Forsyth County, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forsyth County, North Carolina | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina |
|
 North Carolina's location in the USA |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1849 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Winston-Salem |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,069 km² (413 mi²) 1,061 km² (410 mi²) 9 km² (3 mi²), 0.80% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
306,067 289/km² |
| Website: www.co.forsyth.nc.us | |
Forsyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 306,067. Its county seat is Winston-Salem. 6.
Contents |
[edit] History
The county was formed in 1849 from Stokes County. It was named for Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, who was killed in the War of 1812.
[edit] Law and government
Forsyth County is a member of the regional Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments.
Founded in 1906, Forsyth County also maintains its own public library, officially named the Forsyth County Public Library. It is run by Forsyth County taxpayers and is given an annual budget from the Forsyth County Commissioners. The Library also allows residents from surrounding counties join for free and all others must pay a small yearly fee to keep their library card.
The Forsyth County Public Library's main office is the Central Library in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Library also has several branch locations:
Aside from the branch libraries, it also runs Adult Outreach, Children's Outreach, and Hispanic Outreach to help bring books to the respective people's need.
The Library's Head Librarian is Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,069 km² (413 mi²). 1,061 km² (410 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.80%) is water.
[edit] Townships
The county is divided into fourteen townships: Abbotts Creek, Belews Creek, Bethania, Broadbay, Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, Middle Fork, Old Richmond, Pfafftown, Salem Chapel, South Fork, Vienna, Walkertown, and Winston-Salem.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Stokes County, North Carolina - north
- Guilford County, North Carolina - east
- Davidson County, North Carolina - south
- Davie County, North Carolina - southwest
- Yadkin County, North Carolina - west
- Surry County, North Carolina - northwest
[edit] Wine region
Parts of Forsyth County are in the Yadkin Valley wine region.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 289/km² (747/mi²). There were 133,093 housing units at an average density of 125/km² (325/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.47% White, 25.61% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 123,851 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,097, and the median income for a family was $52,032. Males had a median income of $36,158 versus $27,319 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,023. About 7.90% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Included areas
[edit] Cities and towns
- Bethania
- Clemmons
- Kernersville
- Lewisville
- Rural Hall
- Tobaccoville
- Walkertown
- Winston-Salem (county seat)
[edit] Unincorporated communities
- Belews Creek
- Bethabara
- Dozier
- Pfafftown
- Seward
- Stanleyville
- Union Cross
- Vienna
[edit] Partially in other counties
- King (Mostly in Stokes County)
[edit] See also
- Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools School district
- Adelaide Fries- author of the 1898 Forsyth County.
