Person County, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Person County, North Carolina | |
| Image:Person County nc seal.gif | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of North Carolina |
|
 North Carolina's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1791 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Roxboro |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,047 km² (404 mi²) sq mi ( km²) 31 km² (12 mi²), 2.92% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
35,623 35/km² |
| Website: www.personcounty.net | |
Person County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 35,623. Its county seat is Roxboro6.
Contents |
[edit] History
The county was formed in 1791 from the eastern half of Caswell County. It was named for Thomas Person, a general in the Continental Army, during the American Revolutionary War.
[edit] Elected Officials
Brad Miller (D),U.S. House of Representatives
Ellie Kinnaird (D), State Senator
W.A. "Winkie" Wilkins (D), State Representative
Johnny M. Lunsford (D), County Commission Chair
Larry Bowes (D), County Commissioner
Larry Yarborough (R), County Commissioner
Kyle Puryear (R), County Commissioner
Jimmy Clayton (D), County Commissioner
Gordon Powell, School Board Chairman
Jimmy Wilkins, School Board Vice-Chairman
Pecolia Beatty, School Board Member
Ronnie P. King, School Board Member
Vickie L. Nelson, School Board Member
[edit] Law and government
Person County is a member of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments. The county government is administered by an elected county commission, and county law enforcement is administered by an elected Sheriff and his officers. Although the county is politically conservative, local politics is still dominated by the Democratic Party.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,047 km² (404 mi²). 1,016 km² (392 mi²) of it is land and 31 km² (12 mi²) of it (2.92%) is water.
The origin of the Tar River is in SE Person County. In the northwest section of the county is Hyco Lake, with Mayo Reservoir in the northeast section. Both lakes are used for electrical power generation and recreation. Near the western border with Caswell County is Roxboro Lake. Part of the Neuse begins here with the Flat River, where it combines with the Little and Eno rivers to go into Falls Lake and create the Neuse.
The county is largely covered by rolling hills divided by farmlands and forest. The northern part of the county between the lakes is skirted by a plateau. The highest point of the county is a prominent hill in Roxboro, where the county seat has located its water reservoir tank. Other high elevation areas of the county include a rocky igneous prominence called Hagers Mountain, north of Roxboro, and Mt. Tirzah in the southern part of the county. The geology of the county is dominated by igneous formation, overlaid by a variety of soils, with granite boulders strewn across the county.
[edit] Cities, townships and communities
Roxboro is the county seat, and located roughly at the center of the county.
The county is divided into nine township districts: Allensville, Bushy Fork, Cunningham, Flat River, Holloway, Mount Tirzah, Olive Hill, Roxboro, and Woodsdale (which includes Bethel Hill).
Other unincorporated communities include Timberlake, Hurdle Mills, and Leasburg (mostly in Caswell County).
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Halifax County, Virginia - north
- Granville County, North Carolina - east
- Durham County, North Carolina - south-southeast
- Orange County, North Carolina - south-southwest
- Caswell County, North Carolina - west
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 35,623 people, 14,085 households, and 10,113 families residing in the county. The population density was 35/km² (91/mi²). There were 15,504 housing units at an average density of 15/km² (40/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.79% White, 28.21% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. (This reporting does not take into account the massive annual influx of Hispanic migrant labor.)
The population has surged drastically since the 1980s due to white flight from the nearby city of Durham, NC. This population surge has led to a drastic increase in real estate prices in the last twenty years.
There were 14,085 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.20% 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 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,159, and the median income for a family was $44,598. Males had a median income of $30,970 versus $22,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,709. About 9.40% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.90% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Person County administers a single unified school district with a K-12 program, with seven elementary schools, two junior high schools, and all students matriculating from a single senior high school for grades 9 - 12.
Bethel Hill Charter School, is a public school exempt from the state's public school system that offers young kids an alternative for grades K-6.
Roxboro Community School, will be another alternative to the state public school system located near Uptown Roxboro. The school is housed in a renovated cotton mill and is scheduled to open for the 2006-2007 school year. After the grade levels are phased in the school will be open for grades 7-12.[1]
Roxboro Christian Academy, a private school founded in 1976, also has a K-12 program. [2]
Piedmont Community College, with branches in Person County and neighboring Caswell County, offers associate's degrees, technical training programs, and college credit which is transferable to local state supported colleges/universities. [3]
[edit] Business
The economy of Person County is dominated by textile production, tobacco agriculture and brokering, and electrical production. Diversification from traditional flue cured tobacco to include burley tobacco and other modes of agriculture, is underway.
[edit] Culture
Person County was settled by a variety of groups including Native Americans, Scots, Scots-Irish, English, Germans, French Hugeonots, and Africans. Religious affiliation in the county is predominantly Protestant with a small contingent of Catholics and other groups. Due to its proximity to Virginia, the Carolina coast, and the Appalachian foothills, a wide variety of Southern American English dialects can be heard in the county, with Virginia Piedmont, Coastal Southern, South Midland, and African American Vernacular English being the most common.
Local legends claim that the Indians of Person County are descended from the first British colonists of North America, the Elizabethan era settlement of Roanoke Island, often called the Lost Colony. Indeed, when these Indians were first encountered by subsequent settlers, they noted that these Native Americans already spoke English and were of the Christian religion. The historical surnames of this group also correspond with those of the Roanoke Island settlers, and many exhibit Caucasian racial features along with Native American features. Others discount these remarkable coincidences and classify the Indians of Person County as an offshoot of the Saponi tribe.
[edit] Famous residents
- Carl Long, NASCAR driver
- Dolley Madison, a First Lady of the United States
- Jim Thorpe (golfer), PGA Senior Tour golfer
- Jamie Barnette, CFL quarterback, and record setting college quarterback at N.C. State
- Enos Slaughter, aka "Country", St. Louis Cardinals, and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- Wendy Palmer, former WNBA player
- Tracey Chambers, stock car driver
[edit] External links
- Person County government official website
- Person County GIS
- Visit Roxboro NC
- Person County Schools
- "The Courier-Times"
| Metropolitan area of Raleigh-Durham-Cary (The Triangle) |
|---|
| Primary Cities: Raleigh • Durham • Cary Other Large Cities: Chapel Hill • Apex • Carrborro • Wake Forest • Clayton • Oxford • Smifthfield • Henderson • Garner • Sanford • Morrisville Counties: Chatham • Durham • Franklin • Granville • Harnett • Johnston • Lee • Moore • Orange • Person • Vance • Wake Major Universities: Duke University • UNC-Chapel Hill • NC State • NC Central |
