Mars Hill, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Mars Hill is a town in Madison County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Mars Hill College
, which is named after the town. The town is located approximately one mile west of Interstate 26
, and 15 miles (24.1 km) due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The town has an elevation of 2330 feet (710.2 m), so the climate of the area is considerably cooler than might be expected of a town in a southern state.
, a private, coed, liberal-arts college, is located in Mars Hill. Founded in 1856, it is the oldest college or university in western North Carolina
. The college is affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist
Convention. Due to the presence of the college, residents of the town of Mars Hill enjoy a much greater variety of cultural, intellectual, and entertainment offerings than would usually be found in a town of its size. The college's enrollment typically runs from 1300 to 1600 students; they are not included in the census calculations of the town's population.
of 2000, there were 1,764 people, 541 households, and 312 families residing in the town. The population density
was 911.7 people per square mile (352.9/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 302.9 per square mile (117.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.21% White, 5.95% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.85% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 541 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 11.7% under the age of 18, 43.1% from 18 to 24, 16.2% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $29,615 versus $23,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,366. About 11.1% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Madison County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,635 people, 8,000 households, and 5,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 9,722 housing units at an average density of 22 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 1,764 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
, which is named after the town. The town is located approximately one mile west of Interstate 26
Interstate 26
Interstate 26 is a nominally east–west main route of the Interstate Highway System in the Southeastern United States. I-26 runs from the junction of U.S. Route 11W and U.S. Route 23 in Kingsport, Tennessee, generally southeastward to U.S. Route 17 in Charleston, South Carolina...
, and 15 miles (24.1 km) due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area
Asheville metropolitan area
The Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in western North Carolina...
.
Geography
Mars Hill is located at 35°49′43"N 82°32′52"W (35.828496, -82.547843).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land. The town has an elevation of 2330 feet (710.2 m), so the climate of the area is considerably cooler than might be expected of a town in a southern state.
Higher education
Mars Hill CollegeMars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
, a private, coed, liberal-arts college, is located in Mars Hill. Founded in 1856, it is the oldest college or university in western North Carolina
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...
. The college is affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Convention. Due to the presence of the college, residents of the town of Mars Hill enjoy a much greater variety of cultural, intellectual, and entertainment offerings than would usually be found in a town of its size. The college's enrollment typically runs from 1300 to 1600 students; they are not included in the census calculations of the town's population.
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 1,764 people, 541 households, and 312 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 911.7 people per square mile (352.9/km²). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 302.9 per square mile (117.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.21% White, 5.95% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.85% 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 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 541 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 11.7% under the age of 18, 43.1% from 18 to 24, 16.2% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $29,615 versus $23,625 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 $13,366. About 11.1% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.