| Jonesville, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Location of Jonesville, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Yadkin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) |
| • Land | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 945 ft (288 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,464 |
| • Density | 780.6/sq mi (301.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 28642 |
| Area code(s) | 336 |
| FIPS code | 37-34840[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0987771[2] |
Jonesville is the oldest town in Yadkin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,464 at the 2000 census. However, it grew by nearly 800 residents in 2001 when it merged with neighboring Arlington. The county seat is Yadkinville. The closest large city is Winston-Salem 30 miles (48 km) away. There is very little in the way of shopping less than 10 restaurants and several gas stations. It is a typical "Interstate town" The majority of fast food and gas located close to I77.
The Yadkin River separates Jonesville from Elkin. The town is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is sometimes referred to as the Tri-County Area. The town is in the Yadkin Valley AVA, an American Viticultural Area. Wines made from grapes grown in the Yadkin Valley AVA may use the appellation Yadkin Valley on their labels. At least a dozen wineries are located within 15 miles (24 km) of the town.
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There are numerous churches in Jonesville with the majority being Southern Baptist.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (1.05%) is water.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,464 people, 668 households, and 416 families residing in the town. The population density was 780.6 people per square mile (300.7/km²). There were 752 housing units at an average density of 401.0 per square mile (154.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.60% White, 16.26% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.57% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.51% of the population.
There were 668 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,543, and the median income for a family was $31,400. Males had a median income of $26,200 versus $20,242 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,528. About 14.7% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
The town grew by about 1,000 residents after it merged with neighboring town Arlington in 2001. The new town has a population of about 2,250.
Interstate 77 runs through the east of town. The town is accessible off two interstate exits: North Carolina Highway 67/Winston Road and Business U.S. Route 21 in the Arlington area. N.C. 67 is a popular artery linking Jonesville with Winston-Salem.
Until recently, two bridges linked the commercial districts of Jonesville and Elkin, the Hugh G. Chatham Bridge and the newer Gwen McNeill Bridge, less than a mile upstream on Business U.S. 21. The Chatham Bridge, built in 1931 and regarded by many in the area as a community symbol with its tall steel beams, was closed in November 2005 after it failed a state inspection.[3] The North Carolina Department of Transportation does not plan to reopen or replace the bridge.Neither city will take the risk of insuring the bridge so it can be saved as a historic landmark.
Elkin Municipal Airport is located in nearby Elkin. Swan Creek Airport, which is privately owned, is southwest of town. Commercial flights are available through Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Jonesville is Yadkin County's oldest town. According to An Illustrated History of Yadkin County 1950-1980, by William E. Rutledge Jr. it was first known as Martinsborough and incorporated in 1811. The name was changed to Jonesville in honor of Hardy Jones (1747–1819), who fought in the American Revolution and lived in the town. A marker to him is on the lawn of Jonesville United Methodist Church.
The town grew up around the Jonesville Male and Female Academy, according to Rutledge, a school that was affiliated with the North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church. The Rev. William L. Van Eaton, who was born in Davie County, was principal of the school. The school was at its peak in 1859.
In April 1865, troops commanded by Union Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem devastated the academy, breaking chandeliers and school equipment.[4] This marked the end of the school.
The town's charter lapsed during the Civil War and was reactivated in 1873. It lasped again in the 1890s and was renewed in 1901.
One of the last pieces of early town history, a house once occupied by Van Eaton that dated back to the 1830s, was torn down in 1996.[5] At the time, it was believed to be the oldest house in town.
On December 21, 1912, two elderly women and a young girl were killed and nearly 100 people were injured after the floor of the Jonesville High School auditorium collapsed during a Christmas concert (Winston-Salem Journal article, Dec. 24, 1912). As the floor of the second-floor auditorium gave way in the center, the audience of at least 300 people dropped to the first floor. Killed were: Nancy Swaim, Mrs. William Smith and Lexie Luffman, a 12-year-old girl. Sam Ray extinguished a fire in a stove in the auditorium as the floor began to collapse, saving many lives (Winston-Salem Journal).
The town experienced unprecedented growth after Interstate 77 opened in 1974. The intersection of Interstate 77 and N.C. 67 (Winston Road) on the east side of town is a popular stop for travelers. It is one of the most developed along the interstate between Statesville and Mount Airy.
In 1980, Jonesville was named a "Governor's Community of Excellence" by Governor Jim Hunt for its economic development work.[6]
Jonesville Police Sgt. Gregory Keith Martin [7] was shot to death on Oct. 5, 1996, after pulling over a red Dodge pickup on I-77. The case, which remains unsolved, received national attention on TV's America's Most Wanted in May 2005, January 2006 and June 2006. Martin was the town's first police officer to be shot in the line of duty. [1]
In 2009 The town put up a memorial to Sgt. Martin in front of the new town Hall. Every year there is a bike ride in honor of Sgt. Martin in 2009 there were at least 60 bikes that rode and the money made is put to charity.
In 2009 The town built a new multimillion dollar town hall. [2]
Two community newspapers, The Tribune in Elkin and its sister paper The Yadkin Ripple, provide coverage of Jonesville. The Winston-Salem Journal, a larger daily newspaper, also covers the town. There is also the Winston-Salem Journal.
Jonesville is part of the Piedmont Triad radio and television market, but many broadcasts from the Charlotte Winston-Salemmarket also can be received. The cable provider is Time Warner.
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