Bladenboro, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Bladenboro is a town in Bladen County
, North Carolina
, in the United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the town population was 1,718.
The town of Bladenboro was incorporated in 1903.
In 1954, Bladenboro received national attention for several mysterious animal killings, mostly of dogs and livestock, in the area. The animals had broken jaws and had been drained of blood in a fashion not unlike the supposed attacks of Chupacabra
. However, sightings describe the attacker as favoring a cat or wolf which led to the local legend known as the "Beast of Bladenboro." In 2008, the History Channel television series Monster Quest
performed an analysis concerning these attacks, which were beginning to happen again, and concluded that the attacker might have been a cougar.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,718 people, 762 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density
was 789.5 people per square mile (304.3/km²). There were 832 housing units at an average density of 382.3 per square mile (147.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.33% White, 17.81% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 762 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% 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 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,300, and the median income for a family was $30,900. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $21,154 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,102. About 23.2% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.9% of those under age 18 and 23.9% of those age 65 or over.
- Bladenboro Elementary School (grades K-4)
- Bladenboro Middle School (grades 5-8)
- West Bladen High School (grades 9-12)
Public schools, which once operated in the Bladenboro area, include:
- Bladenboro High School (consolidated with Tar Heel High School to form West Bladen High School)
- Bladenboro Primary School (now part of Bladenboro Elementary School)
- Spaulding Monroe Middle School (now part of Bladenboro Middle School)
- Spaulding Monroe High School (consolidated with Bladenboro High School, which later consolidated with Tar Heel High School to form West Bladen High School)
Bladen County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 32,278 people, 12,897 households, and 8,937 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 15,316 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the town population was 1,718.
History
Development around Bladenboro, a farming community also known in its earliest days for its turpentine and lumber, began to take off after a railroad was built through the area in 1859. In 1885, two brothers, R.L. Bridger and H.C. Bridger, came to Bladenboro from Little River, South Carolina, to operate a turpentine business. Soon afterwards, they became involved in the timber business and operated a cotton gin. The brothers and their descendents would have a major effect on the shaping of the town and its economy for much of the next century. Major businesses, owned and operated by members of the Bridger family and which employed many area residents, have included Bridger Corporation (a farming supply company and general store no longer in operation), Bladenboro Cotton Mills (established in 1912 and later sold to become Highland Mills), and the Bank of Bladenboro (established in 1908 and now part of First Citizens Bank).The town of Bladenboro was incorporated in 1903.
Beast of Bladenboro
In 1954, Bladenboro received national attention for several mysterious animal killings, mostly of dogs and livestock, in the area. The animals had broken jaws and had been drained of blood in a fashion not unlike the supposed attacks of Chupacabra
Chupacabra
The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
. However, sightings describe the attacker as favoring a cat or wolf which led to the local legend known as the "Beast of Bladenboro." In 2008, the History Channel television series Monster Quest
Monster Quest
MonsterQuest is an American television series that originally aired from October 31, 2007 to March 24, 2010 on the History channel...
performed an analysis concerning these attacks, which were beginning to happen again, and concluded that the attacker might have been a cougar.
Geography
Bladenboro is located at 34°32′26"N 78°47′35"W (34.540461, -78.792941).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,718 people, 762 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 789.5 people per square mile (304.3/km²). There were 832 housing units at an average density of 382.3 per square mile (147.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.33% White, 17.81% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 762 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% 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 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,300, and the median income for a family was $30,900. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $21,154 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,102. About 23.2% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.9% of those under age 18 and 23.9% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Public schools, part of the Bladen County School system, in the Bladenboro area include:- Bladenboro Elementary School (grades K-4)
- Bladenboro Middle School (grades 5-8)
- West Bladen High School (grades 9-12)
Public schools, which once operated in the Bladenboro area, include:
- Bladenboro High School (consolidated with Tar Heel High School to form West Bladen High School)
- Bladenboro Primary School (now part of Bladenboro Elementary School)
- Spaulding Monroe Middle School (now part of Bladenboro Middle School)
- Spaulding Monroe High School (consolidated with Bladenboro High School, which later consolidated with Tar Heel High School to form West Bladen High School)