Lenoir, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Caldwell County
. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge
foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains
, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hibriten Mountain
, located within the city limits of Lenoir, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range. The city was named for Revolutionary War figure and early North Carolina statesman General William Lenoir
, who settled north of present day Lenoir. His restored home, Fort Defiance, is a tourist attraction.
Lenoir is one of the principal cities in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Lenoir was one of the recipients of the 2008 All-America City Award
.
, has its headquarters in Lenoir and has historically been one of the city's largest employers. The Bernhardt, Kincaid, and Fairfield furniture companies are also located in or around Lenoir. However, in the 1990s, these companies began outsourcing some work overseas, and they have closed several of Lenoir's furniture factories and laid off workers. Recent consolidations of area furniture facilities (Thomasville, Taylorsville, North Wilkesboro, etc.) have netted modest gains in positions in the industry around Lenoir. Now the medical and education sectors are the largest employers in the area.
Shuford Mills, one of the most respected names in the textile industry, Shuford Mill’s was founded in 1880 giving the company a presence in different centuries. Shuford Mills has a well earned and established reputation for quality woven products, exceptional service and commitment to the outdoor markets to which it serves.
Google
, Inc. has a server farm
, or "data center," located in Lenoir. There was controversy over the nature, amount, and potential benefits of economic development incentives that the City of Lenoir, Caldwell County and the State of North Carolina gave Google in 2007 to induce the company to build the server farm. The less celebrated benefits of the investment have been construction employment and spending, a small-time server farm investment just outside downtown, Dacentec, as well as local charitable and educational endeavors by Google.
Lenoir is located at 35°54′30"N 81°31′48"W (35.908438, -81.530012).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 16,793 people, 6,913 households, and 4,569 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,013.7 people per square mile (391.3/km²). There were 7,461 housing units at an average density of 450.4 per square mile (173.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.88% White, 14.71% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races
, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.25% of the population.
There were 6,913 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,369, and the median income for a family was $37,280. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $21,895 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,697. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Presbyterian Layman, a publication of the Presbyterian Lay Committee independent of the denomination, is published in Lenoir.
Caldwell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Caldwell County
Caldwell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile...
. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains
Brushy Mountains (North Carolina)
The Brushy Mountains are a mountain range located in northwestern North Carolina. They are an isolated "spur" of the much larger Blue Ridge Mountains, separated from them by the Yadkin River valley...
, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hibriten Mountain
Hibriten Mountain
Hibriten Mountain, located just east of Lenoir, North Carolina, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range. The mountain's summit is nearly 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain...
, located within the city limits of Lenoir, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range. The city was named for Revolutionary War figure and early North Carolina statesman General William Lenoir
William Lenoir (general)
William Lenoir was an American Revolutionary War officer and prominent statesman in late 18th-century and early 19th-century North Carolina. Both the City of Lenoir, North Carolina and Lenoir County, North Carolina are named for him. Additionally, Lenoir City, Tennessee is jointly named for him...
, who settled north of present day Lenoir. His restored home, Fort Defiance, is a tourist attraction.
Lenoir is one of the principal cities in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Unifour
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area or The Unifor, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in the Catawba Valley region of western North Carolina...
.
Lenoir was one of the recipients of the 2008 All-America City Award
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
.
Economy
The Broyhill Furniture company, one of the largest furniture companies in the United States and part of Furniture Brands InternationalFurniture Brands International
Furniture Brands International, Inc. is a holding company in the home furnishing industry. Some of the brands it owns in the furniture industry include Broyhill, Lane, Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Pearson, Laneventure, and Maitland-Smith....
, has its headquarters in Lenoir and has historically been one of the city's largest employers. The Bernhardt, Kincaid, and Fairfield furniture companies are also located in or around Lenoir. However, in the 1990s, these companies began outsourcing some work overseas, and they have closed several of Lenoir's furniture factories and laid off workers. Recent consolidations of area furniture facilities (Thomasville, Taylorsville, North Wilkesboro, etc.) have netted modest gains in positions in the industry around Lenoir. Now the medical and education sectors are the largest employers in the area.
Shuford Mills, one of the most respected names in the textile industry, Shuford Mill’s was founded in 1880 giving the company a presence in different centuries. Shuford Mills has a well earned and established reputation for quality woven products, exceptional service and commitment to the outdoor markets to which it serves.
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, Inc. has a server farm
Server farm
A server farm or server cluster is a collection of computer servers usually maintained by an enterprise to accomplish server needs far beyond the capability of one machine. Server farms often have backup servers, which can take over the function of primary servers in the event of a primary server...
, or "data center," located in Lenoir. There was controversy over the nature, amount, and potential benefits of economic development incentives that the City of Lenoir, Caldwell County and the State of North Carolina gave Google in 2007 to induce the company to build the server farm. The less celebrated benefits of the investment have been construction employment and spending, a small-time server farm investment just outside downtown, Dacentec, as well as local charitable and educational endeavors by Google.
Geography
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 city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 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 16,793 people, 6,913 households, and 4,569 families residing in the city. 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 1,013.7 people per square mile (391.3/km²). There were 7,461 housing units at an average density of 450.4 per square mile (173.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.88% White, 14.71% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% 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 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.25% of the population.
There were 6,913 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% 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, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,369, and the median income for a family was $37,280. Males had a median income of $26,122 versus $21,895 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 city was $16,697. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
Media
- Kicks 103.3, local radio station.
- WJRI, News Talk 1340, local radio station.
- WKGX, AM 1080, local radio station.
- News-TopicNews-TopicThe News-Topic is a newspaper published in Lenoir, North Carolina and serving all of Caldwell County, North Carolina. It is owned by the Paxton Media Group, who purchased it from The New York Times Company in 1995...
, local newspaper in Lenoir/Caldwell County.
The Presbyterian Layman, a publication of the Presbyterian Lay Committee independent of the denomination, is published in Lenoir.
Notable people
- W. Herman Anderson, industrial developer.
- Leonard BolickLeonard BolickLeonard H. Bolick is a priest of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves as the current bishop of the North Carolina Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Bolick is known for seeking ecumenical reconciliation and improving relations with the Roman Catholic Church in North Carolina while he has...
, Bishop of the ELCA North Carolina Synod (born in Lenoir) - James T. Broyhill, Heir to the Broyhill family fortune; United States Congressman from North Carolina from 1962 to 1986 and a United States SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from July 1986 to November 1986. - Jan KaronJan KaronJan Karon is an American writer and novelist, who has written for both children and adults. Karon was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, in 1937, as Janice Meredith Wilson. She retired from a career in advertising and moved to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to write...
, New York Times-bestselling author of the Mitford Series and the Father Tim novels (born in Lenoir). - Kary Banks Mullis, Ph.D., American biochemist and Nobel laureate.
- William C. NewlandWilliam C. NewlandWilliam Calhoun "Will" Newland was an attorney who served a term as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina .A Democrat, Newland had previously served as mayor of his hometown, Lenoir, North Carolina, and was elected to terms in the North Carolina Senate and in the North Carolina House of...
, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina - Joseph RobinsonJoseph RobinsonJoseph Robinson may refer to:*Joseph Robinson , judge and politician in Prince Edward Island*Joseph Taylor Robinson , Democratic United States politician...
, Principal oboist, New York Philharmonic - Mark SchwartzMark SchwartzMark Schwartz is a retired American soccer forward who played in the United Soccer League and the third American Soccer League. He was the 1984 USL Rookie of the Year....
, Former Professional Soccer player, and college coach - Larry SmithLarry Smith (NASCAR)Larry Smith , born in Lenoir, North Carolina, United States, was a former NASCAR driver. He made his debut in the 1971 World 600 in the #92 Ford, finishing 22nd. He would go on to run three more races that year, acquiring one top-ten finish...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. - Parker T. WilliamsonParker T. WilliamsonParker T. Williamson is editor emeritus of the Presbyterian Layman newspaper. He earned the Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA . While there, he joined two classmates in marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to Selma, AL in order to encourage Civil Rights legislation...
, minister and author. - Parker H. Dill, Heir to the Dill Estate.
- Tim Haas, host of Southern Fresh.
Baseball players
- Five Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players were born or have been residents in Lenoir: Johnny AllenJohnny Allen (baseball)John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....
(born 1904), Lindsay DealLindsay DealFred Lindsay Deal , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield for the 1939 Brooklyn Dodgers.-External links:...
(born 1911), Charlie CozartCharlie CozartCharles Rhubin Cozart was a Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in five games, all in relief, for the Boston Braves in 1945. The 25-year-old rookie left-hander was a native of Lenoir, North Carolina....
(born 1919), Rube WalkerRube WalkerAlbert Bluford "Rube" Walker was an American Major League Baseball catcher and longtime pitching coach....
(born 1926), and Madison BumgarnerMadison BumgarnerMadison Bumgarner is an American baseball pitcher with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" and 225 pounds and has a 90–95 MPH fastball...
(born 1989).
Sports clubs/teams
- Lenoir Youth Soccer Association /Lenoir Force (LYSA Force), a travel soccer team in Lenoir
- Caldwell County Youth Football League
- Post 29 Youth Baseball
- Carolina Express Basketball
Education and High Schools
- Caldwell County Community College & Technical Institute
- Appalachian Center at Lenoir
- Hibriten High SchoolHibriten High SchoolHibriten High School is located in Lenoir, NC. It is a public school in the Caldwell County, North Carolina School system. Caldwell County is located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. The school's mascot is the Panther.- General Information :...
: a 3-A school located in Lenoir, known for its superior athletic squads, drama team and music programs (see Hibriten High School BandHibriten High School BandThe Hibriten High School Symphonic Band, established in 1966, is the school band of Hibriten High School in the All-American City of Lenoir, North Carolina. As of Spring 2011, the band has accumulated thirty-seven superior ratings , with most of them in Grade VI music...
) and exceptional academics. - West Caldwell High School: a 2-A school located on the border of Lenoir in Gamewell, North Carolina.