Rowan County, North Carolina

	Rowan County
	Founded 1753
	Website www.co.rowan.nc.us

Rowan County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 130,340. Its county seat is Salisbury Template:GR.

History

The county was formed in 1753 from the northern part of Anson County. It was named for Matthew Rowan, acting governor of North Carolina from 1753 to 1754.

Originally, Rowan County was a vast territory with an indefinite western boundary. Reductions in its extent began in 1770, when the eastern part of it was combined with the western part of Orange County to become Guilford County, North Carolina. In 1771 the northeastern part of what remained of Rowan County became Surry County. In 1777 the western part of Rowan County became Burke County. In 1788 the western part of the now much smaller Rowan County became Iredell County. In 1822 the eastern part of the still shrinking county became Davidson County. Finally, in 1836 the part of Rowan County north of the South Yadkin River became Davie County. The "250 Fest" celebrating the 250th anniversary of Rowan County occurred in 2003.

Notable residents and natives

Actor Sidney Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury.
Former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole is from Salisbury.
Governor of North Carolina John W. Ellis was born in what was then eastern Rowan County and practiced law in Salisbury. [1]
President Andrew Jackson practiced law in Salisbury. [2]
Phil Kirk, former chairman of the North Carolina Board of Education, is a Rowan native.
U.S. Senator Lee S. Overman lived in Rowan. [3]
Worlds Fastest Drummer Matt Smith was born in Salisbury

Law and government

Representation in the North Carolina Senate :

Senator Andrew Brock (R)

Representation in the North Carolina House of Representatives :

Representative Lorene T. Coates (D) (northern and western areas)
Representative Fred Steen (R) (southern and eastern areas)

Rowan County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 524 square miles (1,357 km²), of which, 511 square miles (1,324 km²) of it is land and 13 square miles (32 km²) of it (2.40%) is water.

Geographic features

The county's eastern border is formed by the Yadkin River. North of Ellis Crossroads, the South Yadkin River meets the Yadkin. The South Yadkin forms the county's northern border, with Davie County.

The southern border is an east-west line that bisects the city of Kannapolis.

Major highways

Interstate 85 passes through the county from southwest to northeast. In the early 2000s, I-85 underwent an extensive widening^[1] in the central and northern part of the county, from exit 74 (Julian Road) north almost to the Davidson county line. A new bridge over the Yadkin River is planned.^[2]

U.S. Route 70 enters the northwestern part of Rowan county, west of Cleveland. It runs southeast into Salisbury, where it follows Jake Alexander Boulevard to the southeast and then joins US 29 North as Main Street. US 70 continues northeast as Main Street and then Salisbury Avenue in Spencer before crossing into Davidson County.

U.S. Route 29 forms Main Street in Kannapolis, China Grove, and Landis in the southern part of the county. It joins US 70 as Main Street through Salisbury, and as Salisbury Avenue in Spencer.

U.S. Route 52 is the main artery for the southeastern part of the county, serving the towns of Gold Hill, Rockwell and Granite Quarry. Just before reaching downtown Salisbury, US-52 joins Interstate 85, which it follows into Davidson county.

Adjacent counties

Davie County, North Carolina - north
Davidson County, North Carolina - northeast
Stanly County, North Carolina - southeast
Cabarrus County, North Carolina - south
Iredell County, North Carolina - west

Demographics and economics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 130,340 people, 49,940 households, and 35,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 255 people per square mile (98/km²). There were 53,980 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile (41/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.02% White, 15.78% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 4.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 49,940 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,494, and the median income for a family was $44,242. Males had a median income of $31,626 versus $23,437 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,071. About 8.10% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Map of Rowan County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Townships

The county is divided into fourteen townships: Atwell, China Grove, Cleveland, Franklin, Gold Hill, Litaker, Locke, Morgan, Mount Ulla, Providence, Salisbury, Scotch Irish, Steele, and Unity.

Winemaking Industry

Rowan County is also notable for its winemaking. Located near Salisbury is the famed Old Stone Vineyard and Winery, built by members of the Cruse family in 1943. The winery is one of the largest in the state producing quality muscadine and French recipe wines. The winery is also the historic site of the "Old Stone House" built by German immigrant Michael Braun in 1766 and the Beth Sadeh Synagogue, the only Sephardic Jewish synagogue in North Carolina.

Educational institutions

Libraries

Rowan Public Library

Headquarters (Salisbury)

East Branch (Rockwell)

Frank T. Tadlock South Rowan Regional Library (China Grove)

West Branch ()

Colleges

Public high schools

Public middle schools

C.C Erwin Middle School - Eagles
West Rowan Middle School - Bulldogs
North Rowan Middle School - Mavericks
China Grove Middle School - Red Devils
Corrier Lipe Middle School - Yellow Jackets
Knox Middle School -Trojans
Southeast Middle School - Patriots

Public elementary schools

Woodleaf Elementary School
Rockwell Elementary School- Roadrunners- located about 35° 33' 22.47"N, 80° 24' 55.26"W
Morgan Elementary School- Broncos
Millbridge Elementary School - Musketeers
Mount Ulla Elementary School -
Cleveland Elementary School - Eagles
Elizabeth Hanford-Dole Elementary School - Bobcats
North Rowan Elementary School - Steamers
China Grove Elementary School - Cardinals
Enochville Elementary School
Bostian Elementary School
East Elementary School
Faith Elementary School - Firecrackers - "Sparkle" is the mascot's name
Granite Quarry Elementary School-Dragons
Hurley Elementary School
Isenberg Elementary School
Knollwood Elementary School
Koontz Elementary School
Landis Elementary School
Overton Elementary School-Explorers

Private schools

North Hills Christian School - Eagles (pre-school through high school)
Rockwell Christian School (elementary through high school)
Sacred Heart Catholic School - Dolphins (elementary through middle school)
Salisbury Academy. - jaguars (pre-kindergarten through middle school)
Salisbury Adventist School

Places of worship

Beth Sadeh Synagogue
Centenary United Methodist Church
Central Church of Christ
Christ Episcopal Church - Cleveland
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Salisbury
Cleveland First Baptist Church
Coburn Church, UMC
Cornerstone Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of Salisbury
Faith Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of China Grove
First United Methodist Church - Landis
First Presbyterian Church of Kannapolis
First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury
First Baptist Church of Rockwell
First United Methodist Church - China Grove
Gospel Light Baptist Church
Grace Bible Church
Grace Lowerstone Church
Landis Baptist Church
High Rock Community Church
Highest Praise Family Worship Center
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Jehovah's Witnesses - Salisbury Assembly Hall
Jehovah's Witnesses - Salisbury Midway Cong
Jehovah's Witnesses - Salisbury Oakland Cong
Milford Hills United Methodist Church
New Haven Baptist Church
North Kannapolis Baptist Church
Oakland Heights Baptist Church
Rockwell Church of God
Salisbury Church of God
Salisbury Seventh-day Adventist Church
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
South China Grove Baptist
Stallings Memorial Baptist Church of Salisbury
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. John's Lutheran Church
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Temple Israel
Trinity Wesleyan Church
Union Lutheran Church
Wittenberg Lutheran Church

References

↑ "Rowan Emergency Services". 2009-11-16. http://wwwapps.rowancountync.gov/es/I85/i-85.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
↑ "Office of the Governor of North Carolina". 2009-03-12. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/eTownhall/Blog/post/2009/03/12/Yadkin-River-Bridge-Replacement.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-12.

External links

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia adapted for use as a quick research reference on this wiki. The original content was here: Rowan County, North Carolina. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with the ENC Phillips Group Wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.

[1] "Rowan Emergency Services". 2009-11-16. http://wwwapps.rowancountync.gov/es/I85/i-85.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-12.

[2] "Office of the Governor of North Carolina". 2009-03-12. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/eTownhall/Blog/post/2009/03/12/Yadkin-River-Bridge-Replacement.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-12.