Jamestown, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Jamestown is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina
, United States
, and is a suburb of the nearby cities of Greensboro and High Point. The population was 3,088 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land.
You may access the Town of Jamestown's municipal website at http://www.jamestown-nc.gov for more information.
of 2000, there were 3,088 people, 1,229 households, and 924 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,159.0 people per square mile (448.2/km²). There were 1,293 housing units at an average density of 485.3 per square mile (187.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.79% White, 7.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.74% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.04% of the population.
There were 1,229 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $107,331, and the median income for a family was $77,549. Males had a median income of $58,889 versus $35,771 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,689. About 4.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
were living in a village in this region. They enjoyed the area's mild climate, abundant natural resources, and the fertile hunting grounds along the Deep and Uwharrie River
s.
Part of a loose confederacy of 20 or more tribes, it is believed that by the 1760s, the Keyauwee had moved south close to the boundary between the two Carolinas where they were likely absorbed by the Catawba tribe
.
in search of productive farmland. Among the original settlers was James Mendenhall, who established a farmstead near present day Jamestown in 1762. Though Mendenhall moved to Georgia
in 1775, his son George remained, and by 1816, he founded the village of Jamestown in honor of his father.
The Mendenhall family, who owned and operated the area's first grist
and lumber mills, also owned much of the town's original land. Today, High Point City Lake is situated where the original family farmhouse and land was located.
In 1781, during the Revolutionary War
, British General Cornwallis' army camped near the settlement and commandeered provisions from local farms and mills prior to his engagement with Nathanael Greene's
troops at New Garden, in modern day Greensboro
.
shut down local efforts.
In 1811, James Mendenhall's son Richard, a local tanner, built the historic Mendenhall Plantation homestead, a highlight of any tour of Jamestown today.
In addition to farming and related industries, Jamestown was home to a gun factory, which manufactured a sturdy and accurate muzzle-loading gun known as the "Jamestown Rifle," the mainstay of Jamestown's industry through the latter half of the 19th century and a highly prized collectible among gun enthusiasts today.
During the Civil War
, Jamestown's Quakers, who opposed war and violence, attempted to remain neutral. However, the Confederacy demanded that those who were able to make shoes, uniforms, or weapons continue to do so or pay heavy taxes. Also, records indicate Confederate President Jefferson Davis
and his entourage passed through Jamestown during its hasty retreat to the South after the Civil War ended.
Jamestown was also a known "stop" along the Underground Railroad
, which helped fugitive slaves reach freedom in the North. According to local historical records, many Quaker homes in this area had a trap door leading to the basement to help slaves escape. Further, according to records, the Mendenhall and Beard families were instrumental in assisting in emancipation efforts.
Built in 1856, the railroad bisects Jamestown, and still provides a vital link for freight and some passengers between the port cities to the East and interior destinations.
granted Jamestown incorporation. Several months after incorporation, Jamestown adopted zoning districts and began construction of a municipal water and sewer system.
T. C. Ragsdale Senior served as the town's first mayor, and Charles P. Turner was the first town manager. More than 60 years later, Jamestown is proud to be managed by only its third town manager and its fifth mayor, a testament to the community's stability.
In the 1950s, with a population of approximately 750, the town boasted such improvements as street lighting, water and sewer service, and a fire department.
During the 1960s, Jamestown grew quickly. Several residential neighborhoods sprang from old farmland. An ABC board was formed and a liquor store was constructed, which proved to be a wise investment, enabling the town to pay off debt incurred for water and sewer lines as well as fund the building of Town Hall in 1967 and the Jamestown Park and Golf Course in 1974.
, was built and became the "best equipped school" in Guilford County with dormitories for boarding students. In 1914 the school was destroyed by fire, but a new building was completed the next year. This building now stands in the heart of Jamestown and houses the Jamestown Public Library.
The school grew steadily and a new high school complex in Jamestown was opened in September 1959. The new high school was named for Lucy Coffin Ragsdale because of her dedication and interest to public school education in Jamestown. The first principal of Ragsdale High School
was T.G. Madison, followed by Dr. Steve Dalton. Dr. Kathryn Rogers, the current principal, is only the third principal in the history of the school.
To compensate for the town's growth, Jamestown has since built two more elementary schools and one more middle school. A community college, Guilford Technical Community College
, provides local adults with a higher education.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is a suburb of the nearby cities of Greensboro and High Point. The population was 3,088 at 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...
.
Geography
Jamestown is located at 35°59′54"N 79°56′9"W (35.998221, -79.935733).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 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land.
You may access the Town of Jamestown's municipal website at http://www.jamestown-nc.gov for more information.
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 3,088 people, 1,229 households, and 924 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 1,159.0 people per square mile (448.2/km²). There were 1,293 housing units at an average density of 485.3 per square mile (187.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.79% White, 7.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.74% 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 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.04% of the population.
There were 1,229 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $107,331, and the median income for a family was $77,549. Males had a median income of $58,889 versus $35,771 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 $29,689. About 4.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
The Keyauwee
As early as 1701, the Keyauwee IndiansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
were living in a village in this region. They enjoyed the area's mild climate, abundant natural resources, and the fertile hunting grounds along the Deep and Uwharrie River
Uwharrie River
The Uwharrie River is a river, about 60 mi long, in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina in the United States. It is a tributary of the Pee Dee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.- Course :...
s.
Part of a loose confederacy of 20 or more tribes, it is believed that by the 1760s, the Keyauwee had moved south close to the boundary between the two Carolinas where they were likely absorbed by the Catawba tribe
Catawba (tribe)
The Catawba are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans, known as the Catawba Indian Nation. They live in the Southeast United States, along the border between North and South Carolina near the city of Rock Hill...
.
Quaker Settlement
By the late 18th century, European settlers came to Jamestown. Many were Quaker families who moved to the area from PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in search of productive farmland. Among the original settlers was James Mendenhall, who established a farmstead near present day Jamestown in 1762. Though Mendenhall moved to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1775, his son George remained, and by 1816, he founded the village of Jamestown in honor of his father.
The Mendenhall family, who owned and operated the area's first grist
Grist
Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a grist mill. Its etymology derives from the verb grind....
and lumber mills, also owned much of the town's original land. Today, High Point City Lake is situated where the original family farmhouse and land was located.
In 1781, during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, British General Cornwallis' army camped near the settlement and commandeered provisions from local farms and mills prior to his engagement with Nathanael Greene's
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
troops at New Garden, in modern day Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
.
19th Century
By 1800, Jamestown was a bustling settlement of 150 residents with its own post office, inn and Free Mason's lodge. Around this same time, gold was discovered near Jamestown, and several mines profited until the California gold rush frenzyCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
shut down local efforts.
In 1811, James Mendenhall's son Richard, a local tanner, built the historic Mendenhall Plantation homestead, a highlight of any tour of Jamestown today.
In addition to farming and related industries, Jamestown was home to a gun factory, which manufactured a sturdy and accurate muzzle-loading gun known as the "Jamestown Rifle," the mainstay of Jamestown's industry through the latter half of the 19th century and a highly prized collectible among gun enthusiasts today.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Jamestown's Quakers, who opposed war and violence, attempted to remain neutral. However, the Confederacy demanded that those who were able to make shoes, uniforms, or weapons continue to do so or pay heavy taxes. Also, records indicate Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
and his entourage passed through Jamestown during its hasty retreat to the South after the Civil War ended.
Jamestown was also a known "stop" along the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, which helped fugitive slaves reach freedom in the North. According to local historical records, many Quaker homes in this area had a trap door leading to the basement to help slaves escape. Further, according to records, the Mendenhall and Beard families were instrumental in assisting in emancipation efforts.
Built in 1856, the railroad bisects Jamestown, and still provides a vital link for freight and some passengers between the port cities to the East and interior destinations.
20th Century
By April 1947, the North Carolina General AssemblyNorth Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
granted Jamestown incorporation. Several months after incorporation, Jamestown adopted zoning districts and began construction of a municipal water and sewer system.
T. C. Ragsdale Senior served as the town's first mayor, and Charles P. Turner was the first town manager. More than 60 years later, Jamestown is proud to be managed by only its third town manager and its fifth mayor, a testament to the community's stability.
In the 1950s, with a population of approximately 750, the town boasted such improvements as street lighting, water and sewer service, and a fire department.
During the 1960s, Jamestown grew quickly. Several residential neighborhoods sprang from old farmland. An ABC board was formed and a liquor store was constructed, which proved to be a wise investment, enabling the town to pay off debt incurred for water and sewer lines as well as fund the building of Town Hall in 1967 and the Jamestown Park and Golf Course in 1974.
Education
In 1907 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law providing for the creation and maintenance of public high schools in each county. Jamestown Public School, a union schoolUnion school district
In some U.S. states, a union school district or union high school district is a school district that has been formed by the consolidation of "two or more school districts situated in the same county". A Joint union school district is similar, but the component districts are "situated wholly or in...
, was built and became the "best equipped school" in Guilford County with dormitories for boarding students. In 1914 the school was destroyed by fire, but a new building was completed the next year. This building now stands in the heart of Jamestown and houses the Jamestown Public Library.
The school grew steadily and a new high school complex in Jamestown was opened in September 1959. The new high school was named for Lucy Coffin Ragsdale because of her dedication and interest to public school education in Jamestown. The first principal of Ragsdale High School
Ragsdale High School
Lucy Ragsdale High School, commonly known as Ragsdale High, is a public high school in Jamestown, North Carolina. Opened in 1959, Ragsdale is one of 26 high schools in Guilford County Schools...
was T.G. Madison, followed by Dr. Steve Dalton. Dr. Kathryn Rogers, the current principal, is only the third principal in the history of the school.
To compensate for the town's growth, Jamestown has since built two more elementary schools and one more middle school. A community college, Guilford Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
-A Quick History:Guilford Technical Community College was founded as the Guilford Industrial Education Center on April 3, 1958, the training facility was established to prepare workers for technical jobs created by the rapid manufacturing growth in the county...
, provides local adults with a higher education.