the generations to come. Located on Main St., Spring Hope, NC.
RECREATIONAL
Nash County and Rocky Mount also have abundant recreational opportunities. The Tar River Reservoir provides an excellent place for all water-related sports. Fine hunting and fishing are found within the community and throughout eastern North Carolina.
The city of Rocky Mount and Nashville boast facilities for recreational programs in tennis, softball and picnicking. Rocky Mount's Sunset Park has many parks and playgrounds, a miniature train, carousel and city zoo. There are many activities at this park including a miniature train, historic carousel, picnic shelters, lighted tennis courts, a softball field, and lighted basketball courts. Recent additions include Spray Park - a one-of-a-kind attraction featuring 10 computer controlled water spray fountains within a traditional playground structure, and Skate Park for skate boarding enthusiasts. Other local municipalities provide various recreational programs for their residents as well.
Since 1954, the City of Rocky Mount Children's Museum has provided an educational program for young people by interpreting and exhibiting significant objects and enriching their lives through the development of proper attitudes through creative outlets. An emphasis is placed on providing children with "hands on" experiences of the latest technological advances possible as well as giving them an understanding of the history that led us to these advances. The museum has been the subject of many state and regional publications, including "Southern Living" magazine. Ongoing programs at the museum include: classes, animal and science talks, birthday parties, outreach presentations to schools and curator opportunities. Each month, members of the Tar River Astronomy Club gather at the Museum for programs and special viewing.
Excellent golfing facilities are available at courses in the Rocky Mount, Nashville and Spring Hope areas.
AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRY
In the second quarter of 2001, Nash County had a labor force of 41,765. Of this total work force, 4.1% were engaged in agricultural employment and 23.2% were engaged in manufacturing jobs. Growing workforce industry groups are the retail trade (19.8%) and service (20.1%).
Agricultural products from Nash County include tobacco, poultry, swine, corn, forestry, soybeans, sweet potatoes, cotton, peanuts, cucumbers, small grain, beef cattle, dairy cattle and products, nursery and horticultural plants.
Nash County enjoys a rare blend of rural lifestyle coupled with the economic advantages of a diversified agricultural, industrial and service-based economy. Nash County is also positioned as a major gateway between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions of North Carolina.
Thomasville North Carolina
Thomasville North Carolina
Thomasville NC is a city in Davidson County, in the Lexington-Thomasville metro area. The city is notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors of High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's oldest festival, "Everybody's Day". Built around the local railway system, Thomasville is home to the oldest railroad depot in the state, just a few hundred feet from the city's most notable landmark, "The Big Chair".
Established in 1852, Thomasville NC celebrated its 150th birthday in 2002 with 55 events and celebrations. Thomasville's history can be traced to when a $3 million state tax was passed in the 1840's. NC State Senator John W. Thomas thought this would be a great place to start a community. Why, you might ask? Because the state tax was to build the railroad system through North Carolina and this area would be right along the tracks in almost the geographic center of the state.
Thomasville's history is rich in so many ways. City Cemetery is believed to be the only cemetery with Confederate and Federal soldiers buried in a common grave. The North Carolina Vietnam Veterans' Memorial is located in the City and is highlighted by a brick wall with 1,647 bricks having the name of a North Carolinian killed or missing in Vietnam etched into each brick. Thomasville hosts North Carolina's oldest festival called "Everybody's Day" that last Saturday in September each year. The festival grew from an annual attendance of 25,000 to 70,000 after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2002, the enthusiasm did not dwindle, instead, the crowd swelled to 80,000 people enjoying the music, crafts, food, games, etc.
Gastonia North Carolina
Gastonia North Carolina
Gastonia, Gaston County NC offers you a wonderful combination of gardens, parks, historic sites, and shopping delights. Gastonia is the premier city in the Charlotte metro area for your business, associates, and families
Gastonia is located in the heart of the Piedmont section of the State of North Carolina and is the county seat of Gaston County. An All American City, it is the second largest city in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill Metropolitan Area. Gastonia's population is 70,278 which has increased 17 percent in the last decade. Gaston County's population is 190,365, which has grown 7.3 percent from 1993-2003. Gastonia is governed by a Mayor and six-member City Council all of whom are elected on a non-partisan basis. The City provides traditional municipal services such as those relating to Water and Sewer, Electricity, Public Transportation, Recreation Programs, Police and Fire Protection, Community Development, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, as well as other services. The City of Gastonia is also home to the Schiele Museum of Natural History and Lynn Planetarium, an outstanding facility for learning and leisure.
Lexington North Carolina
Lexington North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina is known as the Barbecue Capital of the World. But hickory smoked pork isn't the only thing that's cooking here. So is the opportunity for expanding and relocating companies. Site Selection magazine ranked us 8th among U.S. "micropolitan statistical areas." A Lexington NC location puts you in one of the mid-Atlantic's most dynamic and desirable metro areas (the Piedmont Triad), in one of America's most business-friendly states. With outstanding access to markets, exceptional labor and job training resources, highly competitive cost factors and an appealing small town atmosphere
If a location that is an hour from the Blue Ridge Mountains and just four hours from the North and South Carolina beaches isn't enough, Lexington's special events and everyday attractions are sure to demonstrate our ability to stand alone as a jewel of the Piedmont. The newly renovated Finch Park is a hub for community activity throughout the year. It serves as host for activities ranging from daily leisure trips, youth and adult soccer, baseball and softball games, and events such as the growing Multicultural Festival and the Fantastic July 4th Festival.
If you prefer your strolls to be on a street sidewalk as opposed to a park trail, our revitalized uptown should suit you fine. An organization called Uptown Lexington, Inc. has worked feverishly to pump new life into this historical part of our City. We encourage you to walk our streets and see for yourself all of the success that has been directed that way.
After your stroll of uptown, you can't go wrong by stopping in at one of our frequently visited tourist attractions. For those who appreciate fine things, the Bob Timberlake Gallery is a good choice and for those who appreciate the faster things, the Richard Childress Racing Shop and Museum is right on track.
For a taste of big city atmosphere, the BBQ Festival brings over 100,000 visitors to Main Street each October and is one of the nations top 10 rated food festivals. We think these attractions along with our small town culture make Lexington NC a place you'll never want to leave.
Kings Mountain North Carolina
Kings Mountain North Carolina
Kings Mountain prides itself on being one of the most livable cities in America. Neighbors benefit from exceptional medical facilities, vibrant neighborhood business districts, and a solid network of parks, community centers, and libraries. With a strong economy, safe streets and a diverse workforce, Kings Mountain is poised for continued success in fostering new enterprise throughout the city.
Kings Mountain is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in an area known as the Piedmont of North Carolina. Ideally located between Greenville, S.C. and Charlotte, N.C., it is served by I-85 and U.S. Highways 74 and 29.
Kings Mountain continues to grow as more and more people make their homes and bring their businesses here. The county, ideally located in the foothills of North Carolina, is home to comfortable climates, top-notch educational institutions and healthcare facilities, recreational opportunities, and friendly people.
Whether you are interested in outdoor recreation, the arts, dining and shopping, business and industry, education or healthcare, we have it all right here in Kings Mountain.
In the county, you will find manufacturers of truck cabs, compact discs, transmissions, aircraft parts, ceramic capacitor material, electric motors and production equipment, as well as some specialized textile companies.
Gross retail sales for Cleveland County exceed $1 billion a year. The major retail areas are the Cleveland Mall, with large retailers such as Sears, Belk, and Goody's; and the Kings Mountain, Boiling Springs and Uptown Shelby areas, which boast specialty shops and an abundance of restaurants. In Cleveland County, you can eat or shop at a well-known establishment or choose one of our independently-owned restaurants or shops.
Agriculture continues to be an important part of the county’s economy. Major crops are fescue for hay and grazing, soybeans, wheat, cotton, alfalfa, tomatoes, and summer squash. In addition, apples, peaches, and various small fruits and greenhouse crops are produced. The animal enterprises primarily consist of beef cattle, dairy, broilers, and turkeys. Cleveland County also has a few dairy farms still in operation.
Incorporated on February 11, 1874, Kings Mountain NC takes its name from the historical Revolutionary battle fought five miles South, thus bringing meaning to our motto "The Historical City." This battle was very important in early American history, being proclaimed "the turning point of the American Revolution in the South."
W.A. Mauney was the first citizen of Kings Mountain. He was the first man to establish a home, opened the first store, was the first postmaster, builder of the first cotton mill and pioneered in the banking business of that general section. W.A. Mauney also cut many paths and roads through the wilderness.
In 1870-72 the building of the Charlotte-Atlanta Airline Railway was the impetus for the founding of Kings Mountain town. Farmers had no vision of turning the land into town lots or industrial sites, but men of other parts of the county and adjacent areas saw the possibilities for development. Freno Dilling moved his sawmill from Cherryville to the site of the present Kings Mill on N. Piedmont Avenue in May, 1872. The first railroad track was laid in the fall of that same year. The Dilling sawmill supplied some of the cross ties and his well furnished water to the railroad engines.
Today Interstate 85 and US Highway 74 run through the City, making Kings Mountain ideally located for transportation needs of its many businesses. Kings Mountain industries were firmly based on textiles in the early years, but transportation, along with three established Industrial Parks have diversified the business climate. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is nearby, giving us a virtual lifeline to the World.
An indoor natatorium and a new multi-million dollar Junior Olympic Swimming Pool and Sports Complex offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family.
Gardner Webb University is only a thirty minute drive and UNCC is forty five minutes away. Both schools are four year degree institutions offering excellent masters and doctorate programs.
The location and history not only makes Kings Mountain unique but also the fact that we own and operate our own utilities of Gas, Electric, Water and Sewer providing one-stop shopping convenience for those requiring our services. We also own John Henry Moss Lake, which not only provides recreational activities, but also provides our city's water supply.
With the Kings Mountain National Military Park, and two state parks within a five minute drive from the center of town, we have the opportunity of enjoying nature as well as the history of our area. Over one million visitors pass through these parks each year.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Cary, North Carolina's Borders Bulge as More Find Nirvana within City Limits
Cary, North Carolina's Borders Bulge as More Find Nirvana within City Limits
According to the latest census figures Cary, North Carolina, is the 8th fastest growing city in the nation. Disgruntled with overpriced housing markets, many find Cary an attractive alternative.
Cary, NC (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -- Across the county, residents disenchanted with their local housing markets are noticing the grass growing greener in Cary, NC. According to the new census figures for last year*, Cary grew by 5,451 residents (a 5.1% increase), making it the fastest growing city in North Carolina and #8 in the Nation. To accommodate the influx of families, Wake County has opened 7 brand new schools for 2007 and has encouraged more year-round schedules to better utilize classroom space.
Cary, listed in Money Magazine's Top 5 places to live, attracts new residents for several reasons: excellent public schools, affordable housing, reasonable taxes, strong job market, low crime, a mild climate, and genuinely friendly people.
Many national housing markets, especially on the east and west coasts, rise and fall like a rollercoaster. For example, in the suburbs of Washington DC a half a million dollars buys a mere 1200sqft fixer-upper. Meanwhile home prices in the Cary area have appreciated slowly and steadily (Averaging 3% to 8% over the last 6 years). $500,000 spent in Cary purchases a brand new 3,200 sqft dream home.
NC and Wake county's taxes and insurance are very reasonable. Using the median Cary home price of $256,900, property taxes are roughly $2,500/year and insurance is around $500/year. This alone inspires many homeowners in New York and New Jersey to start whistling Dixie, as they pay obscenely high taxes that, in many cases, rival or exceed their home's principal and interest payment.
The Job Market in Cary is healthy and lucrative. Major centers for employment are in neighboring Raleigh, the State Capitol, and the Research Triangle Park (RTP), the largest research park in the world. Forbes magazine recently voted Raleigh the #1 city in the nation for Business and Careers. With the good paying jobs and the reasonable home prices, Cary has one of the best housing affordability indexes in the nation.
Cary, North Carolina is the 8th safest city in the Nation. Perhaps this is due to the Bible belt's religious influence or the triangles distinction of having more PhD's per capita. Either way, families feel safe in Cary's streets and parks. Cary is part of the much celebrated Wake County Public School system and many of the top performing schools serve Cary's neighborhoods.
Drawn by the mild climate and high quality of life, retirees are moving to the area in increasing numbers. Currently the third most popular retirement destination, NARA's study shows that "North Carolina is projected to overtake Florida as the number one retirement state over the next 10 years." With Rex, Wake and Duke Hospitals nearby residents enjoy some of the finest health care in the nation.
And lastly, most are quite fond of the verdant landscapes and weather in Cary. While summers are hot and humid, winters are short, pleasant and mild. Spring and fall are long, lovely and colorful.
*Census date from the July 2005 to July 2006 sampling period
Source: IGRealestate
Slumping housing market hits Charlotte area
Slumping housing market hits Charlotte SC area
Region sees 13% drop in sales, but average price is up 4%
Charlotte-area home sales fell by double digits in June, the largest dip of 2007.
The local housing market has been up and down by single-digit percentages since last September, which saw the first drop in sales in more than three years. Real estate agents say Charlotte is feeling the impact of slowing sales in other cities, magnified by rising interest rates.
Sales in the $300,000 to $750,000 price range are especially slow, agents say, while sales of $1 million-plus homes remain surprisingly healthy.
The good news is that prices are rising slightly, unlike those in many U.S. markets where they're falling.
Carolina Multiple Listing Services released its June sales figures for the region Tuesday. There are two ways to view the latest numbers, and both point to a slowdown.
• In June, closings on homes, condos and townhouses fell 13 percent from the same month last year. Because sales are seasonal, the best measure of monthly numbers is to compare them with the same month of the previous year.
• For the first six months of 2007, total sales through the MLS dipped 4 percent from the same period the year before. Experts say a larger sample paints a more accurate picture of the market.
Real estate pros say Charlotte has escaped the market meltdowns that have hit other cities. "Things definitely have slowed, but we still have an incredible market," said Dan Cottingham of real estate company Cottingham-Chalk. "Charlotte is definitely bucking the national trend."
That national trend, though, is being felt here.
Realtors compare slow housing markets in other cities to bad weather at distant airports. If it snows in Chicago, planes are grounded in Charlotte. If newcomers can't sell their homes back in the Midwest, they can't buy here.
That's not a new issue, but one that has more impact here as news gets worse across the country.
The National Association of Realtors won't report June home sales until later this month, but national existing-home sales in May were down more than 10 percent from the same month last year. It was double that in some cities.
In the Charlotte area, sales dipped only 5 percent in May.
"Our market has been more affected by people coming from elsewhere who can't sell the house where they're coming from than from things in our market," said Dot Munson, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. "That's been building for a while."
Cottingham agreed, and said rising interest rates also have eroded sales. While rates are still relatively low, at about 6.4 percent for a 30-year mortgage, they've inched up about three-quarters of a point in the past 90 days.
In fact, Cottingham said, he's surprised sales haven't slowed more, considering the national slump and rising rates. "It's like two perfect storms," he said.
Other measures of the Charlotte market remain healthy.
The average price of a home sold through the MLS in June was $248,048. That's up 4 percent from the same month last year.
It would take about seven months to sell all the houses, condos and townhouses currently on the market in the Charlotte region at the present rate. That hasn't changed much since March and actually has improved in June.
Cottingham said some parts of Florida have more than a year's supply.
The news is even better in Mecklenburg County. David Barnhardt of First Charlotte Properties says Mecklenburg, which traditionally accounts for about half of the area's listings, has a five-month supply.
Walter Molony of the National Association of Realtors says a six-month supply is considered balanced between sellers and buyers. More than a six-month supply becomes a buyer's market. Less than six months becomes good news for sellers.
The supply is creeping up across the country. Molony said the national average is eight to nine months.
It's taking a bit longer to sell a home here than it did a year ago, Realtors say.
Munson, who is with Re/Max Executive Realty, said an average of 90 to 120 days would reflect a balanced market. "When it gets beyond that, something is not right," she said.
In June, the average time on the market was 115 days, at the upper end of the range.
Munson, Cottingham and others say the slowest-moving homes in Charlotte now are in the $300,000 to $750,000 price range. Buyers of more expensive homes don't depend as heavily on selling their current homes to buy their next homes.
Especially hard hit are owners trying to sell relatively new homes in areas where builders are still active. Builders always tend to set prices in neighborhoods where they're building. The slowing market elsewhere has only increased pressure on them to sell in Charlotte.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Wake Forest North Carolina
Located in northern Wake County, Wake Forest NC is a progressive community of over 25,000 residents with a vibrant downtown that boasts more than 100 businesses, including several outstanding restaurants and specialty shops. Mindful of its rich heritage, the downtown is also an officially registered historic district. Representative of its academic history, the town is the home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southeastern College at Wake Forest.
Our community is proud of its rich history, leaders who make a difference, numerous shopping and dining opportunities, and tremendous cultural diversity. Parks, green spaces, and tree lined streets add to the livability. Our schools, medical facilities, businesses, arts and attractions also contribute to our wonderful quality of life.
We also offer a vast array of services to assist our residents, the backbone of our community.
Wake Forest is a unique community with a thriving downtown where you can walk just about anywhere to shop, eat or simply visit.
Situated less than 10 miles north of Raleigh and approximately 250 miles south of Washington, DC, Wake Forest is a prime location for anyone wishing to enjoy a quality way of life with all the benefits of city living. The community offers quick, easy access to the Triangle's first class universities, the Research Triangle Park, Atlantic Coast Conference athletics, professional sporting events, and world renowned golfing events. In addition, the beach is just over two hours away, while the mountains are a three to four hour drive, so you are never very far from North Carolina’s most popular vacation destinations.
Several churches in the area reveal a strong spiritual value in the community, while the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the area through family activities and programs that encourage businesses to prosper.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
North Carolina Webcams
North Carolina Webcams
Webcam sites from North Carolina
Charlotte (2)
Raleigh (1)
Asheville Webcam
A view of Pack Square, the true center of downtown Asheville. Western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smokey Mountains Parkway. More details
North Carolina Webcam Girl
if you really want me to melt like 'butta' under your touch just give me a massage! Ohhhh that feels so good! Check out my streaming webcam! More details
Wrightsville Beach Webcam
Live view of Wrightsville Beach provided by Surf City Surf Shop More details
Cape Hatteras Webcam
Image every 60 seconds of Cape Hatteras provided by WFMY-TV 2 More details
Atlantic Beach Webcam
Live view of Atlantic Beach provided by eastcoastsurf.com More details
Wrightsville Beach
Live streaming view of Wrightsville Beach from The Blockade Runner Beach Resort More details
Holden Beach Webcam
Live view of Holden Beach and a bridge provided by Brunswickland Realty More details
Kill Devil Hills Webcam
Live view of Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills More details
The Boone Cam
Welcome to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Boone, North Carolina, Live view 24/7. More details
High Country Webcams
Live webcam views of the high country in North Carolina. Includes mountain and ski resort webcams. More details
East Carolina University Webcams
4 live views of East Carolina University. Images of the campus entrance, Sonic Plaza, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium More details
Fayetteville Webcam
Check the scenery in Fayetteville from our live Fayetteville Tower Cam. More details
Storm Study Truck Webcam
Live images captured by a truck chasing bad weather. The image is sent from the truck via Verizon Wireless technology. More details
Oriental Harbor Webcam
HarborCam takes a new picture of the Oriental Harbor every ten minutes from dawn til just before dusk More details
Banks Channel Webcam
Live view of the Banks Channel, Wrightsville Beach provided by Tracy Shuford More details
EiLiveSurf
Live streaming surf cam in Emerald Isle, NC located at Bogue Inlet Pier. More details
Durham Bulls Webcam
Live view inside the Durham Bulls Baseball Athletic Park More details
Roxboro Webcam
Live view of the Main Street in Roxboro provided by esinc.net More details
Elizabethtown WebCam Broad St
Streaming webcam provided by Kinlaw Studio & Radio Shack More details
Asheville Webcam
LIVE view from Haywood Road in West Asheville, North Carolina. More details
Holden Beach Web Cam
Holden Beach has over 8 miles of pristine beaches and moderate temperatures throughout the year. The community has over 125 golf courses within a one-hour drive and boating, fishing, and hiking the island are popular activities. The island is a sea turtle habitat. More details
Zero Gravity Skatepark
Live action from the largest skatepark in Western North Carolina More details
Wrightsville Beach Cam
Streaming Surf Cam in Wrightsville Beach, NC More details
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Shows a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park More details
Morganton Downtown Web Cam
Morganton Downtown Webcam More details
Wrightsville Beach Cam
Live shots from Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina More details
Mt Mitchell State Park Cam
The camera is located near the top of Mount Mitchell State Park and is updated every half hour. More details
Downtown Franklin Cam
Operated by the WFPJ radio station in Franklin, North Carolina More details
Banner Elk Camera
Shows the area on Hwy 184 just down from the elementary school where the cam can be zoomed to show off festivals and more. If you are a people watcher, you'll love this webcam! More details
WCU Campus Camera
The cam is located in A. K. Hinds University Center and shows the Alumni Tower . More
West Jefferson Camera
The camera is located in downtown West Jefferson and shows Mount Jefferson and the downtown traffic More details
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Western Carolina Webcams
High Country Webcams compiles dozens of live views from around the Western North Carolina mountains.
Banner Elk / Beech Mountain
Banner Elk - Hwy 184
Beech Mtn. Parkway Cam!
Charlie's Beech Cam!
Grandfather Mtn
Beech Mountain Top Cam
Sleepy Hollow Cam
Banner Elk - Waterfall
Boone, Blowing Rock NC
Main Street Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock Road
Boone Cam
Boone Overlook!
Highway 105
Smoketree Lodge 105 Cam!
Ashe County Area
Jefferson Landing Golf
West Jefferson Cam
Asheville Area
Hendersonville Golf
Brevard NC
Rainbow Lake Cam (New!)
Little Switzerland, Marion, Morganton, Spruce Pine Cams
Lake James Cam
Little Switzerland
Morganton Cam
Spruce Pine
Smoky Mountain Cams
Great Smoky Mtns. #1
Shining Rock
Great Smoky Mtns. #2
SKI RESORT CAMS
Sugar Mtn Front
Sugar Mountain Top Cam
Beech Slopeside Cam
Beech Mtn Sledding Cam!
Hawksnest Resort
Appalachian Ski Mountain
Cataloochee
Wolf Laurel Resort
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Top North Carolina Places
Top North Carolina Places
Charlotte - Population: 540828
Raleigh - Population: 276093
Durham - Population: 187035
Asheville - Population: 68889
Greensboro - Population: 223891
Fayetteville - Population: 121015
Wilmington - Population: 75838
Cary - Population: 94536
Greenville - Population: 60476
Morrisville - Population: 5208
North Carolina Largest Cities (50,000 +)
Asheville - Population: 68889
Cary - Population: 94536
Charlotte - Population: 540828
Concord - Population: 55977
Durham - Population: 187035
Fayetteville - Population: 121015
Gastonia - Population: 66277
Greensboro - Population: 223891
Greenville - Population: 60476
High Point - Population: 85839
Jacksonville - Population: 66715
Raleigh - Population: 276093
Rocky Mount - Population: 55893
Wilmington - Population: 75838
Winston-Salem - Population: 185776
North Carolina Cities (20,000 +)
Apex - Population: 20212
Asheboro - Population: 21672
Burlington - Population: 44917
Chapel Hill - Population: 48715
Fort Bragg - Population: 29183
Goldsboro - Population: 39043
Havelock - Population: 22442
Hickory - Population: 37222
Huntersville - Population: 24960
Kannapolis - Population: 36910
Kinston - Population: 23688
Lumberton - Population: 20795
Matthews - Population: 22127
Monroe - Population: 26228
New Bern - Population: 23128
Salisbury - Population: 26462
Sanford - Population: 23220
Statesville - Population: 23320
Wilson - Population: 44405
North Carolina Cities (10,000 +)
Albemarle - Population: 15680
Boone - Population: 13472
Carrboro - Population: 16782
Clemmons - Population: 13827
Cornelius - Population: 11969
Eden - Population: 15908
Elizabeth City - Population: 17188
Garner - Population: 17757
Graham - Population: 12833
Henderson - Population: 16095
Hendersonville - Population: 10420
Hope Mills - Population: 11237
Indian Trail - Population: 11905
Kernersville - Population: 17126
Laurinburg - Population: 15874
Lenoir - Population: 16793
Lexington - Population: 19953
Masonboro - Population: 11812
Mint Hill - Population: 14922
Mooresville - Population: 18823
Morganton - Population: 17310
Newton - Population: 12560
Piney Green - Population: 11658
Reidsville - Population: 14485
Roanoke Rapids - Population: 16957
Shelby - Population: 19477
Smithfield - Population: 11510
Southern Pines - Population: 10918
Tarboro - Population: 11138
Thomasville - Population: 19788
Wake Forest - Population: 12588
North Carolina Cities (10,000 +)
Archdale - Population: 9014
Belmont - Population: 8705
Bessemer City - Population: 5119
Black Mountain - Population: 7511
Brevard - Population: 6789
Butner - Population: 5792
Cherryville - Population: 5361
Clayton - Population: 6973
Clinton - Population: 8600
Conover - Population: 6604
Davidson - Population: 7139
Dunn - Population: 9196
Edenton - Population: 5394
Elon College - Population: 6738
Forest City - Population: 7549
Fuquay-Varina - Population: 7898
Half Moon - Population: 6645
Hamlet - Population: 6018
Hillsborough - Population: 5446
Holly Springs - Population: 9192
James City - Population: 5420
Kill Devil Hills - Population: 5897
King - Population: 5952
Kings Grant - Population: 7738
Kings Mountain - Population: 9693
Knightdale - Population: 5958
Lewisville - Population: 8826
Lincolnton - Population: 9965
Mebane - Population: 7284
Morehead City - Population: 7691
Morrisville - Population: 5208
Mount Airy - Population: 8484
Mount Holly - Population: 9618
Murraysville - Population: 7279
Myrtle Grove - Population: 7125
Oak Island - Population: 6571
Ogden - Population: 5481
Oxford - Population: 8338
Pinehurst - Population: 9706
Rockingham - Population: 9672
Roxboro - Population: 8696
Royal Pines - Population: 5334
Selma - Population: 5914
Siler City - Population: 6966
Silver Lake - Population: 5788
South Gastonia - Population: 5433
Spring Lake - Population: 8098
St. Stephens - Population: 9439
Summerfield - Population: 7018
Trinity - Population: 6690
Washington - Population: 9583
Waynesville - Population: 9232
Weddington - Population: 6696
Whiteville - Population: 5148
Williamston - Population: 5843
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Sanford North Carolina
Sanford North Carolina
The Sanford Area includes the City of Sanford, the Town of Broadway, and the County of Lee. Sanford has over 600 area businesses who are the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce. Sanford is one of the fastest growing communities in North Carolina.
The Sanford Area preserves the beauty and charm of its days as a small southern railway town and blends it with a modern and diverse economic base. Sanford is located in the geographic heart of North Carolina, with access to the world-renowned Research Triangle to our north, and the equally renowned golf courses and resorts in the Sandhills to our south.
Sanford was named for C.O. Sanford, a railroad engineer instrumental in the building of the rail lines through the area.
Sanford is located in Lee County, North Carolina, which was formed from parts of the surrounding three counties in 1907. On creation of the new county, both Sanford and Jonesboro were the major towns in the area. Rather than decide which would be the county seat, the decision was to place the county's new courthouse directly between the two towns. For decades, Lee County was the only county in the United States to have a courthouse with an RFD address. In the late 20th century Sanford had grown to such an extent that it eventually merged with Jonesboro. The town of Jonesboro became Jonesboro Heights, and the name of Sanford was kept for the town.
Source: Sanford NC
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Mount Airy North Carolina
Mount Airy North Carolina
Step back to a simpler time when you visit Mount Airy NC. Actor Andy Griffith grew up here, and it's no coincidence that a stroll down Mount Airy's Main Street reminds people of the town of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show
It is noted that that the first settlers came to Mount Airy’s town site before 1747, almost 150 years before the town was incorporated. Jefferson and Frye made their map of this region after the boundary survey of 1747, they noted these settlers: Loven, Mount, and a Scotsman named Rentfrow or Rentfrew, who probably had his home on the hill (post office site) which still bears his name and who gave his name to the river which we call the Ararat and to the street we call Renfro.
In 1801, Thomas Perkins bought from Surry’s most important citizen of his time, Martin Armstrong, his plantation home on the river of Hamburg Street. He named it Mount Airy. Since affairs centered around this plantation, the little settlement became known as Mount Airy. Mount Airy became an official post office in 1832 with James Tucker as postmaster. In 1885 Mount Airy was incorporated. Mount Airy began to grow quickly, which spawned fire and police protection, water works in 1895 and garbage collection in 1899.
That the inhabitants of the City town of Mount Airy shall continue to be as heretofore a body corporate, under the name of “the Town of Mount Airy,” and under the name and style of “The Town of Mount Airy,” and under such name is hereby invested with all privileges, immunities and franchises property and all other rights hereto belonging or appertaining to the town of Mount Airy, and in and by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, acquire and hold property, real and personal, for the use of the town, as its board of commissioners may deem necessary and expedient.
The officers of the town of Mount Airy shall consist of a Mayor and five commissioners, to be elected by ballot on the first Monday in May of each year (or any other day as may be designated and set apart by the general law of the State for municipal elections); also a constable, secretary and a treasurer, to be chosen by the board of commissioners immediately after its organization, to hold for one year or until successors are elected and qualified; and it shall be the duty of the Mayor to give notice of the election ten days previous thereto by posters written or printed and put up at three or more public places within the corporate limits of the town; and if the board of commissioner of Surry County shall fail or neglect to appoint inspectors, two resident citizens shall be appointed by the mayor, who with himself shall hold said election.
The mayor, as a peace officer shall have within the corporate limits, all the powers of a justice of the peace, and as a judicial officer within the same jurisdiction and authority necessary to issue, process upon and to hear and determine all cases arising upon the ordinances of the board of commissioners, to impose penalties upon the adjudged violation thereof, to tine and imprison either in the Guard House of the town or the common jail of the county, and execute all laws and ordinances of the town; Provided, that in all cases any person dissatisfied with his judgment may appeal to the Superior Court of Surry County, upon recognition, with security for his appearance at the next term thereof.
That every violation of a town ordinance shall be a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty days.
Source Mount Airy NC
Washington North Carolina
Washington North Carolina
The River town of Washington NC, approximately 10,000 residents is located in northeastern North Carolina on the beautiful Pamlico River. Washington NC is the first city in America to be named for General George Washington, the future first president of the United States. Washington is located on the Pamlico and Tar rivers in the inland coastal region of North Carolina at the intersection of US 17 and US 264, approximately 125 miles east of Raleigh,
Rich history, natural beauty, and quaint southern culture set the stage for a wondrous overnight or weekend getaway at the heart of the Inner Banks in Washington, North Carolina. Named for General George Washington in 1776, the area's deep heritage is matched only by its lush natural setting where an abundance of recreational, educational and cultural activities happen throughout the year. It's a destination and a perfect starting point for everything Eastern Carolina has to offer! So whether you want to revisit the past or satisfy your curiosities, discover the arts or explore your true nature, you can do it from the heart of the Inner Banks - Washington, North Carolina.
Washington's rich history adds to the character of the community. The settlement of Washington was laid out in 1775 on the northern bank of the Pamlico/Tar River by Colonel James Bonner and named in honor of General George Washington, his commander-in-chief. The City was incorporated by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1782. It became the county seat of Beaufort County in 1785, an honor previously held by the Town of Bath, North Carolina's oldest town, located 15 miles east.
There are numerous towns named Washington in the United States, but Washington, NC, is the first to have been named for General Washington (prior to his being named our nation's first president). Therefore, Washington, NC, is "The Original Washington."
Because of Washington's strategic location at the junction of coastal and inland rivers, the town developed as a regional shipping center and was recognized as a port in 1784. Washington also was a federal supply outpost during the Revolutionary War.
Washington has rebuilt after devastating fires destroyed all but a few of the City's antebellum structures. The construction that followed the second major fire in 1900 (the first burning was during the War Between the States) produced a concentration of Victorian era homes and commercial buildings in the area now designated as the Washington Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the largest commercial and residential historic districts in North Carolina
Source Washington NC
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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Indian Trail North Carolina
Indian Trail North Carolina
Indian Trail is a growing community located in the Charlotte metropolitan area, intent on progress with a strong manufacturing base, but focused on its greatest asset -- its residents. With this in mind, the Town of Indian Trail offers a blend of manufacturing, retail and agricultural businesses that form a strong economic base for its people. Indian Trail NC has much for lifetime residents as well as newcomers. You will find a wide variety of industry and commerce, agriculture, and small businesses. New homes are being built and old homes are being renovated, both offering comfortable living options with low property taxes. Families love Indian Trail for its schools, churches, recreation and small-town amenities.
Aside from providing jobs, Indian Trail offers a wide variety of neighborhoods for its residents. Several fine builders have chosen Indian Trail to develop planned residential communities along with features that make their neighborhoods a place to call home.
Residents can still see the rich heritage of Indian Trail's farming community, yet signs of growth can be seen all around town. New businesses are choosing to locate in Indian Trail, adding to the ever-increasing economic vitality of our town. Proposed downtown development plans are an exciting addition.
Activities abound both in Indian Trail and in surrounding communities. Soccer, swimming, horseback riding, baseball, and more are available to Indian Trail residents. Local clubs, churches, and civic groups combine to make the Indian Trail lifestyle attractive to its citizens.
Indian Trail NC is a town with a rich heritage. Most people know Indian Trail for the trading route which was established in the seventeenth century. This path ran between Petersburg, Va. to the Waxhaw Indian settlement; thus, the name "Indian Trail." Prior to permanent white settlement, the region was primarily the province of the Waxhaws. Due to its geographic location settlers came to the area from three sources....Highland Scots of the Sandhills region, German settlers who came down from the Catawba Valley, and others who traveled water routes from South Carolina. Land grants were issued to newcomers in 1752 and continued for another quarter century.
The first post office in Indian Trail was established on March 12, 1861 with Cyrus Stevens as postmaster. It was discontinued in 1866, but reopened under Henry Stevens in 1870 and flourished into modern times. In 1912, James Orr built a commercial block which still stands. It was used for various establishments, including a general store, post office, and movie theatre.
Before the town was incorporated, it was a big farming community. Scotch-Irish and German settlers moved into the area before the American Revolution. In 1874 the Seaboard Railroad was completed in the county. It ran from Charlotte to Monroe and went through Indian Trail. The railroad helped the town prosper by making it easier for people to get in and out of town and making goods and services more available. Gold mining was important to the community...about 100 residents strong in 1897. A business directory lists W.H. Phifer and Co., Eli Hemby and Co., and Thing and Co. as local mining enterprises. General stores were operated by A.J. Williams and Hemby & Leonard.
The first church was built in 1901, the Indian Trail Methodist, followed by the Indian Trail Presbyterian Church in 1913. The Indian Trail Presbyterian Church (shown here) met in a nearby school until the congregation voted to build a church in 1916. History records that William Henry Belk, the founder of the Belk Department Store chain, offered to furnish either the bricks for the church or a sum equivalent to the cost of bricks. The congregation, when discussing construction, voted unanimously for stone....a decision which has made the church a landmark in North Carolina.
The town became incorporated in 1907, with the city limits being designated as a circle one-half mile in radius from a point in the center of the railroad tracks.
In 1912 the population of the town was about 300. Things continued to look bright until the Great Depression when all fell apart. It wasn't until the 1960's when the future appeared brighter. Both people and industries began to see advantages in residing outside large cities. Indian Trail's growth began to spurt again.
The Indian Trail school was erected in 1923 although it had been organized since 1903. Originally all grades were taught at this school. (The photo at right is the sixth grade class of 1928). Now, however, growth has been so substantial that only grades K-5 can be taught. The original building still stands among the new additions of recent years.
Electricity came to Indian Trail in late 1927. Telephone service is reported to have started in approximately 1900 and in 1901 shared the only direct line to Charlotte with Matthews. The phone system changed hands several times between then and 1955 when purchased by the North Carolina Telephone Company, which has evolved into present day Alltel system.
The Town of Indian Trail has a wonderful park. Cecil Rogers provided the town with 15 acres of land for an athletic field. He named the park after his wife and used her maiden name - Edna Love.
We wish to thank Eagle Scout Nick Jones and Michael Hill of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources for their research. A "Corner Museum" of the history of Indian Trail is located at Town Hall.
Huntersville North Carolina
Huntersville North Carolina
With great neighborhoods, countless amenities and its friendly small town atmosphere, Huntersville NC also provides access to the haven of Lake Norman. This breathtaking 32,500-acre man-made lake with 520 miles of shoreline provides scenic vistas, recreation and wildlife for all to enjoy. Huntersville is also just 10 minutes from Charlotte and only hours from mountain and beach resorts.
In 1990, 3,014 people called Huntersville NC home. Proximity between the Queen City and the lake, lower home prices, less traffic and quiet communities catapulted Huntersville's population in 2000 to 24,960, an amazing 728 percent. Today, approximately 40,000 people call Huntersville home.
This tremendous population growth has fueled a booming real estate and homebuilding industry. Newcomers can choose from a broad range of home styles and prices family-friendly neighborhoods with sidewalks and bike trails, waterfront condominium communities with boat slips, or spacious luxury apartments.
Huntersville NC operates a Parks and Recreation department that organizes classes, special events and athletics for all ages. Huntersville also has a family fitness center and outdoor fun park where kids can slide through tubes, spray water cannons and climb sprinkler-filled jungle gyms inside a pool.
Although much of the retail and residential areas in Huntersville are new, the town also has 18 historic sites within a five-mile drive of Beatties Ford Road. Hopewell Presbyterian Church, for instance, dates to the 1740s and features 200 year-old stone walls around its cemetery. The Hugh Torance House and Store, started in the 1770s, is the oldest surviving store in Mecklenburg County. Latta Plantation Nature Preserve is the county's largest green space with hiking trails, a nature center, an equestrian center, boating and fishing on Mountain Island Lake, and a unique raptor center that rehabilitates and releases injured birds of prey.
The town of Huntsville NC also boasts of world-class retail stores. Birkdale Village on Sam Furr Road includes apartments and offices above boutiques, restaurants and national retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Gap and Ann Taylor Loft. Live bands play on warm-weather weekend evenings, and parents from around the lake bring children to splash and play in the village square fountain.
Aside from great neighborhoods, countless amenities and its friendly small town atmosphere, Huntersville also provides access to the haven of Lake Norman. This breathtaking 32,500-acre man-made lake with 520 miles of shoreline provides scenic vistas, recreation and wildlife for all to enjoy.
Huntersville NC is also just 10 minutes from Charlotte and only hours from mountain and beach resorts.
High Point North Carolina
High Point North Carolina
Experience world-class living, special events and easy living with a southern flair in High Point NC. Comfortable homes and exciting attractions make a living in the Piedmont Triad area both relaxing and enjoyable for everyone.
Whether it's a castle born from our gold refining heritage or a 19th century Quaker Plantation, High Point offers something fun for everyone. In 1859, when High Point was named after the "highest point" on the North Carolina Railroad between Goldsboro and Charlotte, city founders knew that its central location would attract industry and commerce. Today, High Point draws visitors from 50 states and more than 100 countries for the biannual International Home Furnishings Market, the largest event of its kind in the world.
High Point NC region's rich history, distinctive cultural events, and diverse shopping selection. High Point offers more than 70 retail furniture outlets here in the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™! Discover the wonder of miniatures, as well as collectible and antique dolls at the Peterson Doll and Miniature Museum or revisit Civil War history at a local plantation. Gather a group for a picnic at a pavilion by Oak Hollow Lake. Hike with a friend along the nature trails of the Piedmont Environmental Center. Spend an afternoon at an art gallery or an evening at the theatre, concerts by the lake or festivals at the park ... throughout the year High Point invites you to share all that makes this city memorable. Come find your new home in High Point NC.
Hendersonville - Flat Rock North Carolina
Enjoy the hospitality and tranquility of Historic Hendersonville and the Village of Flat Rock nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in Western North Carolina, 22 miles south of Asheville, NC. Our area, known for its gentle climate, beautiful scenery, a richness in culture & history, ample recreational facilities, and friendly people has been a popular place to live for well over a century.
Hendersonville NC
The village of Hendersonville received its charter from the General Assembly as the City of Hendersonville and was officially recognized as the county seat of Henderson County on January 7, 1847.
Hendersonville’s original charter fixed the corporate city limits to be a half mile from the courthouse, but not to go beyond Mud Creek. The charter stated that five commissioners were to be elected at once as the governing body of the town.
The elected five commissioners took the oath of office and appointed a magistrate and a town constable. The constable also served as the city tax collector, city treasurer and the overseer of the city streets.
Hendersonville First Baptist Church was the first church organized within the city limits of the new county seat. The church was founded in 1844; the first services were held in the courthouse. In 1848 the city deeded the church a lot that was located between South Main Street, East Barnwell Street and Mud Creek. The church built its first structure a year later and started the first graveyard within the city limits.
During the 1920’s the graves were removed so that King Street, which ended at East Barnwell Street, could be extended through to South Main Street as it is today.
Flat Rock NC
Flat Rock NC began about a century and half ago with large summer estates being built in the English manner by the affluent Charlestonians, Europeans and prominent plantation owners of the South’s low country. The first great estate was built in 1827 by Charles Baring of Baring Brothers Banking firm of London, consisting of 3000 acres, which he named Mountain Lodge. Baring also built a private chapel on his estate which is now St. John In The Wilderness Episcopal Church.
The second large estate, called Argyle was built by Judge Mitchell King of Charleston, SC. He later donated the land on which Hendersonville was built and directed the laying out of Main Street.
Many other coastal families soon followed, until the settlement grew to about fifty estates. The families of South Carolina’s Low Country came to Flat Rock to escape the sweltering heat, yellow fever and malaria, which were running rampant. Summers in Flat Rock became a round of Southern gaiety in antebellum days. South Carolina’s Low Country gentry call Flat Rock The Little Charleston of the Mountains.
Most of these old estate homes still stand, surrounded by wide lawns, gardens, towering trees and white pillar porches, shielding their visibility from the highway. A few of these gracious homes remain in the possession of the families of the original owners. Many of these grand estates are now lovely planned communities.
The whole district of Flat Rock is included in the National Register of Historic Places, and Historic Flat Rock Incorporated is striving to preserve what remains in this area of the Old South.
Flat Rock is built around a tremendous outcrop of granite which is said to have been the site of Cherokee gatherings. A great deal of rock has been blasted away and used for highway material. The main rock can be found on the grounds of the Flat Rock Playhouse
Source: Hendersonville-Flat Rock NC
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Pinehurst North Carolina
Pinehurst North Carolina
Pinehurst had a population of 9,706 people in the year 2000, nearly double its population in 1990. Many of these new residents come from across the country, if not the world, to settle in this "village in the forest". When asked what brought them here, many cited ambiance, community character and spirit as their reasons for choosing the area. If the current rate of about 230 new homes being built each year continues on the remaining vacant lots, our population may again double by the year 2020.
Looking for a place with a healthy atmosphere to build a health-orientated resort, James Walker Tufts (head of the America Soda Foundation) stopped in the Sandhills area in the spring of 1895. Despite the fact that the area had been almost completely clear-cut by the timber industry, something about this area moved him, and in June 1895, he bought 598 acres of land for nearly $1.25 per acre around what is now the Village Center.
On June 20, 1895, Tufts contacted Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York and the landscape designer of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, to help him create a first-rate resort. That summer, with the new plan in hand, 450 men began construction on what was originally referred to as "Tuftstown". Tufts selected the name Pinehurst for his resort out of a list of non-winning names for Martha' s Vineyard.
On New Year's Eve 1895, the Holly Inn opened its doors and Pinehurst was on its way.
Since all of the early buildings of Pinehurst stood on barren land, Tufts hired Warren Manning to plant over 222,000 tree seedling and other plants (47,250 of these were imported from France) around Pinehurst to give the resort the natural beauty we all still enjoy today.
For many years, Pinehurst was a privately held resort under sole proprietorship of the Tufts family. The Tufts family controlled all aspects of the resort and closely monitored all types of activities, including the creation of its first 9-hole golf course in February 1898, and the continued acquisition of more land.
In 1920, a corporate form of ownership was established when a charter for Pinehurst, Inc. was obtained from the North Carolina Secretary of State. Tufts considered incorporating the village as a municipality in 1926, but he felt that a lack of year-round residents and state tax laws would not be able to sustain it.
During the Great Depression, as other resorts began to fail, property owners in Pinehurst agreed to pay more taxes in order to support the resort through the Depression and ensure that it would not fail like the surrounding resorts. During World War II, Pinehurst served as a support area for neighboring Fort Bragg and many servicemen were either residents or visitors.
It was not until 1960 that Pinehurst became a year-round resort with the introduction of air conditioning and swimming pools at the resort facilities. By the late 1960s, however, Pinehurst's days as a paternalistic resort under the Tufts were coming to an end.
Realizing that the resort was 75 years old and in need of significant investment to update and improve the resort facilities, the Tufts heirs sold Pinehurst, Inc., including the resort and approximately 7,500 acres of land, to the Diamondhead Corporation for $9.2 million in January 1971. It was under Diamondhead' s control that the creation and sale of lots with membership rights to the Pinehurst resort facilities began.
Advertisements were placed in newspapers around the country, and people were flown in to play golf and purchase a lot. Lake Pinehurst was created to enhance the residential neighborhood, new recreational improvements were made (including Course Number 6 in the late 1970s), and infrastructure was put into place to support the new development. However, all this activity was not considered to be progress by local residents.
Since Pinehurst was not a full municipality, there were no building inspections, no planning or zoning regulations, and no real means for the concerns of the residents to be acted upon. After several years of debate among residents over whether to seek incorporation as a full municipality or continue to allow Diamondhead to coordinate affairs, it was decided by a majority in 1980 that Pinehurst would function most effectively independently of the Diamondhead Corporation.
In 1980, with a population of 1,746 residents, Pinehurst was granted full incorporation as a municipality and was, for the first time, more than just a privately run resort.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pinehurst had a population of 9,706 people in the year 2000, nearly double its population in 1990. Many of these new residents come from across the country, if not the world, to settle in this "village in the forest". When asked what brought them here, many cited ambiance, community character and spirit as their reasons for choosing the area. If the current rate of about 230 new homes being built each year continues on the remaining vacant lots, our population may again double by the year 2020.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Cornelius - Lake Norman North Carolina
Cornelius - Lake Norman North Carolina
Nestled on the banks of beautiful Lake Norman are the towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. These unique towns present a wide array of leisure amenities for visitors and guests including upscale shopping, year-round golfing, fishing and other water activities.
The area also offers numerous attractions to explore. From Lake Norman, you may enjoy the ease of traveling anywhere in the state. We're just north of Charlotte, and the mountains and coast are only a short drive away. Whatever your desire, find it outside your door in Lake Norman!
In the late 1800's, two thriving cotton firms located in Davidson disagreed on whether an official town cotton weigher should be appointed. After a heated election was held and legislation enacted, a town cotton weigher was hired and the firm which opposed the appointment decided to relocate much of its operations just south of the Davidson town limits.
Frequently after heavy rains, the road connecting Davidson and (soon-to-be) Cornelius would become impassible. The hill leading into Davidson would become so muddy that many cotton farmers found it safer and more convenient to conduct their business just south of Davidson in a small frame building. The success of the cotton purchasing business later inspired the owners to construct a cotton mill where raw cotton could be converted into cloth. The owners of the cotton firm lacked the needed money to make the idea of a cotton mill a reality, but they knew who could provide the financial backing. Joseph Benjamin Cornelius (1833-1914) supplied the needed investment and the mill was opened. Although the Town was originally incorporated as 'Liverpool', the Town's name was soon changed to Cornelius to honor J.B. Cornelius who was the principal stockholder in the cotton mill.
The damming of the Catawba River to create Lake Norman was as influential as the cotton industry to the town's development and growth. In 1963 Duke Power created Lake Norman and provided the area with recreational opportunities and a source of hydroelectric power. The formation of Lake Norman also provided the area with choice lakeside property.
Source: Cornelius NC
Kernersville North Carolina
Kernersville North Carolina
Traditionally, Kernersville NC was positioned as the center of the Triad, located equally between Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point. However, Kernersville’s position as a central point in the Triad is now changing. The emergence of the Piedmont Triad International Airport area as a major development center has become more of a central Triad focal point
Kernersville has experienced a steady growth pattern during the past 70 years as a direct result of Kernersville and the Triads metropolitan job growth. Job growth attracts new residents. Available undeveloped land, water, sewer and road capacity has supported the growth
Job growth is the major contributor towards the growth of residential and commercial developments. The most recent Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point area job growth projection has been completed by NCDOT and using the job base of 1994, it was projected that by the year 2025 the job base would grow from 276,000 to 379,000, a 37% increase. Kernersville’s central location and development potential will cause it to have a higher rate of job growth. Also, Kernersville has diversity in its job sector, which lessens the impact in slow down in specific job sectors
The Triad is the second largest economic center of the Carolinas, with large finance, distribution, and manufacturing sectors. One large regional bank, BB&T, has their headquarters in the Triad. The Triad is regarded as the furniture design and manufacturing capital of the world. Major educational institutions include Wake Forest, UNC-Greensboro, High Point University, Winston Salem State University, and NC A&T University are located in the Triad. The major medical facilities include Baptist Hospital, Forsyth Hospital, High Point Regional and Moses Cone Hospital
Kernersville NC occupies an important position in the Triad’s residential, commercial and industrial real estate markets due to its central location. Kernersville’s growing commercial and industrial job base is attracting new residential development. Also, families find Kernersville a convenient location to the multiple job centers found throughout the Triad
Source: Kernersville NC
Cary North Carolina
Cary North Carolina
Cary NC is a thriving community in the heart of the Triangle area of North Carolina, between Raleigh and renowned Research Triangle Park. The Triangle area repeatedly has ranked among the top regions in the country to live or work, to find a home or start a business, to raise a family or retire.
Cary embraces the best of city life:
Our sense of security - Cary NC ranked the 8th safest of 371 large cities nationally and the safest in the South during 2005. Its Police and Fire departments and Emergency Medical Services are nationally accredited.
Livability - Tree-lined streets and well-groomed subdivisions and office parks show Cary has grown the right way.
Vibrancy - Cary is home to world class businesses and national retail stores. Our fast-growing Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources program has something for everyone, regardless of age or interest.
Diversity - School-age children comprise nearly a quarter of Cary's population. Yet people of retirement age are the fastest-growing group in Cary. Fourteen percent of townspeople were born in another country, and the Asian population - Cary's largest minority - tripled during the 1990s.
A progressive approach to challenge - Cary is proactive. We're conserving drinking water by reclaiming treated wastewater for irrigation and industrial processes, preserving open space, and working with citizens and county leaders to make our schools even better.
Yet we've remained the Town of Cary while growing to more than 100,000 people.
At the Town of Cary NC, we focus every day on enriching the lives of our citizens by creating an exceptional environment and providing exemplary services that enable our community to thrive and prosper.
Source: Town Of Cary
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Tarboro North Carolina
Tarboro North Carolina
Incorporated in 1760, Tarboro, NC is one of the oldest towns in the United States. The town still has its original Town Common, a 15-acre park canopied by tall oaks that marks the threshold to our 45-block Historic District and renovated Downtown, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tarboro, North Carolina is the county seat of Edgecombe County. It is located on the banks of the Tar River in the northeastern section of the state's Coastal Plain, accessible by Interstate 95 and U.S. 64. It is approximately 72 miles from Raleigh, the state capital. Tarboro's location in northeastern North Carolina makes it easily accessible to major airports, freight and passenger train service, and highway systems and bus routes.
Rich in history and steeped in tradition, Tarboro was incorporated in 1760 and is one of North Carolina's oldest towns. Through the centuries, progressive leadership has led to growth and prosperity, and today, Tarboro thrives as an All-America City with a strong, viable economic base. Our major industries include food processing, plastics, fertilizer, textiles, and communications.
Tarboro has preserved much of its history and has developed one of the most active historic preservation programs in North Carolina. Numerous public and private residential and commercial restorations can be found in one of the largest historic districts in this part of the country. A National Historic Trail guides tourists through the older neighborhoods of the town.
As the county seat of Edgecombe County, Tarboro is also the center of one of North Carolina's finest agricultural areas, producing tobacco, cotton, peanuts, and corn.
Front Porches are the open arms of a house. They greet you with a "Hello, " "Pleased to meet you, " or "Won't You come in?" Their language is spoken in seasonal flowers and greenery; stately white banisters; and carefully swept floor boards.
The ambient sounds from a porch make pleasant company; rhythmic thumps of rockers; the tinkle of ice in tall tea glasses; the creaks of porch swings. With them may come the roar from a punch line; the murmur of a confidence told; or the lilt of good people sharing good times.
In Tarboro, North Carolina, a front porch is more than part of a house. It's a symbol of a way of life that's easy, open, and relaxed - yet casually elegant. It's a symbol of a life growing so unique that Tarboro has become a regular stop on tours associated with The History Channel, The Victorian Society, The Smithsonian and Historic Albemarle.
Source: Tarboro NC
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Salisbury North Carolina
Salisbury North Carolina
Salisbury NC, the county seat of Rowan County, is located in the heart of the beautiful Piedmont area, the industrial heart of North Carolina. Located on Interstate 85, 35 miles from Charlotte and Winston-Salem, Salisbury is in one days' travel time to any major city on the east coast. It is the approximate halfway point between Washington, DC and Atlanta.
The deed for Salisbury NC is dated February 11, 1755. The court center, called prior to this time Rowan County House, was a bustling little village of seven or eight log cabins, the courthouse and a jail and pillory, according to Governor Arthur Dobbs who visited here in late 1755. The courthouse dates to 1753 with records of deeds, marriages, and miscellaneous documents of value. Papers formerly in the clerk's office (i,e., early court minutes) are stored at the State Department of Archives in Raleigh. Familiar names in American history adorn these records. Andrew Jackson, William R. Davie, Richard Henderson, Daniel Boone, Lord Cornwallis, Richard Caswell and other prominent local families such as the Barkleys, Hoovers and Polks, all ancestors of presidents or vice-presidents, appear often in county documents.
The climate in the Salisbury NC area is moderate. The massive mountains of Western North Carolina form a natural barrier against the cold east-west winds. While definitely "southern" in climate, Salisbury is far enough north and has sufficient altitude to escape the humid summers endured by many other southern regions. Extremes in climates are rare and short-lived. In winter the high temperature averages about 50F., with a low around 32F., The total snowfall is normally about six inches a year. Summer highs average about 87F. with a low of 66F. All in all, the climate of Salisbury affords many pleasant days of enjoyable living.
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Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
Roanoke Rapids North Carolina
The Roanoke Valley is located in northeastern North Carolina along Interstate 95. We are just south of the Virginia state line and approximately 90 miles west of the Atlantic coast. Halifax County encompasses 732 square miles, and Northampton County covers 549 square miles. Driving time to both Raleigh, NC, and Richmond, VA, is approximately 90 minutes. Washington, D.C. is a three-hour drive.
Roanoke Rapids NC located on the Roanoke River in North Carolina's Inner Banks at the fall line, which marks the area where an upland region (continental bedrock) and a coastal plain (coastal alluvia) meet. The fall line is typically prominent where a river crosses it, for there will usually be rapids or waterfalls. Because of these features river boats typically can not travel any further inland. Because of the need of a port, and ready supply of water power, settlements often developed where the river crosses the fall line. In fact, this river is what caused Roanoke Rapids to initially develop. Sam Patterson and other textile contractors originally built their mills along this river to promote their business in a better location than they previously had.
The most prominent example of fall line settlement was the establishment of the cities along the eastern coast of the United States where the Appalachian Rise and the coastal plains meet.
The seven mile long Roanoke Rapids Canal trail starts at the Roanoke dam and ends roughly a mile after passing the historic aqueduct. The trail is fairly narrow, which limits access only to walkers, runners, and bikers.
Roanoke Rapids is known for a number of historical sites. The original Roanoke Rapids High School building or Senior building as it is sometimes referred, opened in 1921 and still in use, embodies many elements of Elizabethan Gothic and Tudor Revival architecture in its castle-like facade. It was built by industrialist Samuel Paterson and designed by renowned architect Hobart Upjohn in a modified H-design. It is the dominant building in the city's central core and is flanked by another castle like structure which formerly housed a National Guard Armory. The Roanoke Canal Museum focuses on the former shipping canal built in the 18th century and is located in a former canal lock building.
Roanoke Rapids is also home of the future Carolina Crossroads, an entertainment district founded by Dolly Parton and her brother Randy Parton. When finished, it will feature an amphitheater, aquarium, water park, billiards center, and more attractions. The billiards center is the idea of world-famous billiards player Jeanette Lee.
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Monday, July 9, 2007
North Carolina Northeast Area
NC Northeast Area
The Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission promotes economic development and travel and tourism for sixteen northeastern North Carolina Counties. The Northeast Commission provides no cost, confidential assistance to companies considering relocation or expansion in the region. The organization also supports efforts to increase visitor awareness of the many natural, historical, cultural and recreational opportunities that abound in North Carolina's Northeast.
Site Selection Magazine named the Commission one of the TOP 10 Economic Development Organizations in the US.
Our sixteen-county region is nestled between Interstate 95 on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. North Carolina's Northeast has traditionally been known for its beautiful inland waterways, historical communities and the first flight of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. And the weather is always great in North Carolina's Northeast.
The landscape of economic development in Northeastern North Carolina is changing. New transportation improvements, construction of over $50 million in natural gas improvements, and an abundant supply of labor are bringing more and more focus to our Region's business potential.
There's also several projects in Northeast North Carolina that will bring about even more economic opportunity for our Region:
NC Center for Automotive Research (NC CAR)
Construction will begin soon for the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research in Northampton County. NCCAR is a facility for transportation research, development, and testing that will be constructed on a 630 acre tract along the Interstate 95 Corridor in Northampton County. The facility is modeled after highly-successful centers located in Ohio and the U.K.
NC CAR will provide comprehensive facilities including test tracks, dynamometer and emissions testing stations, computer assisted development tools, and other facilities. The NC General Assembly has appropriated $11.25 million and funding has been received from Golden LEAF and the US Department of Energy for this project.
In conjunction with this project, Lotus Engineering, Inc. will locate a research/development center at the Advanced Vehicle Research Center that will create 108 new jobs and $1.49 million in new investment.
Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District
Country music artist Randy Parton and his sister, star Dolly Parton, broke ground for The Randy Parton Theater. The project is the cornerstone of the Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District to be located along Interstate 95 in the vicinity of Exit 171 in Roanoke Rapids, NC. The Randy Parton Theatre will open on July 26, 2007. Keep up with the latest news regarding The Randy Parton Theatre at www.rptheatre.com.
The development represents a music and entertainment venue that will become a nationally-recognized travel destination for our state. With the attraction of well-known music artists, family entertainment venues such as music theaters, shopping, hotels, motels, restaurants, and family recreational activities, the project’s location along Interstate 95 has the potential to attract visitors from across the country. The project will encompass over 700 acres and will be built in phases. Phase I of the project will encompass 116 acres along Interstate 95 at Exit 171 and represents an estimated $129,000,000 investment and the creation of over 2,595 new jobs.
Source: ncnortheast
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North Carolina Business Rankings
North Carolina Business Rankings
2001
* The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill region was ranked 8th among the nation's most-wired cities, according to an annual study by Yahoo! Internet Life magazine. The rankings, published in the April issue of the magazine, are based on a variety of data, including percentage of households online, proportion having high-speed connections, amount of online spending, local business presence on the Web, and sites for local government services. [ April 2001 ]
* Site Selection magazine ranked North Carolina No. 7 in the nation for the number of new facilities and the expansion of existing facilities in the state during 2000. [ March 2001 ]
* Statesville, N.C., was ranked for the second year in a row as America's No. 1 small town for corporate facilities. Site Selection magazine's annual ranking, which lists the top 100 small towns in America for expansion activity, includes 18 towns in North Carolina. Also among the top ten is Mooresville, N.C. [ March 2001 ]
2000
* In its survey of the 50 Best Large Metro Areas to start a business, Inc. magazine ranked Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte No. 4 and No. 7 in the nation, respectively. The Wilmington-Jacksonville area was ranked No. 7 in the 50 Best Small Metro Area category. Rankings were based on two measures--number of new businesses locating to the area over the past ten years, and the growth index of those companies. [ December 2000 ]
* Money magazine has rated the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as the No. 1 best place to live in the South, according to the magazine’s 14th annual survey. [ December 2000 ]
* North Carolina was ranked the No. 1 state to relocate to in a recent reader survey conducted by Plants, Sites and Parks magazine. [ November 2000 ]
* Entrepreneur Magazine and Dun & Bradstreet rated the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area No. 3 among the top 10 large U.S. metropolitan areas in their seventh annual ranking of the Best Cities in the nation for entrepreneurship. The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area was also ranked No. 2 among Southeast cities for entrepreneurship. These cities were ranked based on their ability to inspire business start-ups, encourage expansion of existing firms, attract new jobs and limit the risk of failure. [ October 2000 ]
* World Trade magazine ranked North Carolina as one of the "Top Ten Best Places to do Business." The states selected were the ones that demonstrated success in a variety of sectors, such as educational facilities, R&D centers and quality of life. [ March 2000 ]
1999
* Site Selection magazine ranked North Carolina No. 1 in the nation for its business climate. The rankings were compiled based on a survey of corporate executives and information from Conway Data's new and expanded facilities database. [ November 1999 ]
* North Carolina was rated No. 3 in the nation for business retention according to an index study conducted by the Brandow Co. for Business North Carolina magazine. The study counted businesses in each state in 1996, determined how successful they were through 1999 and measured growth in both sales and jobs. [ November 1999 ]
* North Carolina was ranked the No. 5 state for biotechnology growth by Business Facilities magazine. The rankings were based on statistics released by the US Labor Bureau. [ October 1999 ]
* The North Carolina Community College System was ranked No. 1 in worker training for the second year in a row, according to Expansion Management magazine. The rankings were decided by the magazine's national panel of site selection consultants. [ October 1999 ]
* In a recent survey conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), North Carolina ranked No. 3 in the nation for most favorable business climate. [ May 1999 ]
* Site Selection magazine ranks North Carolina No. 4 in the nation for the number of new facilities and the expansion of existing facilities during 1998. [ February/March 1999 ]
* Business Facilities magazine ranked North Carolina No. 4 in the nation for the plastics industry location. [ February 1999 ]
Source: investnc
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NC Real Estate. Starting Up in the Triangle
NC Real Estate. Starting Up in the Triangle
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – What does it take to succeed as an entrepreneur? That is the questions that many in the Triangle would like to know the answer to.
Regardless of what the secret recipe for entrepreneurial success really is, entrepreneurs in this area can gain a lot of invaluable advice from other entrepreneurs by asking each other similar questions. We sat down with Dean Bundschu, CEO of Apex-based PrepChamps, to hear his thoughts on growing a company in the Triangle.
What are some of the most important factors to consider when starting a company?
There are so many different factors that you will need to take into consideration before you start a company. These are the five that our team at PrepChamps deemed most critical:
1. Clear Vision. Make sure that your product or service solves a problem, can scale quickly, addresses a big market and can grow profitably. If you think that you have a great idea, you need to research your market and determine the true potential for your idea. It may be nice to think that you are the next MySpace or YouTube; but what you really need to do is ask yourself how large your market base really is. You will need to lose your emotion and review worst-case scenarios in your business plan. This will help you figure out what is the best approach to take when defining your vision.
2. Define Success. PrepChamps goal is to be the nation’s top website for high school sports videos. We aim to become the most heavily trafficked sports video service with more uploaded recruiting videos and a broader selection of content than any other hosted sports video service. In order to determine what success looks like, you need to set milestones and you need to define your exit strategy. Once you define these metrics, you need to leverage the power of technology. This will help you find ways to scale the business quickly.
3. Market Like #1. Size really does not matter. Understand that customers do not care how large you are in a physical sense. You company will be judged based upon how well you present your product. Focus on what makes you number one when compared to direct and indirect competitors. Then focus on the benefits versus other possible solutions.
4. Get Resourceful. Find creative ways to overcome lack of initial capital. In order to do this, you need to maximize any revenue or initial cash that you might have. For example: utilize word-of-mouth/viral marketing strategies. Once you do find capital or start to generate revenue, make sure you stay disciplined. Always focus on being frugal and stretching out your dollars.
5. Stay Small. In other words it’s all about speed versus size. Do not focus on growing the physical size of the company, instead, focus on leveraging the smallness of the company to run circles around larger and slower competitors.
What has made the Triangle the right place for you to start and grow PrepChamps? What resources does the Triangle offer that have been particularly helpful to PrepChamps?
The Triangle is truly an amazing entrepreneurial community. There are so many unique resources available for aspiring entrepreneurs. The best place to start is the CED. If you are thinking about starting a business, you should enroll in the CED FastTrac program. This program helped us to network into every aspect of this tight nit community. Because of the CED, we were able to connect with business partners like Paladin and Associates, Preation, iContact, Hutchinson Law Group, Hosted Solutions and the entire investment community. Once you get your foot in the door, you will find out that almost everyone you talk to is willing to help you if you just ask.
What have been some of your greatest challenges in starting PrepChamps? How have you overcome them?
The single greatest challenge that we have faced to date has been raising capital. Before you get started, you need to be prepared to go it alone if need be. Do not rely on investors to get your company off the ground. Every member of our team has made tremendous sacrifices to help get PrepChamps going. You need to be mentally prepared for the challenges that you are sure to face, this usually means that you will have to ‘bootstrap’ the company for a while and that means that you will have to be ready to “work for free” for at least a year.
What can regional planners and entrepreneurial support organizations improve upon to make the Triangle more entrepreneur friendly?
Organizations like the CED and YEO provide a lot of resources for aspiring entrepreneurs. There are also a lot of organizations and individuals that will go out of their way to lend a hand and provide support. The one thing that seems to be lacking is any type of formal support group for seed stage or early stage companies. We would like to see some type of formal CEO peer-group created for companies like ours. It would be nice to see an organization sponsor a confidential forum where new companies can get together and discuss the everyday challenges that you face when trying to get a new company off the ground.
If you had one piece of advice for entrepreneurs in the Triangle, what would that be?
Do not be afraid to fail. You need to realize that you are going to make a ton of mistakes. The key is to learn from your mistakes quickly and never make the same mistake twice. The truth is that you have a limited amount of time to get it right. Focus on your value proposition; you need to make sure that you can get people’s attention right away!
Source: IQRealEstate
North Carolina History
North Carolina History
Early History
At the time of the first European contact, North Carolina was inhabited by a number of native tribes sharing some cultural traits, but also distinguished by regional and linguistic variations. Three major language families were represented in North Carolina: Iroquoian, Siouan, and Algonquian. The Iroquoian tribes--the Cherokee, Tuscarora, Meherrin, Coree, and Neuse River (which may have been Iroquoian or Algonquian)--were related linguistically and culturally to the Iroquois tribes to the north. The Cherokee were located in the mountains on the western boundaries of the state and the Tuscarora, Meherrin, Coree, and Neuse River were located in the coastal plains. Located primarily in the piedmont area, or central portion, of the state were the Siouan tribes: the Cape Fear, Catawba, Cheraw, Eno, Keyauwee, Occaneechi, Saponi, Shakori, Sissipahaw, Sugaree, Tutelo, Waccamaw, Wateree, Waxhaw, and Woccon. The Algonquian-speaking tribes represented the southernmost extension of predominantly Northeastern Woodlands tribes and were located entirely in the tidewater area of the state. These were the Bear River, Chowan, Hatteras, Nachapunga, Moratok, Pamlico, Secotan, and Weapomeoc.
Since most historical accounts of travelers and settlers dealt with either the Cherokee or the Algonquian, little is known about the Siouan peoples and their pre-contact cultures. The descriptions which follow will deal with the Cherokee as representative of the Iroquoian, with the Catawba as representative of the Siouan-speakers and the piedmont tribes, and the coastal Algonquian.
Coastal Algonquian
At the time of the first contact of Europeans with the Indians, the Algonquian tribes occupied the tidewater areas of the Atlantic Coast extending from Canada to as far south as the Neuse River in North Carolina. In 1584, the estimated 7,000 Algonquians living in North Carolina were relative newcomers to the Southeast, having come in a series of migrations. To some extent, they retained cultural elements from their Northeastern Algonquian traditions, but there was also a great deal of cultural borrowing from their southern neighbors as they adapted to the geographical and climatic conditions of the area, in that they were more water-oriented and placed more emphasis upon hunting, fishing, and gathering than did most of their neighbors.
Catawba
The Catawba was one of the Siouan-speaking tribes of the piedmont area of the Carolinas at the time of the first European contact. Little is known of their culture and life style at that time, since contact was few and sporadic and little was documented of their culture. What is known, is based largely on the writings of John Lawson, who explored the piedmont territory and visited the Catawba in 1701.
Not only is little known about the Catawba culture, there is also confusion as to exactly who the Catawba were. The Catawba Nation was actually a military alliance of several Siouan tribes and remnants of tribes or bands decimated by war and disease who joined the Catawba. In the historical records, they have been known by several different names: the Spanish referred to them as the Issa, the Ysa, or the Usi and the 17th century Virginians called them the Usheree or Ushery. After the Yamasee War they became known as the Catawba, which means "cut off," apparently referring to their being cut off from other Siouan tribes. Their name for themselves was I Ye Ye, "people," or Nieye, "real people." At the time of contact, there were approximately 6,000 Catawbas, equal in size to the Tuscaroras. The only tribe larger than these two groups was the Cherokee.
Cherokee
At the time of their first contact with Europeans, in the mid-16th century, the Cherokee lived in the isolated hills and valleys of the highest portions of the Southern Appalachians. Related linguistically to the Iroquois to the north, some scholars believe that successive groups of Cherokee were driven southwards in pre-Columbian times until they settled in the Southern Appalachians.
By the beginning of the 18th century, the Cherokee territory had expanded to include Allegheny County in southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia and Alabama. Abundant in natural resources, this area provided over 800 species of plants used for food, medicines, and crafts. A wide variety of trees in the dense forests was available for fuel, weaving fibers, twine, medicinal barks and the framework and covering of dwellings, while plentiful animals provided food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.
The first known European exploration of North Carolina occurred during the summer of 1524. A Florentine navigator named Giovanni da Verrazano, in the service of France, explored the coastal area of North Carolina between the Cape Fear River area and Kitty Hawk. A report of his findings was sent to Francis I and published in Richard Hakluyt's Divers Voyages Touching the Discoverie of America. No attempt was made to colonize the area.
Between 1540 and 1570 several Spanish explorers from the Florida Gulf region explored portions of North Carolina, but again no permanent settlements were established.
Coastal North Carolina was the scene of the first attempt to colonize America by English-speaking people. Two colonies were begun in the 1580's under a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh. The first colony, established in 1585 under the leadership of Ralph Lane, ended in failure.
A second expedition under the leadership of John White began in the spring of 1587 when 110 settlers, including seventeen women and nine children, set sail for the new world. The White Colony arrived near Hatteras in June, 1587, and went on to Roanoke Island, where they found the houses built by Ralph Lane's expedition still standing. Two significant events occurred shortly after the colonist's arrival: two "friendly" Indians were baptized and a child was born. Virginia Dare, as the baby was named, became the first child born to English-speaking parents in the new world.
The colonists faced many problems. As supplies ran short White was pressured to return to England for provisions. Once in England, White was unable to immediately return to Roanoke because of an impending attack by the Spanish Armada. When he was finally able to return in 1590, he found only the remnants of what was once a settlement. There were no signs of life, only the word "CROATAN" carved on a nearby tree. Much speculation has been made about the fate of the "Lost Colony," but no one has successfully explained the disappearance of the colony and its settlers.
Colonial Period
The first permanent English settlers in North Carolina were immigrants from the tidewater area of southeastern Virginia. The first of these "overflow" settlers moved into the Albemarle area of northeast North Carolina around 1650.
In 1663, Charles II granted a charter to eight English gentlemen who had helped him regain the throne of England. The charter document contains the following description of the territory which the eight Lords Proprietors were granted title to:
All that Territory or tract of ground, situate, lying, and being within our Dominions in America, extending from the North end of the Island called Luck Island, which lies in the Southern Virginia Seas and within six and Thirty degrees of the Northern Latitude, and to the West as far as the South Seas; and so Southerly as far as the River Saint Mathias, which borders upon the Coast of Florida, and within one and Thirty degrees of Northern Latitude, and West in a directLine as far as the South Seas aforesaid; Together with all and singular Ports, Harbours, Bays, Rivers, Isles, and Islets belonging unto the Country aforesaid; And also, all the Soil, Lands, Fields, Woods, Mountains, Farms, Lakes, Rivers, Bays, and Islets situate or being within the Bounds or Limits aforesaid; with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish, Whales, Sturgeons, and all other Royal Fishes in the Sea, Bays, Islets, and Rivers within the premises, and the Fish therein taken; And moreover, all Veins, Mines, and Quarries, as well discovered as not discovered, of Gold, Silver, Gems, and precious Stones, and all other, whatsoever be it, of Stones, Metals, or any other thing whatsoever found or to be found within the Country, Isles, and Limits ...."
The territory was called Carolina in honor of Charles the First ("Carolus" is the Latin form of "Charles"). In 1665, a second charter was granted to clarify territorial questions not answered in the first charter. This charter extended the boundary lines of Carolina to include
All that Province, Territory, or Tract of ground, situate, lying, and being within our Dominions of America aforesaid, extending North and Eastward as far as the North end of Carahtuke River or Gullet; upon a straight Westerly line to Wyonoake Creek, which lies within or about the degrees of thirty six and thirty Minutes, Northern latitude, and so West in a direct line as far as the South Seas; and South and Westward as far as the degrees of twenty nine, inclusive, northern latitude; and so West in a direct line as far as the South Seas.
Between 1663 and 1729, North Carolina was under the control of the Lords Proprietors and their descendants, who commissioned colonial officials and authorized the governor and his council to grant lands in the name of the Lords Proprietors. In 1669, John Locke wrote the Fundamental Constitutions as a model for the government of Carolina. Albemarle County was divided into local governmental units called precincts. Initially there were three precincts--Berkley, Carteret, and Shaftesbury--but as the colony expanded to the south and west new precincts were created. By 1729, there were a total of eleven precincts: six in Albemarle County and five in Bath County, which had been created in 1696.
Although the Albemarle Region was the first permanent settlement in the Carolina area, another region was developed around present-day Charleston, South Carolina. Because of the natural harbor and easier access to trade with the West Indies, more attention was given to developing the Charleston area than her northern counterparts. For a twenty-year period, 1692-1712, the colonies of North and South Carolina existed as one unit of government. Although North Carolina still had her own assembly and council, the governor of Carolina resided in Charleston and a deputy governor appointed for North Carolina.
In 1729, seven of the Lords Proprietors sold their interests in North Carolina to the Crown and North Carolina became a royal colony. The eighth proprietor, Lord Granville, retained economic interest and continued granting land in the northern half of North Carolina. All political functions were under the supervision of the Crown until 1775.
Colonial government in North Carolina was essentially the same during both the proprietary and royal periods. The only major difference was who appointed colonial officials. There were two primary units of government: one consisted of the governor and his council and the other consisted of a colonial assembly of persons elected by the qualified voters of the county. There were also colonial courts; however, unlike today's courts, they were rarely involved in formulating policy. All colonial officials were appointed by either the Lords Proprietors prior to 1729 or the Crown afterwards. Members of the colonial assembly were elected from the various precincts (counties) and from certain towns which had been granted representation. The term "precinct" as a geographical unit ceased to exist after 1739. These areas became known as "counties," and about the same time "Albemarle County" and "Bath County" ceased to exist as governmental units.
The governor was an appointed official, as were the colonial secretary, attorney general, surveyor general, and the receiver general. All officials served at the pleasure of the Lords Proprietors or the Crown. During the proprietary period, the council was comprised of appointed persons who were to look after the proprietors' interests in the new world. The council served as an advisory group to the governor during the proprietary and royal periods, as well as serving as the upper house of the legislature when the assembly was in session. When vacancies occurred in colonial offices or on the council, the governor was authorized to carry out all mandates of the proprietors, and could make a temporary appointment until the vacancy was filled by proprietary or royal commission. One member of the council was chosen as president of the group, and many council members were also colonial officials. If a governor or deputy governor was unable to carry on as chief executive because of illness, death, resignation, or absence from the colony, the president of the council became the chief executive and exercised all powers of the governor until the governor returned or a new governor was commissioned.
The colonial assembly was made up of men elected from each precinct and town where representation had been granted. Not all counties were entitled to the same number of representatives. Many of the older counties had five representatives each while those newer ones formed after 1696 were each allowed only two. Each town granted representation was allowed one representative. The presiding officer of the colonial assembly was called the speaker and was elected from the entire membership of the house. When a vacancy occurred, a new election was ordered by the speaker to fill it. On the final day of each session, the bills passed by the legislature were signed by both the speaker and the president of the council. The colonial assembly could not meet arbitrarily, but rather convened only when called into session by the governor.
Being the only body authorized to grant a salary to the governor or to be responsible for spending tax monies, the legislature met on a regular basis until just before the Revolutionary War; however, there was a constant battle for authority between the governor and his council on the one hand and the general assembly on the other. Two of the most explosive issues were the power of the purse and the electing of the treasurer, both privileges of the assembly. Another issue of contention was who had the authority to create new counties. On more than one occasion, elected representatives from counties created by the governor and council, without consultation and proper legislative action by the lower house, were refused seats until the matter was resolved. These conflicts between the executive and legislative bodies were to have a profound effect on the organization of state government after independence.
The Halifax Resolves
North Carolina, on April 12, 1776, authorized her delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence. This was the first official action by a colony calling for independence. The 83 delegates present in Halifax at the Fourth Provincial Congress unanimously adopted the Halifax Resolves, which read as follows:
The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parlia- ment of Britain against America, and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of this province reported as follows, to wit,
It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan con- certed by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the
Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrouled and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety, have made divers Legislative Acts, denouncing War
Famine and every Species of Calamity daily employed in destroying the People and committingthe most horrid devastations on the Country. That Governors in different Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves who should imbrue their Hands in the Blood of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to America are declared prizes of War and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most Lamentable distress.
And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations and no hopes remain of obtaining redress by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried, Your Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter into the following Resolve, to wit
Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.
The Halifax Resolves were important not only because they were the first official action calling for independence, but also because they were not unilateral recommendations. They were instead recommendations directed to all the colonies and their delegates assembled at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Virginia followed with her own recommendations soon after the adoption of the Halifax Resolution, and eventually on July 4, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed. William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn were the delegates from North Carolina who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Revolutionary War to Civil War
In early December, 1776, delegates to the Fifth Provincial Congress adopted the first constitution for North Carolina. On December 21, 1776, Richard Caswell became the first governor of North Carolina under the new constitution. In 1788, North Carolina rejected the United States Constitution because of the lack of necessary amendments to ensure freedom of the people; however, on November 21, 1789, the state adopted the constitution, becoming the twelfth state to enter the federal union.
A constitutional convention was held in 1835, and among several changes made in the constitution was the method of electing the governor. After this change, the governor was elected by the people for a term of two years, instead of being elected by the legislature for one year. Edward Bishop Dudley was the first governor elected by the people.
In 1868, a second constitution, which drastically altered North Carolina government, was adopted. For the first time, all major state officers were elected by the people. The governor and other executive officers were elected to four-year terms, while the justices of the supreme court and judges of the superior court were elected to eight-year terms. The members of the General Assembly continued to be elected for two-year terms. Between 1868 and 1970 numerous amendments were incorporated into the 1868 constitution, so that, in 1970, the people voted to adopt a completely new constitution. Since then,several amendments have been ratified, but one in particular is a break from the past. In 1977, the people voted to allow the governor and lieutenant governor to run for reelection successively for an additional term.
North Carolina has had two permanent capitals, New Bern and Raleigh, and there have been three capitol buildings. Tryon Palace in New Bern was constructed in the period 1767-1770, and the main building was destroyed by fire February 27, 1798. The first capitol in Raleigh was completed in 1794 and was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1831. The present capitol building was completed in 1840.
In 1790, North Carolina ceded her western lands which included Washington, Davidson, Hawkins, Greene, Sullivan, Sumner, and Tennessee counties, to the federal government. Between 1790 and 1796 the territory was known as Tennessee Territory, but in 1796 it became simply Tennessee, the sixteenth state in the Union.
During the years between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, North Carolina developed a system of state and local government to meet the needs of its people. During this same period, two North Carolina natives were elected to the presidency of the United States: Andrew Jackson, the seventh president (1829-1837), and James K. Polk, the eleventh president (1845-1849).
Although there was much division in the state concerning secession, North Carolina did secede on May 20, 1861. North Carolina was not considered a wealthy state, but during the Civil War North Carolina supplied more men and materials to the Confederate cause than any other state. The state also suffered the largest number of losses than any other Confederate state during the war. General Joseph Johnston surrendered the last major Confederate Army to General William Sherman near Durham on April 26, 1865.
North Carolina was readmitted to the Union in 1868. Serving as president during much of the difficult period of Reconstruction was Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth president (1865-1869), another North Carolina native. The years of reconstruction and the decades following were characterized by courageous readjustments.
The Twentieth Century
In 1901 Governor Charles B. Aycock introduced a far-reaching program of education throughout the state, an event which marked an important turning point in the history of North Carolina.
In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawk now commemorates their achievement.
In the 1920's a pioneer road building program was instituted which ultimately caused the state to be known as the "Good Roads State."
In recent years the state has emphasized education, industry, and agricultural technology and in each area has achieved many notable successes. Established in 1959 to enhance North Carolina's economic growth, the Research Triangle Park is a unique complex for organizations engaged in institutional, governmental, and industrial research. Three major research universities--Duke University in Durham, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill--are both the base and the capstone of the Research Triangle Park.
In 1971, the third North Carolina Constitution was ratified by the people of the state. It has been amended numerous times since its promulgation. Of particular note are two amendments that affect the governor. In 1977, the governor and lieutenant governor were given the power to succeed themselves, thus allowing the incumbent to run for re-election. In 1997, the governor was given veto power over most types of legislation.
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Banner Elk North Carolina
Banner Elk North Carolina
Located in the Mountains of Western North Carolina, Banner Elk is home to a bustling community thriving in High Country tourism activities such as skiing, golf, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, and fishing.
With a number of fine homes to choose from as well as restaurants and unique shops, Banner Elk offers much for the seasonal resident and part-year resident. Year-round residents benefit from the growing popularity of the Western North Carolina Mountains and comprise the area's growing number of professionals, service personnel, and skilled trade people. Come visit Banner Elk... and who knows, you just might stay!
Banner Elk is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the Western North Carolina. It is 20 minutes away from Boone, and is surrounded by the towns of Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, Seven Devils and Hawk's Nest. There is a wide range of Bed and Breakfast Inns, hotels, vocational rental property and restaurants and bars in town. And just a few minutes away there are ski resorts, golf clubs, hiking trails, campgrounds and other possibilities for outdoor fun.
Banner Elk area is popular among road and mountain biking enthusiasts. Lees McRay College cycling team held the National Championship title several times in the few years since its inception. Team members practice in the surrounding area and on the trails adjacent to the town's green way system.
In the winter Banner Elk is where people come to choose and cut their own Christmas tree and ski, and in the summer it is a perfect place for a family getaway which can be either quiet, peaceful, and relaxing or full of activity, fun, and adventure. Blue Ridge parkway, Grandfather mountain, Linville Falls and Linville Gorge are just a few of the scenic landmarks in the area. The attractions that are worth visiting are the Woolly Worm Festival that takes place in Banner Elk in October, and the summer theater, by the Lees-McRae College Performing Arts department.
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Bald Head Island North Carolina
Bald Head Island North Carolina
On Bald Head Island, you’ll revel in a spectacular range of environments- 14 miles of ocean beach, 10,000 acres of protected salt marsh and tidal creeks, and a vast maritime forest preserve.
As you take in the island’s sensitive land planning and coastal architecture, you’ll become more aware of man’s place within the realm of nature.
All told, it’s an experience you can’t match anywhere else.
Perhaps the single greatest influence on Bald Head Island NC real estate is the developers’ philosophy of sensitive land planning, which ensures that all new development respects the natural surroundings by maintaining a residential sense of scale. As a result, neighborhoods are designed to accommodate homes, people and nature, not parking lots and cars
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Bailey North Carolina
Bailey North Carolina
Bailey, NC, population 675, is located in North Carolina's Nash county, about 29.2 miles from Raleigh and 46.1 miles from Durham. Through the 90's Bailey's population has grown by about 21%. It is estimated that in the first 5 years of this decade the population of Bailey has grown by about 1%.
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Sunday, July 8, 2007
North Carolina Demographics
North Carolina Demographics
North Carolina has 3 Metropolitan Combined Statistical Areas with a population over 1 million:
* The Metrolina: Charlotte/Gastonia/Rock Hill, NC-SC - population 2,124,013
* The Triangle: Raleigh/Durham/Cary/Chapel Hill - population of 1,509,560
* The Piedmont Triad: Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point - population of 1,490,886
Two thirds of North Carolina's population resides in the middle one third of its landmass. This implies that the middle one third of North Carolina is about four times more densely populated than the remaining two thirds.
Two thirds of North Carolina's population resides in the middle one third of its landmass. This implies that the middle one third of North Carolina is about four times more densely populated than the remaining two thirds.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, North Carolina has an estimated population of 8,856,505, which is an increase of 184,046, or 2.1%, from the prior year and an increase of 810,014, or 10.0%, since the year 2000. This exceeds the rate of growth for the United States as a whole. The growth comprises a natural increase since the last census of 293,761 people (that is 749,959 births minus 456,198 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 527,991 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 180,986 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 347,005 people. Between 2005 and 2006, North Carolina passed New Jersey to become the 10th most populous state.
North Carolina has historically been a rural state, with most of the population living on farms and in small towns. However, over the last 30 years the state has undergone rapid urbanization, and today the residents of North Carolina live primarily in urban and suburban areas, as is the case in most of the United States. In particular, the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh have become major urban centers, with large, diverse, mainly affluent and rapidly-growing populations. Most of this growth in diversity has been fueled by immigrants from Latin America, India, and Southeast Asia
The center of population of North Carolina is located in Randolph County, in the town of Seagrove.
6.7% of North Carolina's population were reported as under 5 years old, 24.4% under 18, and 12.0% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 51% of the population.
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North Carolina Climate
North Carolina Climate
The three geographical divisions of North Carolina are useful when discussing the climate of the state.
The coastal plain is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, which keeps temperatures mild in the winter and moderate in the summer. Daytime high temperatures on the coast average less than 89 °F (31.6 °C) during the summer. In the winter, the coast has the mildest temperatures in the state, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 40 °F (4.4 °C). The coastal plain usually receives only one inch (2.5 cm) of snow and/or ice annually, and in some years there may be no snow or ice at all. The Atlantic Ocean has less influence on the Piedmont region, and as a result the Piedmont has hotter summers and colder winters than the coast. Daytime highs in the Piedmont usually average over 90 °F (32.2 °C) in the summer. While it is not common for temperatures to reach over 100 °F (37.8 °C) in North Carolina, when it happens, the highest temperatures are to be found in the lower areas of the Piedmont, especially around the city of Fayetteville. In the winter, the Piedmont is much less mild than the coast, with daytime temperatures that usually reach in the mid to upper 50's, while low to mid 60's are common winter highs around the coast. The region averages anywhere from 3-5 inches of snowfall annually in the Charlotte area to 6-8 inches in the Raleigh-Durham area. The Piedmont is especially notorious for sleet and freezing rain, which can accumulate to several inches in some storms and snarl traffic and collapse power lines. Annual precipitation and humidity is lower in the Piedmont than either the mountains or the coast, but even at its lowest, the precipitation is a generous 40 in (102 cm) per year. The Appalachian Mountains are the coolest area of the state, with daytime temperatures averaging in the 40's for highs in the winter and often falling into the teens (−9 °C) or lower in winter nights, and relatively cool summers rarely rising above 80 °F (26.7 °C). Snowfall in the mountains is usually 14–20 in (36–51 cm) per year, but is often greater in the higher elevations.
Severe weather is not a rare event in North Carolina. On average, the state receives a direct hit from a hurricane once a decade, and a tropical storm every 3 or 4 years, although in some years several hurricanes or tropical storms can either directly hit the state, or brush across the coastal areas. Only Florida and Louisiana are hit by hurricanes more often. On average, North Carolina has 50 days of thunderstorm activity per year, with some storms becoming severe enough to produce hail and strong, damaging winds. Hurricanes not only are a problem for the coast, the Charlotte area had a direct hit from Hurricane Hugo in 1989. North Carolina averages less than 20 tornadoes per year, and many of these are produced by hurricanes or tropical storms along the coastal plain. Nonetheless, tornadoes from thunderstorms are a risk, especially in the Piedmont region of central North Carolin
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Greensboro North Carolina
Greensboro North Carolina
Greensboro NC is a major center of commerce and employment that is large enough to provide the sophistication of an urban center, yet small enough to offer a family-friendly hometown atmosphere. Proud of our rich heritage and prosperous business community, Greensboro residents enjoy a wonderful quality of life.
Greensboro, city (1990 pop. 183,521), seat of Guilford co., N central N.C.; inc. 1829. The city is a financial, insurance, and distribution center for the region. Manufactures include textiles and apparel, buses, motor vehicle parts, electronic and telecommunications equipment, and food and beverages. Greensboro was settled in 1749. The nearby site of the Revolutionary War battle of Guilford Courthouse is a national military park. The first sit-in during the civil rights movement occurred at a Greensboro Woolworth lunch counter in 1960. Dolley Madison, O. Henry, and Edward R. Murrow were born in Greensboro. Among its educational institutions are the Univ. of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro College, Guilford College, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State Univ., and Bennett College.
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Monroe North Carolina
Monroe North Carolina
Monroe NC with a population of 30,392 is the county seat of Union County. The historic, Victorian Courthouse built in 1886, sits magnificently atop a central square and draws attention from every direction. To the north, lie County and City government buildings - to the south, quaint downtown shops, restaurants and businesses. Several fountains and small park areas are part of the downtown landscape. Tree-lined streets and restored historic homes carry you away from the heart of Monroe.
Monroe NC , a retreat from nearby Charlotte, we offer shops on quaint historic Main Streets as well as chic spas and salons. For those who like to get their hands dirty, there are plenty of places to “pick your own produce” or fish for trophy bass.
If hiking and horses are your passion, there are greenways and trails dotting the county. In fact, Union County is home to the largest equestrian population in the entire state!
A thriving Highway 74 Corridor is where you’ll find most major restaurant and economy hotel chains, shopping malls and car dealers and just about everything in-between! Farmland is becoming more uncommon to see along this bustling business segment as more and more businesses move in to service the fastest-growing county in the state.
Another economic pulse point for Monroe NC is an industrial and distribution center situated near the Monroe Regional Airport. The City is home to multi-national corporations as well as local regional companies. Being adjacent to the 2nd largest financial center in the United States and proactively pursuing the growth and development of high-technology businesses, the City of Monroe has become a significant player in many new growth sectors.
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Rocky Mount North Carolina
Rocky Mount North Carolina
Remarkable Rocky Mount NC, twice recognized as an All-American city, guarantees to make you feel right at home with a wide variety of restaurants - from unbelievably tasty home cookin' to the very best of the national chains, ample hotel accommodations in all price ranges, and a touch of "good ole southern charm." Remarkable... You bet!
Whether you're a lifelong resident of Nash county or a first-time resident, we want to help guide you to the many exciting activities, attractions, festivals, and special events the area has to offer. Remarkable Rocky Mount NC and the charming small towns of Nash county offer an interesting blend of recreational opportunities, historical sites worth exploring, sports events, plus arts and cultural experiences.
Rocky Mount, Nash county NC location is both convenient and easily accessible from all directions, making it the perfect spot for sports tournaments, family reunions, business meetings, seminars, conferences, and all kinds of special events as well as the best stop for I-95 and US 64 travelers.
The "New South" was emerging, and Rocky Mount was ready. A "Chamber of Commerce" was formed in 1904 and tobacco and "King Cotton" were staples of a booming economy.
In fact, by 1960 Rocky Mount boasted its ranking as the world's largest bright leaf tobacco market. It was also during this time that the area's economy diversified for the first time, spawning new industry and new job opportunities.
Nothing impacted the area more than the founding of Hardee's Food Systems in 1961. Formed by Rocky Mount natives Jim Gardner and Leonard Rawls, Hardee's grew to become a giant in the fast food business.
Today, Rocky Mount NC is home to major manufacturers in the fields of aeronautics (Honeywell), pharmaceuticals (Hospira), and diesel engines (Consolidated Diesel Co.). The area also boasts fast food franchising (Boddie-Noell Enterprises), food distribution (MBM Corp.), food preparation (Cheesecake Factory Bakery), agribusiness (Dale Bone Farms), and egg production (Braswell Foods), and residential development (Ford's Colony of Rocky Mount).
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Wilson North Carolina
Wilson North Carolina
Wilson NC is a growing community of nearly 50,000 people at the crossroads of I-95 and US 264. Wilson is about 30 four-lane minutes east of Raleigh, the state capital; midway between New York and Miami. We’re less than an hour from Research Triangle Park and less than two hours from North Carolina's inviting beaches.
People in Wilson NC enjoy:
A great mix of affordable homes; new and historic
Friendly neighbors from many backgrounds. Our population has grown in diversity, as well as numbers, in recent years.
Plenty of water. The city completed a multi-million dollar reservoir in 1999 that will provide Wilson homes and industries with ample water for 50 years or more.
An attractive downtown. The city recently made upgrades to the infrastructure, such as buried utility services and new paver-and-brick sidewalks.
Strong educational resources. Wilson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Larry Price earned the title of NC Superintendent of the Year for 2005 and was a finalist for the national distinction. Wilson is also home to three private schools with their own impressive records.
Affordability. Wilson's cost of living is significantly lower than larger cities, including those in the Triangle.
A great location. Wilson is 30 minutes from the Raleigh Beltline (I-440) and two hours from NC’s coast. Wilsonians can access major highways, including I-95, just minutes from their doorstep.
Natural beauty. Wilson has been awarded the “Tree City USA” distinction for 24 straight years.
Nationally accredited Police. Wilson’s Police Department was also honored recently as a flagship agency, a distinction that recognizes them as one of the best police departments in the US.
Nationally Accredited Firefighters. Wilson Fire/Rescue enjoys one of the best insurance ratings in NC. They actively work with schools and other groups to promote fire safety at home, school and work.
A strong arts community. Visitors can see local art at the Arts Council Downtown. Live theater. The Edna Earl Boykin Theater was recently improved for live performances. The Vaudeville Theater is a beautiful reminder of yesteryear.
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Wilmington - Cape Fear Coast North Carolina
Wilmington - Cape Fear Coast North Carolina
You’ll find them everywhere from our sandy beaches and storied fishing piers to the historic downtown, fine restaurants and trendy shops a stone’s throw and riverwalk away in Wilmington NC.
Cape Fear Coast brings it all together, so you can have the vacation experience you’ve always wanted, and create the kind of fun you haven’t had in years. Come with the kids, come with friends, come to get away from it all. And discover that sometimes, if you play your cards right, life can be so much more than a beach
This charming port city is located in the southeastern corner of North Carolina between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Although not just a tourist town, Wilmington has become a popular destination because of its moderate, four-season climate, historic preservation district, annual events such as Riverfest and the Azalea Festival, and numerous championship golf courses. In addition, nearby Wrightsville Beach is a Mecca for sailors, surfers, sunbathers, beachcombers and seafood lovers.
Wilmington Beach NC, also known as the "Port City of Progress and Pleasure" due to its early beginnings as a major port and ship building center, has flourished over the last recent years and has become a favorite for both locals and out of towners visiting the area. From eclectic shopping and vibrant nightlife, to theatrical productions, coffeehouses and outstanding restaurants people of all ages are able to enjoy their stay in downtown Wilmington. Inland, you can find fantastic golf courses, stores, parks, entertainment complexes, amusements, plantations, and even the University of North Carolina at Wilmington surrounded by restaurants galore.
The city has more than 65,000 residents and is home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. It is also home to a regional visual and performing arts center, a regional medical center and to Screen Gems Studios - North Carolina, one of the largest motion picture and television studios outside of Hollywood.
Wilmington, the county seat of New Hanover County, was incorporated in 1739 and was originally situated on seven hills located on the east side of the Cape Fear River. It was named in honor of Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, who was a patron of North Carolina’s Governor at the time. To this day, visitors are reminded of its rich history by the grand old homes and tree-lined boulevards making Wilmington one of the most beautiful small cities in the south.
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Winston-Salem North Carolina
Winston-Salem North Carolina
Winston-Salem NC lies in the heart of the South Atlantic region. The North Carolina community is located halfway between Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. From this bustling metropolitan area, it's just a two-hour drive to the mountains and a four-hour trip to the ocean.
Winston-Salem has long been known as North Carolina's "city of the arts." In fact, the metro area of just over 185,000 people ranks first nationally in per capita contributions to the arts. Home to the nation's first Arts Council, the world-renowned North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), and the National Black Theatre Festival, Winston-Salem boasts a wealth of cultural offerings. Local galleries and museums offer the region's most impressive exhibits and stimulating programming. Visitors can experience the best in contemporary, historical, African-American, and scientific exhibitions. Historic Old Salem preserves the past in a "living" museum. And SciWorks thrills children of all ages with interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and a 15-acre environmental park.
Today Winston-Salem NC is in the midst of an exciting downtown revitalization. More than a dozen new construction projects have been started in the last year alone, including the Piedmont Triad Research Park. Entertainment has flourished downtown as well, highlighted by live outdoor music, a growing arts district, and a just-started retail and entertainment complex.
Higher education abounds in Winston-Salem. This community is home to small private colleges like Wake Forest Univer
With its friendly residents, strong business environment, rich neighborhoods, and countless entertainment options, Winston-Salem is undoubtedly one of the country's most livable communities.
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Raleigh North Carolina
Raleigh North Carolina
An eclectic city of more than 350,000, Raleigh NC today is so much more than just the capital of North Carolina, the nation’s 12th most populous state. It is the home to the state’s largest university, two historically black colleges, and two women’s colleges.
Raleigh is blessed with a natural beauty second to none and a healthy environment. While welcoming some 10,000 new residents annually, it is protecting its scenic landscape and abundant resources through sensible zoning and development restrictions that protect water, trees and air quality.
While working and playing in Raleigh NC is the ultimate, living in Raleigh is what sets this place apart from all others. Whatever the taste – center city condo, penthouse, warehouse; a bungalow nestled in the dense and eclectic mix of established, walk able neighborhoods; the comfort of the suburban; the privacy of the rolling terrain of the exurban – Raleigh offers it all with the most extensive municipal services at the lowest tax rate of any major North Carolina city, and terrific public and private schools to boot. And housing is affordable in Raleigh with the median home sale price being just over $230,000 and the median contract rent at $673 per month. The mix of housing opportunities also is accommodating with 51.6 percent of the housing stock owner-occupied and 48.4 percent renter-occupied. With Raleigh’s “best of” and ultra-cool reputation, it may be somewhat surprising how affordable it really is overall. The latest cost of living index composite gave Raleigh a 98.1 rating. (The national cost of living average is 100.)
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Kannapolis North Carolina
Kannapolis North Carolina
Kannapolis NC is a thriving city of 38,245 people located along the I-85 corridor in the Charlotte-region of North Carolina. The history of Kannapolis entered a new era on July 30, 2003 when Pillowtex officials announced the closing of their 16 facilities nationwide and in Canada. Because the decline of Pillowtex took over 20 years, the City had the opportunity to develop a strong local government and viable economy. As the company's headquarters, the City became the center of the largest lay-off in North Carolina history. 6,450 employees lost their jobs nationwide. Of the total displaced by the Pillowtex closure, 4,800 were in North Carolina. Over 3,984 of the employees lived in Rowan and Cabarrus counties and less than 1,500 within the city limits of Kannapolis.
The Kannapolis City prepared for the day the mill closed. In the mid-1990's, 10 square miles of land to the west of Kannapolis was identified as a growth area. The area was annexed in 1999 and is the location of Kannapolis Gateway Business Park, Biscayne Business Park, Stanley Works, Shoe Show, Dogwood Industrial Park, a development by development leaders Childress Klein and executive housing.
In 1998, Kannapolis City leaders launched an 18-month visioning process, Weaving A Shared Future. In this process, a community vision emerged to become the most dynamic and desirable community in the Piedmont that is attractive to families, loved for its neighborhoods, appreciated for its uniqueness and respected for its contribution to the economic vitality of the region. To achieve this vision, citizens identified economic development as the top priority for the City. Other priorities include parks and recreation, transportation and street improvements, and preserving history and heritage.
In 1906, James William Cannon bought several farms to build Cannon Mills Company. Under the guidance of James Cannon's son, Charles, Cannon Mills became the world's largest producer of household textiles and a household name. Kannapolis was built as a mill village of small craftsman style homes. The mill employees lived in the homes for a low rent and enjoyed free maintenance, low cost utilities, and free garbage collection and disposal while paying no taxes. The Cannon's also provided a YMCA, a hospital, a police department, scholarships, loans and jobs.
In 1982, California financier David Murdoch took over Cannon Mills. Murdock merged the mill in 1985 with Fieldcrest Mills Inc. creating Fieldcrest Cannon. In 1984, the citizens of Kannapolis voted to incorporate making the largest unincorporated area in the United States the 16th largest city in North Carolina. The Pillowtex Corporation purchased Fieldcrest Cannon in 1997.
In the past decade, a new a $4 million YMCA, a Senior Center, a Public Library, a baseball stadium for the Kannapolis Intimidators, a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, and Kannapolis Gateway Businesses Park are examples of the successful partnerships that are improving the community, attracting new business and creating new jobs.
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Fayetteville North Carolina
Fayetteville North Carolina
One of the most diverse cities in the US, Fayetteville, NC has many awards to its credit and activities for citizens. Fayetteville has won All-America City awards, and honors for the city song “My Hometown Fayetteville” and city show “Kaleidoscope.” The sixth-largest city in North Carolina also has numerous historic sites, seven museums, three colleges and universities, multiple entertainment venues, a historic downtown and award-winning golf courses. We're right next door to Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, so we are very military oriented. Immaculate parks and lively recreation centers offer you the chance to experience the outdoors or work on a jump shot.
It is the home of the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg, from where thousands of elite paratroopers deploy on missions to the world's hot spots. The city’s colorful heritage includes historical leaders who defined themselves during Vietnam, the two world wars, the Civil War and Revolutionary War. And its citizens today offer gracious, hospitable Southern charm. They are eager to make your visit one to remember!
We are proud of our accomplishments. Fayetteville was one of only 10 cities in the United States in 2001 to receive the coveted "All-America City" award from the National Civic League.
You’ll never get bored here! The Airborne and Special Operations Museum in the downtown area has only been open for a year and is already the most visited attraction in North Carolina. Other areas of interest include Fayetteville’s Botanical Gardens, the Museum of the Cape Fear, as well as Fort Bragg, where on certain days you can actually watch parachute training jumps. We also have all the shopping, lodging and restaurant choices of metropolitan areas. We’re just a short stop off Interstate 95, about an hour from the South Carolina border.
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Durham North Carolina
Durham North Carolina
Durham NC is consistently ranked in the regional and national media as one of the top places to live and do business in the United States. Recently Durham was rated first among 274 similar-sized counties nationwide on the Creativity Index, compiled by "creative class" economics researchers from Carnegie Mellon University.
Durham’s vibrant quality of life and commitment to arts and culture contribute to its ever-growing popularity. Durham’s neighborhoods surround Duke and North Carolina Central universities and Research Triangle Park and range from historic homes on tree-canopied streets to renovated Downtown lofts to communities planned around lakes or golf courses.
Durham NC is home to Research Triangle Park, Duke and North Carolina Central universities and many City of Medicine, USA, medical and weight management centers. Durham is also home to 13 historic sites, three art centers, 12 signature annual events with national or regional recognition, plus dozens of other core and celebrated annual events, six science and nature centers, and great spectator sports venues.
Durham NC is home to Research Triangle Park, Duke and North Carolina Central universities and many City of Medicine, USA, medical and weight management centers. Durham is also home to 13 historic sites, three art centers, 12 signature annual events with national or regional recognition, plus dozens of other core and celebrated annual events, six science and nature centers, and great spectator sports venues.
The rapid growth and prosperity of the Bull Durham Tobacco Company, and Washington Duke's Duke & Sons Tobacco Company, would result in the rapid growth of the city of Durham. While the tobacco industry dominated the city's economy initially, it was soon rivaled by the establishment of multiple textile mills, particularly in East and West Durham. Much of the early city architecture, both commercial and residential, dates from the period of 1890 - 1930.
Durham NC quickly developed a vibrant African-American community, the center of which was an area known as 'Hayti' (pronounced HAY-Tie), just south of the center of town, where were established some of the most prominent and successful black-owned businesses in the country during the early 20th century. These businesses, the best known of which are North Carolina Mutual Insurance Co., and Mechanics & Farmers' Bank, were centered on Parrish St., which would come to be known as "Black Wall Street".
Durham's fortunes declined during the mid-20th century. Textile mills began to close during the 1930s, and competition from other tobacco companies (as well as a decrease in smoking after the 1960s) reduced revenues to Durham's tobacco industry. Although the region benefited significantly from the establishment of Research Triangle Park in 1958, Durham did not experience the same early increases in housing development as neighboring Raleigh and Cary. Suburban flight also contributed to the slow, but progressive decline of downtown Durham as a retail and economic center.
With a strong African-American community, a strong Civil Rights movement developed in Durham. Multiple sit-ins were held, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the city during the struggle for equal rights.
This strong community was not enough to prevent the demolition of portions of the Hayti district for the construction of the Durham Freeway during the late 1960s. The freeway construction also resulted in the loss of large parts of other historic neighborhoods, including Morehead Hills, West End, and West Durham. Combined with large-scale demolition using Urban Renewal funds, Durham suffered significant losses from its historic architectural base.
Durham's growth began to rekindle during the 1970s and 1980s, with the construction of multiple housing developments in the southern part of the city, nearest Research Triangle Park, and the beginnings of downtown revitalization. In 1975, the St. Joseph's Historical Foundation at the Hayti Heritage Center was incorporated to "preserve the heritage of the old Hayti community, and to promote the understanding of and appreciation for the African American experience and African Americans' contributions to world culture."[1] A new downtown baseball stadium was constructed for the Durham Bulls in 1994, and a large-scale historic renovation of the American Tobacco Company (formerly Bull Durham) complex commenced in 2003. Economic progress continues to take precedence over historic preservation from time to time.
Durham has a rich and vibrant art and cultural community. Events include jazz festivals, blues festivals, symphony concerts, art exhibitions, and a multitude of cultural expositions, including the American Dance Festival and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. A centerpiece of Durham's culture is its Carolina Theater which shows both live performances as well as films, primarily independent releases. Durham features excellent culinary offerings, particularly for a city its size, with a wide selection of diverse and renowned establishments.These establishments are primarily concentrated in the Ninth Street, Brightleaf, and University Drive areas. There is a resurgence of restaurants in and around the downtown area, including several new restaurants in the American Tobacco District.
Durham hosts a yearly Gay and Lesbian Film festival which draws people from across the United States as well as an annual Gay Pride Parade. Durham is the home of the Independent Weekly a progressive weekly newspaper.
The Durham Association for Downtown Arts (DADA) is a non-profit arts organization located in the downtown area. It was founded in 1998 and then incorporated in 2000. The organization's mission is a commitment to the development, presentation and fiscal sponsorship of original art and performance in Durham. DADA strives to support local artists working in a diversity of artistic media. Emphasizing community, DADA helps local residents gain access to these artists by providing free or low-cost venue admission.
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Saturday, July 7, 2007
Aurora North Carolina
Aurora North Carolina
Atlantic Beach North Carolina
Atlantic Beach North Carolina
Atlantic Beach NC is situated on beautiful Bogue Banks, a barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound.
Known for its abundance of public beaches and friendly people, the town works to balance the needs of its citizens, visitors, businesses, and the delicate coastal environment.
Atlantic Beach and Bogue Sound has clean sandy beaches, golfing and world-class fishing, museums, shopping, nightlife and famous fresh seafood. Nick-names the Crystal Coast, Atlantic Beach NC offers fun and recreation for every one.
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is a well visited and a much enjoyed part of the Crystal Coast. There is plenty of activities for everyone of all ages. From shopping to all kinds of fishing and boating, charters, sunbathing, restaurants, night life, and much more!
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Asheville North Carolina
Asheville North Carolina
Asheville NC offers abundant natural beauty, friendly atmosphere, wealth of year-round outdoor activities, rich history, and lively local arts and music scene.
Situated in the gorgeous French Broad River valley amid the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains, Asheville’s natural beauty sets the tone for a place you will remember with your heart. Asheville’s size makes it the largest city in Western North Carolina, but surrounding towns in Buncombe County offer small town flair and varied amenities.
Ashville NC population is approximately 69,000 in the city and 215,000 in the county. Asheville’s MSA is currently estimated at 386,000. The four-season temperate climate with average snowfall of only 13 inches makes year-round living easy. Average elevation is 2,165 feet above sea level with surrounding mountain elevations of up to 6,685 feet with Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Because of this broad range of elevations and corresponding climates and plant growth, the area is one of the most biodiverse in the United States and the world.
The quality of life in Asheville NC is outstanding, with low crime rate, broad employment opportunities, incredible educational opportunities with two universities and many colleges nearby, and diverse housing markets for rental, purchase and retirement.
Asheboro North Carolina
Asheboro North Carolina
Andrews North Carolina
Andrews North Carolina
Albemarle North Carolina
Albemarle North Carolina
Albemarle NC is located in the beautiful Uwharrie Lakes region of Piedmont North Carolina, and is conveniently located near two of the state’s largest urban areas-Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad area. Morrow Mountain State Park is just east of the City, and attracts visitors from across the state. Tuckertown Lake, Badin Lake, and Lake Tillery are all located within a few minutes drive of Albemarle, and offer a multitude of opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities are available at Morrow Mountain State Park and the nearby Uwharrie National Forest. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department operates several beautiful parks and a large recreation program.
Albemarle was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a National Main Street City in 2005. There are a number of historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects in its downtown that have been recently completed or are underway, including an initiative to create a greenway linking many of the City's parks and historic sites. The Freeman-Marks House, built in 1835, is the oldest known surviving house in Albemarle.
It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Romanesque Revival Opera House/Starnes Jewelers Building (1908) and three small historic districts in the City's downtown area. Another important historic property is the Isaiah W. "Buck" Snuggs House, an antebellum home on Third Street then owned and now named for a Stanly County sheriff who lost his leg in the Civil War Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The Stanly County Museum in Albemarle provides a focal point for regional historic research and preservation.
Albemarle is a business friendly community that still retains the warmth and charm of a small town. The City offers a full range of utilities including electric distribution, water and sewer, and a Subtitle D solid waste disposal facility. These services are provided at a reasonable cost and with a degree of personal attention rarely encountered in today’s business environment.
Whether you are looking for a welcoming environment to locate a business or industry, or are seeking a great place to settle and raise a family Albemarle offers a wonderful opportunity
Ahoskie North Carolina
Ahoskie North Carolina
The Town of Ahoskie "The Only One", as a municipal government, seeks to promote, encourage, and support a high quality of life for all its citizens. As a rural community that relies heavily upon its faith based and family oriented communities, as well as its heritage, Ahoskie embraces the diversity of all its citizens. Through the development of quality services, the Town of Ahoskie will work diligently to pursue service delivery that will be cost effective and efficient - Town Friendly - while maintaining the requirements of all local Ordinances, State and Federal Laws.
Ahoskie North Carolina, the largest community in Hertford County, is located in the northeastern part of North Carolina on the Pleasure Route, US Highway 13, and is 24 miles south of the Virginia line. The elevation is 60 feet above sea level.
Ahoskie NC enjoys a temperate climate with cold, but never severe, winters and moderately warm summers. The frost-free growing season in our area is about 210 days, extending from the last killing frost around April 8 to the first killing frost around November 8.
The population is approximately 5,000, just large enough to attract big business, but small enough to be neighborly
North Carolina Facts
North Carolina Facts
North Carolina consists of three main geographic sections: the coastal plain, which occupies the eastern 45% of the state; the Piedmont region, which contains the middle 35%; and the Appalachian Mountains and foothills, which take up the remaining 20% of the state in the west. The coastal plain begins in the east as a chain of narrow, sandy barrier islands known as the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks form two sounds—Albemarle Sound in the north and Pamlico Sound in the south; they are the two largest landlocked sounds in the United States. Immediately inland, the coastal plain is relatively flat, with rich soils ideal for growing tobacco, soybeans, and cotton. The coastal plain is North Carolina's most rural section, with few large towns or cities, and agriculture remains an important industry. The major rivers of this section, the Neuse River, Tar River, Pamlico River, Cape Fear River, and Roanoke River, tend to be slow-moving and wide.
Bodie Island Lighthouse, one of the Outer Banks attractions.The coastal plain transitions to the Piedmont region along the "fall line", a line which marks the elevation at which waterfalls first appear on streams and rivers. The Piedmont region of central North Carolina is the state's most urbanized and densely-populated section - all five of the state's largest cities are located in the Piedmont. It consists of gently rolling countryside frequently broken by hills or low mountain ridges. A number of small, isolated, and deeply eroded mountain ranges and peaks are located in the Piedmont, including the Sauratown Mountains, Pilot Mountain, the Uwharrie Mountains, Crowder's Mountain, King's Pinnacle, the Brushy Mountains, and the South Mountains. The Piedmont ranges from about 300–400 feet (90–120 m) elevation in the east to over 1,000 feet (300 m) in the west. The major rivers of the Piedmont, such as the Yadkin and Catawba, tend to be fast-flowing, shallow, and narrow.
The western section of the state is part of the Appalachian Mountain range. Among the subranges of the Appalachians located in the state are the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Balsams, Pisgahs, and the Black Mountains. The Black Mountains are the highest mountains in the Eastern United States, and culminate in Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 m).[2] It is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Although agriculture remains important, tourism has become the dominant industry in the mountains. Due to the higher altitude in the mountains, the climate often differs starkly from the rest of the state. Winters in western North Carolina typically feature significant snowfall and subfreezing temperatures more akin to a northern state than a southern one.
North Carolina has 17 major river basins; five of the state's river basins - the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Watauga and New - are part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains to the Gulf of Mexico. All the others flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 17 basins, 11 originate within the state of North Carolina, but only four are contained entirely within the state's borders - the Cape Fear, Neuse, White Oak and Tar-Pamlico.
North Carolina Real Estate
