Chatham County, North Carolina
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| Chatham County, North Carolina | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina |
|
| Statistics | |
| Formed | 1771 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Pittsboro |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,836 km² (709 mi²) sq mi ( km²) 68 km² (26 mi²), 3.69% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
49,329 28/km² |
| Website: www.co.chatham.nc.us | |
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Since 2000, its population has grown by more than 20% and now exceeds 60,000. Its county seat is Pittsboro6.
Contents |
[edit] History
The county was formed in 1771 from Orange County. It was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies.
In 1907 parts of Chatham County and Moore County were combined to form Lee County. The award winning[1] PBS Documentary Family Name[2] notes Chatham County as the place the relationship between the African-American and European-American branches of the Alston family originated[3]. George Moses Horton, Historic Poet Laureate of Chatham County, North Carolina (1797?-1883) lived most of his life in Chatham County and is among the few slaves to have published material while still a slave [4][5][6].
[edit] Law and government
Chatham County is a member of the regional Triangle J Council of Governments.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,836 km² (709 mi²). 1,769 km² (683 mi²) of it is land and 68 km² (26 mi²) of it (3.69%) is water.
The county lies totally within the Piedmont physiographical region. The topography of the county is generally gently rolling with several higher hills rising above the general terrain. One of these hills, Terrells Mountain, on the Orange County line is the transmitter site for several radio and tv stations for the Raleigh-Durham market, including WUNC TV 4 (UNC-TV),WDCG 105.1 FM(G105),WRSN 93.9 (Sunny 93.9), and WUNC 91.5 FM (NC Public Radio). The county lies within the Cape Fear River drainage basin. The Cape Fear River begins in the county near the community of Moncure at the confluence of the Haw River and the Deep River below Jordan Lake. B. Everett Jordan Lake, a major reservoir and flood-control lake, is located within the New Hope River basin and lies mainly in eastern Chatham County. The lake is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers and is partially leased by the State of North Carolina as Jordan Lake State Recreation Area.
[edit] Geology
The county lies in the Triassic Basin which makes up much of the Piedmont area of this part of central North Carolina. Much of the bedrock in the county is volcanic in origin and formed during the Triassic period (hence the name). The Triassic origins have led to the formation of coal deposits in the southern part of the county. The Boren Clay Products Pit just north of Gulf in extreme southern Chatham County is a place where Triassic flora fossils persist[7][8] The volcanic origins also led to the creation of high amounts of metamorphic based rocks in the county. The county lies on the Carolina Slate Belt. Soils in the county are mostly clay based and have a deep red color, as do most soils in the piedmont. Groundwater in the county is general full of minerals and tends to be hard if not softened. Mineral based water was the attraction at Mt. Vernon Springs during the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. A resort spa was established there based around the mineral springs of which people would drink the water to hopefully cure ailments and diseases. The resort closed in the early 20th century and is now gone. The springs are still there and are maintained by a local church.
[edit] Coal Mining
The county is also home to the only known minable bituminous coal deposits in the state. The area along the Deep River, which forms the border of Chatham and Lee County was a major coal producing area between the Revolutionary War and the Great Depression. It was deemed the Deep River Coal Field. The communities of Carbonton and Cumnock,NC(formerly called Egypt in Lee County) began as a result of the coal mining industry. It is said that much of the coal mined in the field during the Civil War was used to fuel Confederate operations. A fatal mining disaster at the Coal Glen mine in the 1920's, along with frequent flooding of Deep River sealed the fate of the mines and the mines were all closed by the 1940's. Recent attempts to tap the coal have proved failures, since geologists say the coal is too highly faulted and the threat of explosive gases underground is too high. The coal is, also, said to have too high of a sulfur content to be burned with current enviornmental laws. It was once thought that natural gas and oil may be in the area where the coal mines were, but none that is economical enough to be pumped has yet to be found.
[edit] Townships
The county is divided into thirteen townships: Albright, Baldwin, Bear Creek, Cape Fear, Center, Gulf, Hadley, Haw River, Hickory Mountain, Matthews, New Hope, Oakland, and Williams.
[edit] Agriculture and Industry
The county once was dependent on agriculture for economic survival. Due to the area's relatively poor soil conditions, cash crops such as tobacco were grown only in smaller quantities and were never important in the county's economy. Livestock has always played a larger role in the county's agricultural heritage, especially cattle and poultry. The county was once had a thriving dairy industry, but in recent years most farms have been sold and developed. The county is one of the state leaders in the poultry industry, being home to several large poultry processing facilities. The poultry industry in the county is centered mainly around the western part of the county near Siler City. Townsend Foods and Golden Poultry are the largest poultry companies in the county. Forage crops such as hay are, also, grown in large quantities in the county. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association has been housed in Chatham County along with many organic agriculture farmers.
Industrial growth in the county has largely been focused around the Siler City and Moncure areas of the county. By far most of the industry in the county is set up around Moncure. Companies in that area include, Progress Energy, Weyerhauser, Honeywell, and Sierra Pine Ltd.
Brick manufacturing has been an important economic factor in the Moncure area with several brick plants operating around the Moncure and Brickhaven communities.
3M also operates a greenstone mine south of Pittsboro along US 15-501. The mine takes greenstone and uses it to manufacture roofing shingle granules.
A proposed mine is in the works to be developed near Siler City by ISP Minerals of Maryland. The mine has proven to be very controversial since many residents fear the noise and vibrations would destroy the rural setting.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Orange County, North Carolina - north
- Durham County, North Carolina - northeast
- Wake County, North Carolina - east
- Harnett County, North Carolina - southeast
- Lee County, North Carolina - south
- Moore County, North Carolina - southwest
- Randolph County, North Carolina - west
- Alamance County, North Carolina - northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 49,329 people, 19,741 households, and 13,858 families residing in the county. The population density was 28/km² (72/mi²). There were 21,358 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (31/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.94% White, 17.07% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.81% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 9.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 19,741 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,851, and the median income for a family was $50,909. Males had a median income of $32,980 versus $26,044 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,355. About 7.10% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
Unincorporated communities:
[edit] Transportation
Chatham County has managed to retain its rural charachter in part because it is not served by an Interstate Highway. However, Chatham County plays an important role in regional transportation due to its close proximity to the geographic center of North Carolina and to major cities such as Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro.
The main east-west artery serving Chatham County is US Highway 64 which provides access to Siler City and Pittsboro. US Highways 421 and 15-501 run approximately north-south through the county. US421 serves Siler City and US15-501 serves Pittsboro. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the North Carolina Department of Transportation invested more than one hundred million dollars replacing US64, US421 and US15-501, which had previously been two-lane country roads, with modern multi-lane highways. US64 now passes well to the north of Pittsboro via an interstate style bypass. A similar freeway diverts traffic on US421 to the east of Siler City.
[edit] Trivia
- The Devil's Tramping Grounds is located near Harper's Crossroads near Bennett.
- It is widely said that Charlie Daniels lived in the Goldston area as a child and on several occasions has come back to visit.
- Chatham County is one of the few school systems in the state to not offer a middle school football program.
- One of the only cases of a rabid beaver ever attacking a human in the US occurred during a rabies outbreak at Jordan Lake in the mid 1990's.
- A secret government facility termed by locals as the "Big Hole" was operated north of Pittsboro till around 1996. It was said the site was a virtual concrete city built several stories into the ground. The facility was actually part of the Autovon system operated under government contract by AT&T. The site has reportedly been closed due to the introduction of the Defense Switching Network.
- The clock currently in the county courthouse was a recent addition added to the courthouse. It was reportedly in the original plans of the courthouse, but for some reason was left out during its original construction.
- Even though Jordan Lake is held mostly in the county's borders, county residents get very little drinking water from the lake. Most of the water is currently being sold to Cary, North Carolina and areas of eastern Wake County. These contracts have forced the county to purchase water from neighboring counties to guarantee sufficient supply in the county water system.
- Many people moving to the Research Triangle area choose to live in the county because of lower tax rates compared to neighboring counties.
- The geographical center of North Carolina is said to be near the Gulf community south of Goldston.
- Frances Bavier (Aunt Bea) of Andy Griffith Show fame lived in Siler City and is buried there.
- It is rumored that several of the costumes for the movie Titanic were actually purchased from antique stores in Pittsboro.
- The county is one of the largest (in terms of land size) in the state.
- Since the county is wedged between the Piedmont Triad and the Research Triangle many residents in the western portion of the county do most of their commerce in the Greensboro area, while those in the eastern portion do most of their's in the Research Triangle area.
- Pittsboro was once considered to house the University of North Carolina.
- The county was once a leading shipper of wild rabbit meat. Around the turn of the century "Chatham Rabbit" was a known delicacy in restaurants as far away as New York.
