Norwood, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Norwood is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina
, United States. The population was 2,216 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
U.S. Highway 52 passes through the town between Wadesboro
and Albemarle
.
was 925.1 people per square mile (356.5/km²). There were 1,036 housing units at an average density of 432.5 per square mile (166.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.69% White, 25.45% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 4.87% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.72% of the population.
There were 893 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,563, and the median income for a family was $37,460. Males had a median income of $29,922 versus $20,288 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,117. About 14.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
and the Rocky River
, recreation is abundant and plentiful. Golf is available at Piney Point Golf Club.
Fork Stables is located about 2 miles south of town and the Michelin
tire plant which makes the aircraft tires for the space shuttle is located in town.
Police and Fire protection is provided by the town by full time officers.
Norwood is nestled in a beautiful area between two rivers next to the Uwharrie Mountains
. Besides the multitude of recreation and entertainment opportunities nearby there are also local places for visitors and residents to enjoy.
There are two town parks for relaxation, recreation and exercise. The Darrell Almond Community Park is on North Main Street. This park features a gazebo next to the central pond and the Skidmore House which is available for community use. The park also features two walking trails, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, a shuffle board court and playground equipment. Picnic shelters and the Skidmore House can be reserved at Town Hall. Norwood Memorial Park, located between Turner and College streets, has athletic fields and a larger community building, that building can be reserved for a fee at Town Hall.
Norwood has recently adopted a comprehensive transportation plan, pedestrian plan and land use plan. These plans will help the town grow in a meaningful way and provide more sidewalks and trails along with an overall plan for better roads and transportation. Several state bicycle trails pass through town and there are scenic by-ways along N.C. 24-27-73 and other highways.
Celebrations throughout the year include Arbor Day
in April, Picnic in the Park in October and the annual Christmas parade the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. The nearby Fork Stable hosts Outdoor Heritage Days and two weeks of equestrian cross country, dressage and show jumping competitions.
Located in the southern Piedmont
region of North Carolina in Stanly County, Norwood is situated at the confluence of the Pee Dee River
and the Rocky River. Lake Tillery borders the town on the east. To the west of Norwood is the Rocky River. The great natural resources of Morrow Mountain State Park
, Uwharrie National Forest
, lakes, rivers and streams of the Yadkin - Pee Dee valley are among the many historic and beautiful places to visit.
and other middle Atlantic colonies following Indian trails and rivers. These early settlements were along the local river valleys. One family, the Colsons, chose to settle near the confluence of the Rocky and Pee Dee rivers and built an ordinary, a tavern serving food and providing lodging. The Colsons also operated a mill and a ferry. Anson County granted a permit for Colson's Ordinary in the mid-18th century, at that time Stanly County was part of Anson. That permit may have been the first such granted in North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War Colson's land was the site of a patriot victory over local Tory forces. This is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Colson's Mill
, the Battle of Colson's Ordinary or the Fight at Colson's. This area is now known as The Fork, named for the fork of the two rivers.
In the early 19th century at the centerline between the Rocky River and the Pee Dee River a camp meeting place was created. The area became known as Center. In 1826 Methodists built the first church on the camp meeting grounds. More activity and building occurred and the Center area became a trading center. The town of Norwood was incorporated in 1881 and named after the Norwood brothers' store, an early establishment in the Center community that housed the area's post office.
The local economy in the 19th century was primarily agricultural and Norwood was a commercial center. Mercantile stores (Wal-Marts of their day) in the town sold farm implements and most other necessities for every day life. Norwood’s first high school, a private school, was built in 1879. Industries came to town in the late 1890s beginning with Norwood Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill which built the town's first mill and mill village. In the mid 1940s that facility was purchased and modernized by Collins & Aikman.
As with many communities, railroads changed the face of Norwood. The arrival of the Yadkin Railroad in 1891 allowed greater access to larger markets across the state and nation. Eventually two other railroads would serve Norwood; the original Norfolk Southern and the Winston Salem Southbound. Until 1928 one could ride from Norwood to Albemarle and Badin in a rail car on the Yadkin Railroad. The Winston Salem Southbound in the early 20th century saw a large number of passengers until improved roads and competition from the automobile ended that service in 1933.
In the early 20th century Norwood’s business district suffered a major disaster. A downtown fire spread up the east side of Main Street consuming all of the wooden buildings until it stopped at the two-story brick building housing Harris-McAulay Mercantile (now M. B. Irvin Unlimited). The fire was so intense that it blew out all the showcase windows of the U.B. Blalock building across the street (where the Family Dollar building now stands). When the downtown was rebuilt most buildings were built in brick. Norwood’s first public school was built in 1913 on the site of the present Norwood Elementary School.
The Pee Dee River was a natural resource to be tapped for producing electricity. The Yadkin
had already been developed in the prior decade by Alcoa
to produce electricity for their smelting facility in Badin. Carolina Power & Light Company began construction of the Tillery Hydroelectric development in 1926 and started producing electricity in the spring of 1928.
The Great Depression
affected the town into the 1940s. Businesses and farms failed and property was sold at the courthouse steps for delinquent taxes. Norwood's only bank at the time failed also. Some businesses that did survive the depression operated only on a part-time basis.
In the 1950s a new town hall and police station was built on the corner of Pee Dee Avenue and Campbell Street where the Norwood Library and the Norwood Museum are now located. The police station has been moved to North Main Street in what was France Byrd's Pure service station. Town Hall is now on South Main Street, in what was originally the First National Bank of Albemarle.
Stanly County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, United States. The population was 2,216 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Norwood is located at 35°13′32"N 80°7′12"W (35.225574, -80.120042).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 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
U.S. Highway 52 passes through the town between Wadesboro
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,780 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anson County.-Geography:Wadesboro is located at ....
and Albemarle
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,216 people, 893 households, and 624 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation 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 925.1 people per square mile (356.5/km²). There were 1,036 housing units at an average density of 432.5 per square mile (166.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.69% White, 25.45% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 4.87% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.72% of the population.
There were 893 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,563, and the median income for a family was $37,460. Males had a median income of $29,922 versus $20,288 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 $15,117. About 14.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
About
Norwood is currently served by two rail roads and one US Highway and one NC Route. Water and sewer service is provided by the town with their own water and sewer plant. A County branch library and museuem provides education opportunities to the town. Bordered by Lake TilleryLake Tillery
Lake Tillery is a reservoir between Badin Lake and Blewett Falls Lake in the Uwharrie Lakes Region of North Carolina. It is entirely within Stanly County and Montgomery County, NC. The lake was created by impounding the Pee Dee River, which is created by the confluence of the Yadkin River and the...
and the Rocky River
Rocky River (North Carolina)
The Rocky River is a river in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. It begins in Iredell County near Mooresville and flows south into Cabarrus County, where it is the principal waterway in the county. The river continues southeastward to form the line between Stanly, Union, and Anson counties...
, recreation is abundant and plentiful. Golf is available at Piney Point Golf Club.
Fork Stables is located about 2 miles south of town and the Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tire plant which makes the aircraft tires for the space shuttle is located in town.
Police and Fire protection is provided by the town by full time officers.
Norwood is nestled in a beautiful area between two rivers next to the Uwharrie Mountains
Uwharrie Mountains
The Uwharrie Mountains are a mountain range in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, Union counties and terminate in the hills of Person. Formed approximately 500 million years ago by...
. Besides the multitude of recreation and entertainment opportunities nearby there are also local places for visitors and residents to enjoy.
There are two town parks for relaxation, recreation and exercise. The Darrell Almond Community Park is on North Main Street. This park features a gazebo next to the central pond and the Skidmore House which is available for community use. The park also features two walking trails, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, a shuffle board court and playground equipment. Picnic shelters and the Skidmore House can be reserved at Town Hall. Norwood Memorial Park, located between Turner and College streets, has athletic fields and a larger community building, that building can be reserved for a fee at Town Hall.
Norwood has recently adopted a comprehensive transportation plan, pedestrian plan and land use plan. These plans will help the town grow in a meaningful way and provide more sidewalks and trails along with an overall plan for better roads and transportation. Several state bicycle trails pass through town and there are scenic by-ways along N.C. 24-27-73 and other highways.
Celebrations throughout the year include Arbor Day
Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
in April, Picnic in the Park in October and the annual Christmas parade the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving. The nearby Fork Stable hosts Outdoor Heritage Days and two weeks of equestrian cross country, dressage and show jumping competitions.
Located in the southern Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
region of North Carolina in Stanly County, Norwood is situated at the confluence of the Pee Dee River
Pee Dee River
The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in North Carolina and South Carolina. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course above the mouth of the Uwharrie River is known as the Yadkin River. It is extensively dammed for flood...
and the Rocky River. Lake Tillery borders the town on the east. To the west of Norwood is the Rocky River. The great natural resources of Morrow Mountain State Park
Morrow Mountain State Park
Morrow Mountain State Park is a North Carolina state park in Stanly County, North Carolina, in the United States. Located near Albemarle, North Carolina Morrow Mountain State Park is a North Carolina state park in Stanly County, North Carolina, in the United States. Located near Albemarle, North...
, Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie National Forest
Uwharrie National Forest is a federally-designated national forest region located primarily in Montgomery County, but also extending into Randolph and Davidson counties in south central North Carolina. It is the smallest of the four National Forests in North Carolina, with a total area of 50,369...
, lakes, rivers and streams of the Yadkin - Pee Dee valley are among the many historic and beautiful places to visit.
History
The first settlements in the Norwood area began in the 1740s with settlers from DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and other middle Atlantic colonies following Indian trails and rivers. These early settlements were along the local river valleys. One family, the Colsons, chose to settle near the confluence of the Rocky and Pee Dee rivers and built an ordinary, a tavern serving food and providing lodging. The Colsons also operated a mill and a ferry. Anson County granted a permit for Colson's Ordinary in the mid-18th century, at that time Stanly County was part of Anson. That permit may have been the first such granted in North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War Colson's land was the site of a patriot victory over local Tory forces. This is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Colson's Mill
Battle of Colson's Mill
The Battle of Colson's Mill was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place in North Carolina on July 21, 1780. A Patriot militia under William Lee Davidson scattered a gathering of Loyalists at Colson's Mill, near the junction of the Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers in present-day Stanly...
, the Battle of Colson's Ordinary or the Fight at Colson's. This area is now known as The Fork, named for the fork of the two rivers.
In the early 19th century at the centerline between the Rocky River and the Pee Dee River a camp meeting place was created. The area became known as Center. In 1826 Methodists built the first church on the camp meeting grounds. More activity and building occurred and the Center area became a trading center. The town of Norwood was incorporated in 1881 and named after the Norwood brothers' store, an early establishment in the Center community that housed the area's post office.
The local economy in the 19th century was primarily agricultural and Norwood was a commercial center. Mercantile stores (Wal-Marts of their day) in the town sold farm implements and most other necessities for every day life. Norwood’s first high school, a private school, was built in 1879. Industries came to town in the late 1890s beginning with Norwood Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill which built the town's first mill and mill village. In the mid 1940s that facility was purchased and modernized by Collins & Aikman.
As with many communities, railroads changed the face of Norwood. The arrival of the Yadkin Railroad in 1891 allowed greater access to larger markets across the state and nation. Eventually two other railroads would serve Norwood; the original Norfolk Southern and the Winston Salem Southbound. Until 1928 one could ride from Norwood to Albemarle and Badin in a rail car on the Yadkin Railroad. The Winston Salem Southbound in the early 20th century saw a large number of passengers until improved roads and competition from the automobile ended that service in 1933.
In the early 20th century Norwood’s business district suffered a major disaster. A downtown fire spread up the east side of Main Street consuming all of the wooden buildings until it stopped at the two-story brick building housing Harris-McAulay Mercantile (now M. B. Irvin Unlimited). The fire was so intense that it blew out all the showcase windows of the U.B. Blalock building across the street (where the Family Dollar building now stands). When the downtown was rebuilt most buildings were built in brick. Norwood’s first public school was built in 1913 on the site of the present Norwood Elementary School.
The Pee Dee River was a natural resource to be tapped for producing electricity. The Yadkin
Yadkin River
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee...
had already been developed in the prior decade by Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
to produce electricity for their smelting facility in Badin. Carolina Power & Light Company began construction of the Tillery Hydroelectric development in 1926 and started producing electricity in the spring of 1928.
The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
affected the town into the 1940s. Businesses and farms failed and property was sold at the courthouse steps for delinquent taxes. Norwood's only bank at the time failed also. Some businesses that did survive the depression operated only on a part-time basis.
In the 1950s a new town hall and police station was built on the corner of Pee Dee Avenue and Campbell Street where the Norwood Library and the Norwood Museum are now located. The police station has been moved to North Main Street in what was France Byrd's Pure service station. Town Hall is now on South Main Street, in what was originally the First National Bank of Albemarle.