Person County, North Carolina

Person County, North Carolina

Person County Courthouse

Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Person County
Location in the state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1791
Named for Thomas Person
Seat Roxboro
Largest city Roxboro
Area
 • Total 404 sq mi (1,046 km2)
 • Land 392 sq mi (1,015 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (31 km2)
Population
 • (2010) 39,464
 • Density 101/sq mi (39/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.personcounty.net

Person County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 39,464 at the 2010 census.[1] The county seat is Roxboro.[2]

Person County is included in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area, which had a 2012 estimated population of 1,998,808.[3] It is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

The Hyco Lake area and southern portion of the county are the fastest growing with new businesses and subdivisions.

History

The colonial government established Person County as part of Edgecombe County in 1746. County designations kept changing, as it was part of Granville County from 1746–1752; included in Orange County until 1778; and part of Caswell County until 1791/1792. By dividing Caswell County into two squares–each side measuring approximately twenty (20) miles in length, the settlers formed two counties of 400 square miles (1,000 km2) each. The county was named after Brigadier General Thomas Person, a Revolutionary War patriot, who made significant contributions to Person County and surrounding areas.

The area was inhabited by indigenous peoples, ancestors of Native Americans, for 12,000 years, over which time they developed varying cultures. The historical tribes later encountered by early Spanish explorers in this area were generally Siouan-speaking, such as the Saponi, Occaneechee and other groups.

European explorers arrived in Person County in the 17th century. European-American settlement, by immigrants of Scots, Scots-Irish, English, French Huguenot, and German ancestry, did not take place until the mid-17th through 19th centuries. In this area, settlers tended to be yeoman farmers, and slaveholding was limited.

Religious affiliation in the county has reflected the early northern European cultural base and been predominantly Protestant. There are fewer people of Catholic and other faiths. Due to the county's proximity to Virginia, the Carolina coast, and the Appalachian foothills, a wide variety of Southern American English dialects can be heard, with Virginia Piedmont, Coastal Southern, South Midland, and African American Vernacular English the most common.

Revolutionary & Civil Wars

The county was named for Brigadier General Thomas Person, a Revolutionary War patriot, who made significant contributions to Person County and surrounding areas. He was a trustee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His generous donations were recognized by the construction and naming of Person Hall.

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Moore, Deputy Quartermaster General of the Hillsborough district, was another Revolutionary War hero of note, commanding Person County troops in the Battle of Camden. He was taken prisoner and placed on the prison ship Torbay. In 1775-1776 he purchased property in the southern part of the county and named it Mt. Tirzah. His house, built in 1778 and still at its original site, has been recently renovated. Moore was buried near the house along with many other family members.

During the Civil War, Person County supplied between 800 and 1000 soldiers to the Confederate Army. A granite monument at the Person County Courthouse honors E. Fletcher Satterfield, who advanced the Confederate flag at Gettysburg.

Late 19th century

J.A. Long, W.W. Kitchin, A.R. Foushee, J.S. Bradsher, J.C. Pass, W.F. Reade, and R.E. Long were key leaders who helped make a transition to a more diversified economic base after the Civil War. The arrival of the newly constructed Norfolk and Western Railroad was a major influence around 1890, as it enabled the addition of tobacco processing plants and warehouses to the rural economy. Although the processing plants disappeared many years ago, a few of the warehouses still stand.

J.A. Long established Peoples Bank in 1891 and the Roxboro Cotton Mill in 1899, later known as Tultex Yarns. His home at Roxboro, the James A. and Laura Thompson Long House, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.[4] Long died in 1915 but was succeeded by his son, J.A. Long, Jr., who began attracting new business to Roxboro. Baker Company opened here in 1923, making textile manufacturing a major contributor to the local economy for decades. Baker was merged with Collins and Aikman Corporation (C&A), becoming a major industry in Person County for several decades before closing in August 2006. Textile manufacturers have moved to other locations in the US and overseas.

20th & 21st centuries

Residential and commercial development have grown steadily over the past few years in part due to the county's location near the Research Triangle region. The Hyco Lake area and southern portion of the county have had an influx of new home and commercial development in the late 20th and early 21st-century. The county's largest employers are GKN, Eaton Corporation and Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

On the night of March 28, 2010 between 11:55pm and 12:05am EDT, an EF1 tornado packing winds of 70-85 mph struck the Timberlake and Rougemont community. This was one of at least eight tornadoes that hit North Carolina.[5]

On the afternoon of April 16, 2011 at approximately 2:30pm EDT, an EF2 tornado struck the Bethel Hill community.[6]

The Holloway-Walker Dollarhite House, Henry-Vernon House, Burleigh, and Waverly Plantation are listed on the National Register of Historic Places outside Roxboro.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 392 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.9%) is water.[7]

Person County contains parts of three major river basins: the Neuse, the Roanoke and the Tar, providing essential clean drinking water to the south and east of the state. The origin of the Tar River is in southeast Person County. In the northwest section of the county is Hyco Lake, with Mayo Reservoir in the northeast section. Both lakes are used for electrical power generation and recreation. Near the western border with Caswell County is Lake Roxboro. Part of the Neuse River begins here with the Flat River, where it combines with the Little and Eno rivers to go into Falls Lake and create the Neuse.

The Uwharrie Mountains, part of North Carolina's easternmost mountain range, are the oldest mountain range in North America. They are the lowest mountain range in the state. The Uwharries begin in Montgomery County and terminate in the hills of Person County.

The county is largely covered by rolling hills divided by farmlands and forest. The area's ridges are not narrow and sharp like those in some parts of the Piedmont, and the gullies and ditches are not as abrupt. The northern part of the county between the lakes is skirted by a plateau. The highest point of the county is a prominent hill in Roxboro, where the county seat has located its water reservoir tank. Person County claims two small mountains — Hager's Mountain, north of Roxboro, and Mt. Tirzah in the southern part of the county. The geology of the county is dominated by igneous formation, overlaid by a variety of soils. Granite boulders are strewn across the county.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18006,402—
18106,6423.7%
18209,02935.9%
183010,02711.1%
18409,790−2.4%
185010,78110.1%
186011,2214.1%
187011,170−0.5%
188013,71922.8%
189015,15110.4%
190016,68510.1%
191017,3564.0%
192018,9739.3%
193022,03916.2%
194025,02913.6%
195024,361−2.7%
196026,3948.3%
197025,914−1.8%
198029,16412.5%
199030,1803.5%
200035,62318.0%
201039,46410.8%
Est. 201439,132[8]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 39,464 people, 15,826 households, and 10,979 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 15,504 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.1% White, 28.3% Black, 0.61% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.

There were 14,085 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,559 and the median income for a family was $54,474. Males had a median income of $30,970 versus $22,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,189. About 9.4% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Person County is a member of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments. The county government is administered by an elected county commission, and county law enforcement is administered by an elected Sheriff and his officers. The county is politically conservative.

Elected officials

Mark Walker (R), U.S. House of Representative

Mike Woodard (D), State Senator

Larry Yarborough (R), State Representative

Dewey Jones (D), Sheriff

Kyle Puryear (R), Chairman

David Newell (D), Vice Chairman

Tracy Kendrick (R), County Commissioner

Ray Jeffers (D), County Commissioner

Jimmy Clayton (D), County Commissioner

Gordon Powell, School Board Chairman

Jimmy Wilkins, School Board Vice-Chairman

Jennifer Kafer, School Board Member

Freda Tillman, School Board Member

Margaret Bradsher, School Board Member

Economy

The economy of Person County is dominated by electrical, textile, administrative, manufacturing, aerodynamics, viticulture, brokering, food processing, automotive, aluminum and paper products. Diversification from traditional flue cured tobacco to include burley tobacco and other modes of agriculture is underway.

Person County is home to two industrial parks: Person County Business and Industrial Center (PCBIC) located on Durham Road (US 501) and North Park located north of Roxboro on North Park Drive.

Person County is also near North Carolina's Research Triangle, home to numerous high-tech companies and enterprises.

Person County offers a strategic location for business and industry, as it is within an hour’s drive of North Carolina's two major economic centers, the Research Triangle Park (Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh) and the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point), and a two-hour drive of Richmond, Virginia.

Durham-Person Business Park

A proposed business park planned between the Durham and Person County line. The park if approved, will be located near the county line, particularly to support manufacturing.[14]

Healthcare

Education

Higher education

Public education

Person County School System

Public education is provided by the Person County School System and administers a single unified school district with a K-12 program. As of August 2013, the school systems consists of -

Person County Schools
Name Principal/Director Mascot Colors Enrollment
As of Fall 2013
Earl Bradsher Pre-School Center (Pre-K) Treco Lea-Jeffers, Director Shining Stars 186
Early Intervention & Family Services (Pre-K) Dana Faulkner, Director
Helena Elementary (K-5) Chrystal Clayton, Principal Hornets Black, Yellow 647
North Elementary (K-5) Aisha Howard, Principal Eagles Red, Gold, Orange 292
North End Elementary (K-5) Sherita Fuller, Principal Jets Red, Blue 209
Oak Lane Elementary (K-5) Amy Seate, Principal Cougars Green, White 280
Stories Creek Elementary (K-5) Veronica I. Clay, Principal Gators Green, Yellow 453
South Elementary (K-5) Patrick Holmes, Principal Shooting Stars Orange, Yellow 233
Woodland Elementary (K-5) Kirk Brozy, Principal Lakers Blue, White 223
Northern Middle (6-8) Chris Tomasic, Principal Raiders Purple, Blue, Black 476
Southern Middle (6-8) Dr. Jonte' Hill, Principal Panthers Blue, White 601
Person High (9-12) Jarrod Dennis, Principal Rockets Blue, White, Cardinal 1,325
Person County Learning Academy (Alternative school) (6-10) Joan Kister, Director 50

Charter schools

The State of North Carolina also provides for a certain number of charter schools. These schools are administered separately from the Person County School System. Roxboro has 2 charter schools:

Private education

Transportation

Air

Major highways

Interstate 85 is the closest Interstate Highway to the county, located 30 miles south in Durham.

Railroad

Communities

Map of Person County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

Census-designated place

Townships

  • Allensville
  • Bushy Fork
  • Cunningham
  • Flat River
  • Holloway
  • Mount Tirzah
  • Olive Hill
  • Roxboro
  • Woodsdale

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates 2012 Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  4. 1 2 Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  5. ↑ "2010 Tornado". Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  6. ↑ "2011 Tornado". Retrieved 2011-04-22.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ↑ "Proposed Durham-Person Business Park". Retrieved 2012-10-28.

External links

 Halifax County, Virginia
Caswell County Granville County
   Person County, North Carolina  
Orange County Durham County

Coordinates: 36°23′N 78°59′W / 36.39°N 78.98°W / 36.39; -78.98

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