Bessemer City, North Carolina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bessemer City is a city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,119 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1893, the city's motto is City with a Heart.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links
5 Demographics

[edit] History

American City named for Sir Henry Bessemer. Founded close to the site of the Ormand-Sloan-Washington iron company. Land was given to James Ormand by King George II in 1756. He founded the Ormand mining company and the Ormand furnace. The oldest in America. The city was an important cotton and iron center. During the American Revolution, the Ormand furnace made cannon balls and cannons for the American cause.

[edit] Geography

Location of Bessemer City, North Carolina

Bessemer City is located at 35°17′3″N, 81°16′58″W (35.284262, -81.282853)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 km² (4.3 mi²). 11.0 km² (4.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.70%) is water. Elevation: 904 feet.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,119 people, 2,009 households, and 1,436 families residing in the city. The population density was 465.0/km² (1,205.6/mi²). There were 2,149 housing units at an average density of 195.2/km² (506.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.49% White, 13.42% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 1.04% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.

Ancestries:

United States, 21.4%
German, 8.7%
Irish, 7.8%
English 5.6%
Scotch-Irish, 2.0%
Dutch, 1.7%

For population 25 years and over in Bessemer City:

High school or higher: 68.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.4%
Unemployed: 7.0%
Mean travel time to work: 24.5 minutes

There were 2,009 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,826, and the median income for a family was $39,759. Males had a median income of $31,357 versus $23,133 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,971. About 8.8% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.