Watauga Democrat
Encyclopedia
The Watauga Democrat is a newspaper
published in Boone, North Carolina
. It is printed three days a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In 2002, its average paid circulation was 20,832.
The Watauga Democrat began as a political newspaper but quickly evolved into a highly respected non-partisan publication that chronicles local news in Watauga County
.
."
One year later, the Democrat was purchased by D.B. and D.D. Dougherty and R.C. Rivers. Rivers subsequently bought out the Doughertys and became sole owner of the newspaper.
Early issues of the Democrat were printed on a hand-operated press
capable of printing only one page at a time. Each edition had a maximum of four pages. A one-year subscription in 1888 was $1, and a one-inch classified ad
could be bought for 75 cents.
-leaning newspaper, was launched in 1888 by Watauga County Judge L.L. Greene and Thomas Bingham. The Enterprise was primarily an instrument to support Benjamin Harrison
in the 1888 presidential campaign. The Enterprise ceased publication shortly after Harrison's victory.
The first newspaper in Watauga County was the Watauga Journal. The first issue of the Watauga Journal was printed on November 17, 1887. The Journal folded when its founder, a Mr. Mclaughlin, became chief of police in Johnson City, Tennessee
.
Rachel Rivers-Coffey took over as publisher of the Democrat following her father's death in 1975. She served as publisher for almost two decades, until the Democrat was bought by Eugene and Anne Worrell, who at that time also owned the Bristol Herald Courier
in nearby Bristol, Virginia
and The Daily Progress
in Charlottesville, Virginia
.
In 1997 the Worrells sold the Watauga Democrat to Arthur and Fran Powers. The Powers operated the Democrat until 2002, when it was acquired by Jones Media, owner of the rival free weekly Mountain Times
.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
. It is printed three days a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In 2002, its average paid circulation was 20,832.
The Watauga Democrat began as a political newspaper but quickly evolved into a highly respected non-partisan publication that chronicles local news in Watauga County
Watauga County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
.
Beginnings
In July 1888, Joseph Spainhour began printing a weekly newspaper he named the Watauga Democrat. The newspaper's stated mission was to be "the voice of the Watauga Democrat PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
."
One year later, the Democrat was purchased by D.B. and D.D. Dougherty and R.C. Rivers. Rivers subsequently bought out the Doughertys and became sole owner of the newspaper.
Early issues of the Democrat were printed on a hand-operated press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
capable of printing only one page at a time. Each edition had a maximum of four pages. A one-year subscription in 1888 was $1, and a one-inch classified ad
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
could be bought for 75 cents.
Early Competitors
The Watauga Enterprise, a rival RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
-leaning newspaper, was launched in 1888 by Watauga County Judge L.L. Greene and Thomas Bingham. The Enterprise was primarily an instrument to support Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
in the 1888 presidential campaign. The Enterprise ceased publication shortly after Harrison's victory.
The first newspaper in Watauga County was the Watauga Journal. The first issue of the Watauga Journal was printed on November 17, 1887. The Journal folded when its founder, a Mr. Mclaughlin, became chief of police in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
.
Ownership
In 1933 Rivers handed the role of publisher to his son, Robert Campbell Rivers. The younger Rivers continued to operate the Democrat until his death in 1975.Rachel Rivers-Coffey took over as publisher of the Democrat following her father's death in 1975. She served as publisher for almost two decades, until the Democrat was bought by Eugene and Anne Worrell, who at that time also owned the Bristol Herald Courier
Bristol Herald Courier
The Bristol Herald Courier is a 39,000 circulation daily newspaper owned by Richmond, Virginia-based Media General, Inc. The newspaper is located in Bristol, Virginia, a small city located in Southwest Virginia on the Tennessee border....
in nearby Bristol, Virginia
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
and The Daily Progress
The Daily Progress
The Daily Progress is the sole daily newspaper in the vicinity of Charlottesville, Virginia. It has been published continuously since 1892. According to the newspaper history published in the 75th anniversary edition in September, 1967, the paper was founded by James Lindsay...
in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
In 1997 the Worrells sold the Watauga Democrat to Arthur and Fran Powers. The Powers operated the Democrat until 2002, when it was acquired by Jones Media, owner of the rival free weekly Mountain Times
Mountain Times
Mountain Times is a weekly newspaper based in Boone, North Carolina covering Watauga, Ashe, Avery Counties.The newspaper placed first in 2000 and 2nd in 2002 in the National Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest and 1st in the North Carolina Press Association's best website in...
.