Star, North Carolina
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| Star, North Carolina | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Montgomery |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) |
| - Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 807 |
| - Density | 666.4/sq mi (257.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 27356 |
| Area code(s) | 910 |
| FIPS code | 37-64580[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1015791[2] |
Star is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 807 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] Geography
Star is known as the geographic center of North Carolina as measured via satellite, according to the Army Corps of Engineers [1]. Star is located at (35.398366, -79.783280)[3]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 807 people, 335 households, and 211 families residing in the town. The population density was 666.4 people per square mile (257.5/km²). There were 364 housing units at an average density of 300.6/sq mi (116.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.71% White, 1.98% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 5.33% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.17% of the population.
There were 335 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,845, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $22,344 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,300. About 12.1% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History of Star
The Town of Star was incorporated in 1897. It was originally called Hunsucker's Store, after a trading post operated by the original landowner, Mr. Martin Hunsucker. After the Civil War, a man named Angus Leach moved to Hunsucker's Store and helped to found the present Town of Star, serving as postmaster, hotel operator, and general merchandise store owner. Gold was discovered in the area around 1866, and by 1874 there were extensive gold mining operations in the province, particularly around the Little River area of Star. When the Aberdeen and West End Railroad (owned by the Page family of Aberdeen, NC), completed a branch to Star from Filo, NC (Biscoe, North Carolina) in 1895, it was only a short period later before Star was incorporated into a town.
Star was a major shipping point for lumber, turpentine, and bricks beginning in 1896 with the completion of the Asheboro and Montgomery Railroad, also built by the Page family. In 1896, the Leach Family erected a large wooden hotel to accommodate the travelers and workers of the railroad, and the hotel (The Star Hotel Bed and Breakfast) is still standing today and is owned by Gary Spivey. In 1897 the Aberdeen and West End Railroad merged with the Asheboro and Montgomery Railroad to form the Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad, thus opening the area to a whole new range of shipping. The timber industry was the first major factor in the growth of Star. The Star Lumber Company, headed by Z.T. Wright, J.E. Kanoy, and W.T. Harper, had built a tramway in 1896 to haul logs to the mills in town. The tramway was removed in 1901 when the Durham and Charlotte Railroad was built to Star. The Durham and Charlotte Railroad was to connect the two cities of Durham, North Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Because The Town of Star was the junction and crossroads for the Aberdeen & Asheboro Railroad and the Durham & Charlotte Railroad, business in the town began to pick up.
Sometime around 1900, a bottling plant was established in Star by J.R. Ingrahm to bottle sodas for the area. This company preceded the Coca Cola Plant in Star, which was later moved to Biscoe, North Carolina. In 1907, Star's first undertaker, Mr. H.D. Phillips, established a funeral parlor. This was the beginning of a long and successful business for the Phillips family who still operate the Phillips Funeral Home today. Interesting to note was the organization of a "Carolina Collegiate and Agricultural Institute" around 1910 in Star by Dr. Edward F. Green that cooperated with the North Carolina A & M College in Raleigh, North Carolina. The town saw massive growth between the years of 1912 and 1950 when the Norfolk Southern Railway (former) purchased the old lines of the Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad and the Durham and Charlotte Railroad. The operation held a depot, water tank, and coal chute in Star. This new era saw the introduction of the hosiery mill industry, a boom in lumber production, various new stores and products, and a huge surge in population. Since that point, the town has continued to slowly grow into a prosperous community. In the 1960s the town undertook the task of erecting some of the first public housing units in the state.
[edit] Star today
Star has been designated as a US Postal Service Christmas Town, and as hosting the Star Fiddler's Convention. The Star Christmas Parade is documented as one of the oldest in the State, as well as the longest with the most entrees. The Yadkin Pee Dee Lakes project has its current headquarters in the old Country Life Academy building in Star. They head the Star Town Revitalization Project, as well as the Central Park NC endeavor. The town also boasts as being located at the center of the State of North Carolina. With the Uwharrie National Forest, Badin Lake, Lake Tillery, North Carolina Zoo, and Pinehurst close by and other natural attractions, as well as a rich heritage and friendly citizens, one can see why Star is loved by so many. With three churches located in the town, it is clear that religion plays a big part in the lives of the citizens. Today, Star is known as a quaint, quiet, rural place to live, work, raise a family, and vacation..
Past and present citizens of note in Star, North Carolina include: Dr. James T. Allen, J.A. Allen, Von Allen, Elkhanah Brewer, Wesley Brown, R.L. Caudill, George Coggin Sr., J.C. Currie, J.B. Deaton, T.J. Ellis, Rev. Dr. Edward F. Green, W.T. Harper, Kathy Harris, J.R. Ingram, Verna James, J.E. Kanoy, Orin L. Keener, Caswell Kern, Frank Kersy, Bill Kivitt, George Kivitt, Angus Leach, Becky Leach, Minerva Leach, Fetzer Mabe, O.H. Massey, John Maynard, John Paul McIntosh, Ernest and Lillie Morgan, Raleigh Nall, Jerry O'Brien, H.D. Phillips, C.V. Richardson, O.E. Rich, Bobby Russell, Paul Russell, Silas Russell, Dr. Charles F. Scarborough, George Scarborogh, George Scott, E.G. Seagroves, Dr. J.B. Shamberger, Judy Stevens, Carl C. Stout Sr., Archie Stout, John Stuart, Paul Thompson, Harold VanDerveer, Charles Wright, D.T. Wright, George H Wright, L.A. Wright, & Z.T. Wright.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Star, North Carolina is at coordinates Coordinates:
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