North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,116 at the 2000 census. It is the original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, though the chain has since relocated its headquarters. North Wilkesboro's major industries include furniture, mirror, and textile production. The Wilkes Regional Medical Center, founded in 1951 as Wilkes General Hospital, is located in North Wilkesboro. It is the largest hospital in northwestern North Carolina and is currently the town's largest employer. Due to the town's proximity to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and the numerous tourist venues there, North Wilkesboro for many years was nicknamed the "Key to the Blue Ridge", and a large furniture factory and company in the town was named "Key City Furniture". Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... “Lowes” redirects here. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ...

History

North Wilkesboro was founded in 1891 when the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a railroad line into Wilkes County. The line ended on the northern bank of the Yadkin River opposite Wilkesboro, the county seat. The town of North Wilkesboro quickly developed around the railroad tracks. North Wilkesboro is the home of the Carolina Mirror Company, which for many years was the largest mirror factory in the United States. Although this is no longer the case, the town remains a major producer of mirrors. Lowe's Foods, one of the Southeast's largest supermarket chains, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1954. Lowes Foods currently has its corporate headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, the nation's second-largest chain of home-improvement stores, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1946. The company maintained its corporate headquarters in North Wilkesboro until 2005, when it relocated its headquarters to Mooresville, North Carolina, a fast-growing suburb of Charlotte, the state's largest city. Like many small towns in North Carolina, North Wilkesboro has suffered in the last quarter-century from the closing of many of its textile and furniture factories, which have moved to low-wage locations in Latin America and Asia. The Yadkin River at Elkin, North Carolina The Yadkin River is the second longest river in North Carolina, surpassed only by the Cape Fear. ... Wilkesboro is a town located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. ... Lowes Foods (not to be confused with Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse) is a grocery store chain based in Winston-Salem, NC. The company has stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. ... Nickname: Motto: Youre Something Special in Winston-Salem Location in North Carolina Coordinates: , Country United States State North Carolina Counties Forsyth County Founded Incorporated 1766 (Salem) 1849 (Winston) 1913 Government  - Mayor Allen Joines (D) Area  - City  132. ... “Lowes” redirects here. ... Mooresville is a town in Iredell County, North Carolina, U.S.A. The population was 18,823 at the 2000 census. ... Charlotte (also known as candle stick) is a figure skating grace move - one of the spirals, where the skater is bended and glides on its one leg with the other one lifted to the air. ...

From 1947 to 1996 North Wilkesboro was the home of the North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of the first tracks on the NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Racing) circuit, and the town earned considerable revenue and publicity from the two NASCAR races that were held at the track each year. In 1996 the track was sold to two new owners, who closed the North Wilkesboro Speedway and moved its NASCAR races to their speedways in Texas and New Hampshire. NASCAR driver Jimmy Pardue was from the town, as was NASCAR legend Benny Parsons. North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short track which held races in NASCARs top three series from NASCARs inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996. ... Jeff Burton (99), Elliott Sadler (38), Ricky Rudd (21), Dale Jarrett (88), Sterling Marlin (40), Jimmie Johnson (48), and Casey Mears (41) practice for the 2004 Daytona 500 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... Jimmy Pardue is a former racecar driver. ... Benny Parsons (born July 12, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American NASCAR announcer/analyst on NBC and TNT. He became famous as the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup (now NEXTEL Cup) champion. ...

Events and Attractions

The downtown business district of North Wilkesboro became a recognized Main Street Town in 2000. The efforts of Debbie Ferguson led to the creation of the "Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro" organization, a non-profit group that has worked to revitalize the downtown business district.

The "Downtown North Wilkesboro" group is the founder of the annual Battle of the Bands, an all-day rock concert with more than 20 rock bands performing. This is one of the few rock concerts that include a separate competition for amateur bands and professional bands. Bands play in the concert by invitation only. Previous shows included a performance from Waylon Reavis, now the lead singer of Mushroomhead. The concert has steadily grown in popularity since its inception, and draws thousands of music fans from across the Eastern United States. The concert is held on the last Saturday in September. The term, rock concert, refers to a musical performance in the style of any one of many genres inspired by rock and roll music. ... Waylon Reavis (Born September 19th) is an American singer best known for his time spent in the Cleveland, Ohio heavy metal band Mushroomhead. ... Mushroomhead is an American band from Cleveland, Ohio. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The "Downtown North Wilkesboro" group is also the founder of the annual 'Shine to Wine Festival. Over the past 20 years numerous local farmers have moved into the winemaking industry, and the wine festival gives local wineries and vinyards a chance to display and publicize their wines. The festival also traces the historical development of Wilkes County liquor from moonshine to wine. The 'Shine to Wine festival is held on the first Saturday in May. Look up Moonshine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

North Wilkesboro is the home of the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, which is held to celebrate the apple harvest from the nearby Brushy Mountains. Crowds of over 160,000 people usually attend the one-day festival, which features music, dancing, artwork, crafts, and food traditional to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The apple festival is one of the largest single-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southern United States. The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is a one-day arts and crafts fair held annually in downtown North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. ... The Brushy Mountains are a mountain range located in northwestern North Carolina. ...

North Wilkesboro recently opened the Yadkin River Greenway. The Greenway contains biking, jogging, and walking trails which follow the Yadkin River and Reddies River for several miles between the towns of North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro. One of the most popular spots on the Greenway is a 156-foot-long bridge which spans the Reddies River at its mouth, where it joins the Yadkin River. The Yadkin River at Elkin, North Carolina The Yadkin River is the second longest river in North Carolina, surpassed only by the Cape Fear. ... The Reddies River is a tributary of the Yadkin River in northwestern North Carolina in the United States. ... Wilkesboro is a town located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. ...

Famous Residents

Daniel Boone, the famed explorer and pioneer, lived for several years in the area where North Wilkesboro is located before moving west to Kentucky. John Swofford, since 1997 the Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the nation's premiere college sports conferences, is from North Wilkesboro. Robert Byrd, the senior U.S. Senator from West Virginia since 1959, was born in North Wilkesboro. He is the longest-serving Senator in American history. James B. Gordon, a general of cavalry in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, lived in what is now the city limits of North Wilkesboro. This 1820 oil painting by Chester Harding is the only portrait of Daniel Boone made from life. ... John Swofford (born 1948) is currently the Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one of the nations premiere college sports conferences. ... The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is one of the oldest collegiate athletic leagues in the United States. ... Robert Carlyle Byrd (born November 20, 1917) is the senior United States Senator from West Virginia and a member of the Democratic Party. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... James B. Gordon (November 2, 1822 – May 18, 1864) was a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

Geography

North Wilkesboro is located at 36°10′15″N, 81°8′31″W (36.170910, -81.142048)^GR1, along the Yadkin River at the mouth of the Reddies River. Image File history File links Adapted from Wikipedias NC county maps by Seth Ilys. ... The Yadkin River at Elkin, North Carolina The Yadkin River is the second longest river in North Carolina, surpassed only by the Cape Fear. ... The Reddies River is a tributary of the Yadkin River in northwestern North Carolina in the United States. ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.3 km² (5.1 mi²), all land.The town is located on the north bank of the Yadkin River opposite Wilkesboro, the seat of Wilkes County, North Carolina. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,116 people, 1,639 households, and 942 families residing in the town. The population density was 310.4/km² (803.9/mi²). There were 1,837 housing units at an average density of 138.5/km² (358.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.47% White, 13.90% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.49% Pacific Islander, 4.25% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.27% of the population. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 1,639 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.01. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,813, and the median income for a family was $29,844. Males had a median income of $22,204 versus $17,872 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,594. About 21.8% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 27.2% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

External links

• Official website of North Wilkesboro, NC
• Maps and aerial photos for 36°10′15″N 81°08′31″W / 36.17091, -81.142048Coordinates: 36°10′15″N 81°08′31″W / 36.17091, -81.142048
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
• Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro
• GoWilkes is the Community Website for North Wilkesboro
• The Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce
• News aggregation site focusing on North Wilkesboro