High Point, North Carolina

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For other places named High Point, see High Point (disambiguation).
High Point, North Carolina
Official seal of High Point, North Carolina
Seal
Nickname: Furniture and Hosiery Capital of the World
Location in Guilford County and the state of North Carolina
Location in Guilford County and the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°58′14″N 79°59′51″W / 35.97056, -79.9975
Country United States
State North Carolina
Counties Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, Forsyth
Government
 - Mayor Rebecca Smothers (D)
Area
 - City 95.1 sq mi (205.3 km²)
 - Land 94.7 sq mi (204.2 km²)
 - Water 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Elevation 1,007 ft (286 m)
Population (2008)
 - City 98,490
 - Metro 1,608,869
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 27260-27265
Area code(s) 336
FIPS code 37-31400[1]
GNIS feature ID 0986755[2]
Website: http://www.high-point.net

High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina -- the 30th largest metro area in the United States with a population of 1.6 million. As of July 2006 the city had a total population of 97,796 according to the US Census Bureau.(2008 estimates place the city's population at around 98,500).

High Point is known for its furniture, textiles, and bus manufacturing. It is generally regarded as the "Furniture Capital of the World" and "North Carolina's International City" due to the semi-annual High Point Market that attracts 100,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. The area code is 336.

It is home to High Point University, a private Methodist-affiliated institution founded in 1924. The city also has one of the few Bentley dealerships in the southeast.

Most of the city is located in Guilford County, with portions spilling into neighboring Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that extends into four counties.

Contents

[edit] History

Among the first Europeans to settle Guilford County were Quakers and German immigrants. High Point was located at the highest point of the 1856 North Carolina Railroad between Charlotte and Goldsboro where it intersected the 1852 Great Western Plank Road. Its central location and transportation allowed for the delivery of raw materials like cotton and lumber and processed goods in and out of the city and contributed to its early growth. It was incorporated in 1859. Before it became a major manufacturing center, the most important industries were tobacco, woodworking and textiles. The first of many High Point furniture factories was opened in 1889 [1].

High Point's conception is not solely linked to manufacturing; it is also tied to religious freedom beginning as early as the mid-eighteenth century as a refuge for Pennsylvania Quakers who came to the region in search of affordable land, good climate, and an opportunity to create a principled and ordered community. Members of the Society of Friends held beliefs that many considered heresy in the late eighteenth century. Central to these core convictions were values of community and equality that led to the development of specialized trades and early educational systems that were the foundations for the future growth of the region.

Since its incorporation, High Point has been an ambitious city. Whether rallying around Union carpetbaggers in the 1870s and textile barons in the 1910s, or planning public parks in the 1930s, the city has always been forward looking in its prospects. City historians such as J. J. Farriss, Stephen C. Clark, Frank Sizemore, and Holt McPherson have proudly documented the city’s past as if writing a user’s guide for building a model city. Memorialized in numerous successful businesses and family fortunes, this ambition also is recorded in the city’s architecture.

Queen Anne Ecker House of 1908 in High Point
Queen Anne Ecker House of 1908 in High Point

Reflecting the city’s growth and influence is an architectural inventory increasingly representative of High Point's civic pride and cultural sophistication. Since early settlement, hotels and merchant-houses presented fashionable façades to visitors and discerning shoppers. Later, wealthy industrialists had ambitious houses and churches erected in popular styles that illustrated the growing town's sense of style. Finally, civic projects such as schools and public works were built in increasingly popular and modern designs in a way that spoke to High Point's progressive spirit and quickening pace. By the middle of the twentieth century, High Point had assembled an impressive collection of architecture representing nearly every popular style since the city was founded, some designed by nationally recognized architects and planners.

Within the twenty-first century, increasing influence has been found in the city's institutions of higher education. Established in 1924, High Point University is a liberal arts institution with approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 52 countries and 36 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by U.S. News and World Report 6th among comprehensive universities in the South and in the top 100 nationally. The university offers 45 undergraduate majors and five graduate-degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference.

[edit] Attractions

  • Angela Peterson Doll And Miniature Museum - One of the south's largest doll & miniature museums.
  • Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library - World's largest collection of books on the history of furniture and interior design.
  • High Point City Lake Park - Recreation and amusement park located on the shores of 540-acre (2.2 km²) lake with boating, fishing, paddle boats, picnic areas with shelters, fishing boat and canoe rentals, historic carousel, train, waterslide, largest outdoor swimming pool in the state, miniature golf, gymnasium, playgroung and excursion boat. Site of annual "Day in the Park" festival each September.
  • High Point Community Theatre - Founded in 1976, High Point Community Theatre (HPCT) presents American musicals, dramas and comedies performed by local actors. HPCT also has an education program, featuring classes, workshops and camps for adults, youth and children.
  • High Point Museum and Historical Park - Museum commemorating the history of High Point, coupled with interpretative exhibit of log Blacksmith Shop and 1786 Haley House.
  • High Point Public Library - A full-service public library contains nearly 400,000 books, music recordings, videotapes, audiobooks, periodicals, newspapers, and a comprehensive collection of books related to history and genealogy. The library is currently undergoing major reconstruction.
  • Historic Castle McCulloch Gold Mill - McCulloch Gold Mill was built in 1832 and operated primarily as a gold processing center serving local gold mining operations. Now open as a special events center.
  • Millis Regional Health Education Center - Interactive health education center with features depicting facets of human anatomy and health.
  • Museum of Old Domestic Life - Quaker museum established around 1926 in 1858 Springfield Meeting House, containing a broad selection of artifacts from typical colonial Quaker homesteads.
  • North Carolina Shakespeare Festival - Headquartered in the High Point Theatre, this professional troupe presents classic and contemporary plays during their September through December season.
  • Piedmont Environmental Center - Features 375 acres (1.5 km²) of hiking trails adjacent to High Point City Lake, nature preserve, nature store, small animal exhibits, the North Carolina Mapscape, and access to an eight mile (13 km) Greenway Trail.
  • Rosetta C. Baldwin Museum - The museum was created in November 2000 to honor the legacy of Miss Rosetta C. Baldwin, her family and many African-Americans. The site depicts a typical home of a southern African American family during the mid-twentieth century.
  • Sechrest Gallery - Located on the campus of High Point University in the Hayworth Fine Arts Center, the Sechrest Gallery houses permanent collections of 18th and 19th century British Art coupled with rotating exhibitions.
  • Theatre Art Galleries - Housed in the High Point Theatre since 1975, the Theatre Art Galleries (TAG) hosts exhibitions of contemporary visual art. TAG has been the sole independent nonprofit provider of the visual arts in High Point and includes one of the finest stage and gallery spaces in the Southeast.
  • World's Largest Chest of Drawers - Iconic symbol of the city since 1926, the World's Largest Bureau is an example of automobile-oriented pop architecture and has been featured on numerous broadcasts such as MTV and The Travel Channel.
  • High Point is also the 7th biggest city in the state of North Carolina.

[edit] Geography

High Point is the only city in North Carolina that exists within four counties: Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, and Randolph. It also stands within two major watersheds: The Yadkin-Pee Dee and the Cape Fear. Parts of the city rise above 1,000 feet (300 m), making it among the highest cities in North Carolina's Piedmont.

High Point is located at 35°58′14″N, 79°59′51″W.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.6 square miles (131.3 km²), of which, 49.0 square miles (127.0 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it (3.24%) is water.

[edit] Climate

The climate in High Point is temperate, with four seasons. Summers tend to be hot and sometimes humid, with the dewpoints rising to the upper 60s and low 70s during July and August. Fall and spring are mild. Winters are cold, but only a few days every winter does the temperature drop below -5 °C. Rainfall patterns are generally spread evenly throughout the year, with between six and nine wet days per month. Snowfall is unpredictable, with some winters experiencing little and others characterized by occasional snowstorms. January lows average -3 °C (28 °F) and highs average 7 °C (48 °F). July lows average 19 °C (67 °F) and highs average 30 °C (88 °F) although during heat waves, summer highs can cross 35 °C (95 °F). The lowest temperature ever officially recorded for the city was -22 °C (-7 °F), and the highest temperature ever recorded was 40 °C (104 °F). High Point has a humid continental climate, though being located between the mountains and the ocean it experiences less temperature fluctuation than inland areas.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °F 48 51 60 70 78 84 88 86 80 70 60 50
69
Avg low temperature °F 28 30 37 46 55 63 67 66 59 47 37 30
47
Rainfall in. 3.3 3.3 3.8 3.2 3.6 3.8 4.4 4.1 3.3 3.4 2.9 3.2
42.3
Snowfall in. 3.1 2.5 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.2
8.6
Source: Weatherbase

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1]of 2000, there were 85,839 people, 33,519 households, and 22,523 families residing in the city. The population densitywas 1,750.1 people per square mile (675.7/km²). There were 35,952 housing units at an average density of 733.0/sq mi (283.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.56% White, 31.77% African American, 0.46% Native American, 3.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanicor Latinoof any race were 4.89% of the population. 12.7% were of American, 8.7% English, 8.3% Germanand 5.9% Irishancestry. There were 33,519 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couplesliving together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% 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 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,137, and the median income for a family was $48,057. Males had a median income of $33,411 versus $25,293 for females. The per capita incomefor the city was $21,303. About 10.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

2006 10 Largest Private Employers[2]

Historical populations
Census
year		 Population
1950 39,973
1960 62,063
1970 63,259
1980 63,259
1990 69,428
2000 85,839
2005 101,852
High Point Regional Healthcare System 1,866
Bank of America 1,800
Thomas Built Buses 1,586
NCO Group, Inc. 1,109
Tyco Electronics 1,000
Polo Ralph Lauren 920
Cornerstone Health Care 785
Aetna 700
Marsh Furniture Company 696
HDM Furniture Industries 491

Once synonymous with furniture, hosiery, and Hatteras yachts, High Point has diversified its economy as a center for distribution and logistics, customer service and banking, manufacturing, photography, and pharmaceuticals. The city has benefited from the nearby Dell manufacturing plant in Forsyth County with the announcement that Dell supplier World Wide Technology would employ 20 in a 34,000-square-foot (3,200 m²) facility in High Point.[4] The planned FedEx air freight hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport was a critical factor in the selection of High Point by Polo.com, the Internet retail site for Polo Ralph Lauren, expected to create 250 jobs.[5]

In 2005, High Point adopted "North Carolina's International City" as its official slogan, emphasizing the role of international business and especially the High Point Market (formerly called the International Home Furnishings Market), the largest furnishings industry trade fair in the world.

[edit] Transportation

High Point's 1908 Passenger Depot
High Point's 1908 Passenger Depot

High Point is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport, which also serves Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

Amtrak's Crescent and Carolinian and Piedmont trains connect High Point (Amtrak station) with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The recently refurbished historic Amtrak station is situated at 100 West High Street.

Interstate 85 runs through southern High Point, southeast of the original interstate roadway, which is now designated Business 85. High Point is going to have Interstate 74 north and east of center city in the future. Construction on the "East Belt" freeway project is scheduled to be complete after 2011. Part of this freeway is already built, and is signed U.S. Route 311.

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation(PART) also operates in High Point. It is a service that shuttles people in between most of the cities in the northwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. High Point also provides public transportation. The main service for public transportation in High Point is Hitran, the local bus service.

Highways passing through High Point include:

[edit] Education

High Point University, Roberts Hall
High Point University, Roberts Hall

Private schools for the education of children were established in and around High Point as early as the early nineteenth century by Quakers. The New York Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, a network of Quakers from that state, started a school in Asheboro in the 1880s for African American students. The school relocated to High Point in 1891 on land east of town on Washington Street. The institution was named the High Point Normal and Industrial School (later William Penn High School), and was administered by the Quakers until 1897. In that year, black educator Alfred J. Griffin accepted the position of principal and led the establishment into a long period of growth.

The High Point public school system was founded in 1897 with the approval of a $10,000 bond, in part to finance the purchase of J. Elwood Cox’s family home on South Main Street for use as the first school building. Twelve school commissioners were appointed to administer the 350-student system of five grades. Growth of the city’s institutions reflected improved primary educational facilities. A school building campaign coupled with additional grades and improved classes resulted in four additional schools for white students: Elm Street School (1905), Park Street School (1910), Fairview School (1910), and Grimes Street School (1911). Many other schools were all born in the 1920s during a period of rapid growth.

This building spree culminated in 1927 with the opening of High Point High School. Among the many high styled school complexes in the state, few surpass High Point’s grand 1927 high school. The campus joined the talents of two designers; Greensboro architect Harry Barton and Charlotte landscape architect Earl S. Draper. The prominent building was matched in 1931 with the addition of Ferndale Middle School just to the east, designed to incorporate details from the high school so that it maintained a campus theme. Both shared athletic facilities on a large tract of land between downtown and Emerywood. An additional high school named after T. Wingate Andrews was established in the 1960s.

Several private and independent schools are found in High Point, including High Point Christian Academy (Baptist), High Point Friends School (Quaker), Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic), Wesleyan Christian Academy, and Westchester Country Day School (nonsectarian), and Phoenix Academy, a charter school.

In 1921, the Chamber of Commerce made the establishment of a college in High Point a high priority and initiated a High Point College Campaign. The campaign solicited funds in order to attract the attention of the North Carolina Methodist Protestants, who had desired for decades to found a college.

High Point succeeded in attracting the college over rivals Greensboro and Burlington with a gift of sixty acres and $100,000 in pledges from leading citizens. High Point College opened in 1924 (changed to High Point University in 1991) with three buildings at various stages of development. Many of the numerous civic organizations founded in the 1920s pledged funds, including the Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitan, and the American Business Club. The architectural design of the High Point College campus was in keeping with traditional and historical architectural initiatives found at many private colleges and universities across the state in the 1920s. The administration building (Roberts Hall), male and female dormitories (McCulloch Hall and Women’s Hall, respectively), and a central heating plant were all erected between 1922 and 1924 according to designs by Washington, D.C., architect R. E. Mitchell with assistance by High Point architect Herbert Hunter. Today, High Point University is a four-year, coeducational, liberal arts university related to the United Methodist Church. It offers 50 majors in a traditional day format. It also offers non-traditional Evening Programs, and the Graduate Studies offers four Master's degrees and six programs.

High Point is also the home of John Wesley College, as well as one of the nine Shaw University, "CAPE" (College of Adult and Professional Education) Program centers.[6]

[edit] Media

[edit] Newspapers

The High Point Enterprise, established in 1885, is the sole daily newspaper published in High Point. City news coverage is also served by The Greensboro News & Record, the Business Journal of the Triad, the Winston-Salem Journal, and the Jamestown News.

[edit] Television stations

High Point makes up part of the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television designated market area. These stations are listed by call letters, channel number, network and city of license.

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ "Dell supplier to locate in north High Point" : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina
  5. ^ NC Commerce Employee intranet
  6. ^ College of Adult and Professional Education (CAPE). Shaw University. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.

I-74 in NC Progress Page, Segment 6 [3]. Accessed 5/10/07.

[edit] External links

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