Louisburg, North Carolina

Louisburg, North Carolina
—  Town  —
Location of Louisburg, North Carolina
Coordinates:
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Franklin
Established 1779
Government
 • Mayor Karl T. Pernell
Area
 • Total 2.3 sq mi (6.1 km2)
 • Land 2.3 sq mi (6.1 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 220 ft (67 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 3,111
 • Density 1,327.1/sq mi (512.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 27549
Area code(s) 919
FIPS code 37-39360[1]
GNIS feature ID 0989040[2]
Website http://www.townoflouisburg.com

Louisburg is a town in Franklin County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,111. It is the county seat of Franklin County[3]. It is also the home of Louisburg College, considered the oldest two-year coeducational college in the United States, and of one of the campuses of Vance-Granville Community College.

Contents

History and Culture

Louisburg was established in the 1770s and named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, who was aiding the American Revolution at the time. It is the birthplace of author Edwin Wiley Fuller, home of the International Whistlers Convention, and site of the last hanging in North Carolina, chronicled in the book The Day The Black Rain Fell, by William F. Shelton and James S. Warren. "Black rain" actually did fall in Louisburg in March 1900.[4] Louisburg was the home of one governor of North Carolina, Thomas W. Bickett.[5]

Geography

Louisburg is located at (36.100413, -78.299009)[6], on the banks of the Tar River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,711 people, 944 households, and 221 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,327.1 people per square mile (513.3/km2). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 533.6 per square mile (206.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 50.79% White, 46.67% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 1.09% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.02% of the population.

There were 1,123 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.6% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 75.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,755, and the median income for a family was $41,563. Males had a median income of $30,417 versus $24,018 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,918. About 15.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Hot Spots

Franklin County Library

The Main or Central library is the Franklin County Library located in Louisburg. There are three branches in other municipalities across the county as well as an outreach program through the Bookmobile. The branch libraries give people outside the county seat easier access to the information and materials they need. The hours of the library are Monday – Friday 12-7. Library Services

Library Cards

Library cards are free to Franklin County residents. Replacement fee for lost cards is $2.00. The card you will receive is valid at all Franklin County Branch Libraries including the Bookmobile. They are issued as follows:

Library Circulation

• Most Library materials can be checked out for two weeks, with the exception of audio-visual equipment. A/V Equipment check-out times vary. You must call for time on a specific piece of equipment. • You have the option of renewing materials twice, as long as there is no reserve on the particular item. This may be done in person or by telephone. • Overdue fines for late returns are $0.10 per day per item with a maximum of $2.00 per item. • A 24-hour book drop is available at each library location

Franklin County Courthouse

Franklin County was formed in 1779 from Bute County. Bute County was abolished in 1779, and the records were transferred to Warren and Franklin Counties. The County is bordered by Warren County (northeast), Nash County (east), Wake County (southwest), Granville County (west), Vance County (northwest). It was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. The present land area is 492.02 square miles (1,274 km2) and the 2000 population was 47,260. The act establishing the county authorized that the first court be held at the home of Benjamin Seawell. The justices were to determine where subsequent courts were to be held until the courthouse could be erected. In 1779 Lewisburg was established on land purchased by the commissioners for the erection of the courthouse. Louisburg is the county seat. http://www.mynorthcarolinagenealogy.com/nc_county/fr.htm

United States Post Office

The Louisburg Post Office is located on Main Street in the heart of Downtown Louisburg.

Sheriff’s Office

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has 44 full time sworn Deputies and 8 part-time sworn Deputies. The Office is responsible for patrolling over 495 square miles (1,282 km2) and protecting its 54,000 plus population. Last year the Sheriff’s Office responded to over 19,000 calls for service. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is located at 285 T. Kemp Rd in Louisburg. Their phone number is (919) 496-2186. One can visit them at the web site at www.co.franklin.nc.us/Sheriff/index.htm

Franklin County Schools

The main office buildings of Franklin County Schools are located at 53 West River Road, Louisburg NC 27549 (919-496-2600). Franklin County Schools (FCS) consists of 15 schools and more than 8,500 students serving the towns of Franklinton, Louisburg, Youngsville and Bunn, North Carolina. Of the 15 existing schools, there are eight elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools and one alternative school. The school district also consists of traditional and a year round school which is located at Youngsville Elementary School. For more information on Franklin County Schools contact the web site at www.fcschools.net.

Louisburg Police Department

The Louisburg Police Department was first opened in 1779. Today the chief of police is Rick Lassiter. The department is located at 104 Wade Avenue in Louisburg. Their phone number is (919)496-4175.

Louisburg College

A two-year residential college located in Louisburg, North Carolina , that focuses on getting students ready for the next step to a four-year school offering baccalaureate degrees. The three degree programs offered: an Associate in Arts (general college degree), an Associate in Science (general science degree), and an Associate in Business degree. It also offers these special programs: Academy (tutoring support for ALL students), the Learning Partners Program (for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD), and the Crossroads Program (for first-year students as they handle the transition from high school). Louisburg College has comprehensive transfer agreements with many public and private colleges and universities, including the 16 branches of the University of North Carolina system, that allow Louisburg College graduates to make a seamless transition upon entering four-year schools as full-fledged juniors.

Vance-Granville Community College

A community college in North Carolina serving Vance, Granville, Franklin, and Warren counties. It was established in 1969 by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. In addition to a main campus in Henderson, VGCC maintain three satellite campuses, of which the Franklin Campus is one,

The Franklin County Campus is located on N. C. 56 about one mile (2 km) west of Louisburg between Louisburg and Franklinton. It sits on a scenic 22 acres (89,000 m2) site that boasts a two-building complex that opened to students in 1998. It contains general classrooms, vocational, computer and science labs, a childcare center, computer and conference room, book store, and faculty and administrative

Climate

Louisburg, being located in eastern North Carolina, has long hot humid summers, and winters which are short and mild by comparison to much of the rest of the country, with snow being a rarity. In Louisburg, between 60 and 90 days per year are over 86 °F (30 °C), according to the Heat Zone Map published by the American Horticultural Society.[7] By comparison, the great majority of the upper midwest and northeast has less than 30 such days per year.[8] These hot days, combined with the South's high humidity, make it sweltering in the summer. The average daytime temperature is in the high 70s or above for at least 5 months out of the year (May through September).[9][10][11][12][13]

The following is the average weather for Louisburg:

Climate data for Louisburg, North Carolina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 51
(11)
55
(13)
63
(17)
73
(23)
79
(26)
87
(31)
90
(32)
89
(32)
83
(28)
73
(23)
64
(18)
54
(12)
71.8
(22.1)
Average low °F (°C) 25
(−4)
26
(−3)
34
(1)
42
(6)
51
(11)
60
(16)
65
(18)
63
(17)
56
(13)
42
(6)
34
(1)
27
(−3)
43.8
(6.5)
Precipitation inches (mm) 4.14
(105.2)
3.52
(89.4)
4.37
(111)
3.19
(81)
4.34
(110.2)
3.73
(94.7)
4.48
(113.8)
5.28
(134.1)
4.39
(111.5)
3.66
(93)
3.27
(83.1)
3.13
(79.5)
47.50
(1,206.5)
Source: Weather.com[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  4. ^ Jerome Clark and John Clark, Unnatural Phenomena: A Guide to the Bizarre Wonders of North America (ABC-CLIO, 2005), p241
  5. ^ NC Historical Marker
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  7. ^ http://www.ahs.org/pdfs/05_heat_map.pdf
  8. ^ http://www.ahs.org/pdfs/05_heat_map.pdf
  9. ^ http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/viewer.phtml?file=/pub/prism/us_30s/graphics/tmax/Normals/us_tmax_1971_2000.05.png&year=1971_2000&vartype=tmax&month=05&status=final
  10. ^ http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/viewer.phtml?file=/pub/prism/us_30s/graphics/tmax/Normals/us_tmax_1971_2000.06.png&year=1971_2000&vartype=tmax&month=06&status=final
  11. ^ http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/viewer.phtml?file=/pub/prism/us_30s/graphics/tmax/Normals/us_tmax_1971_2000.07.png&year=1971_2000&vartype=tmax&month=07&status=final
  12. ^ http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/viewer.phtml?file=/pub/prism/us_30s/graphics/tmax/Normals/us_tmax_1971_2000.08.png&year=1971_2000&vartype=tmax&month=08&status=final
  13. ^ http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/products/viewer.phtml?file=/pub/prism/us_30s/graphics/tmax/Normals/us_tmax_1971_2000.09.png&year=1971_2000&vartype=tmax&month=09&status=final
  14. ^ "Average Weather for Louisburg, NC". The Weather Channel. 2010. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/27549. Retrieved 2010-04-09. 

External links