Waxhaw, North Carolina

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Downtown Waxhaw

Waxhaw is a town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. Waxhaw is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Popularity
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Waxhaw is located at 34°55′42″N, 80°44′41″W (34.928201, -80.744835)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²), all land.

Waxhaw 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.

[edit] History

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.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,625 people, 895 households, and 742 families residing in the town. The population density was 359.4/km² (932.5/mi²). There were 937 housing units at an average density of 128.3/km² (332.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.22% White, 17.03% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.

There were 895 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,184, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $40,714 versus $27,159 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,481. About 3.7% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Popularity

Although it is such a small city, Waxhaw is surprisingly well-known in the Charlotte area, with annual events such as the Fouth 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.