Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,159 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wilkes County^GR6. The town is located along the south bank of the Yadkin River, directly opposite the slightly larger town of North Wilkesboro. 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. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... The Yadkin River at Elkin, North Carolina The Yadkin River is the second longest river in North Carolina, surpassed only by the Cape Fear. ... North Wilkesboro is a town located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. ...

Trivia and History

Wilkesboro was the adopted home of Chang and Eng Bunker, the famous Chinese American Siamese twins who were a popular international attraction in the early years of the 19th century. Wilkesboro is also the home of Wilkes Community College, which hosts the annual MerleFest music festival. Merlefest, which is sponsored by the legendary guitar player Doc Watson, has grown into the largest bluegrass and folk music festival in the United States, attracting over 85,000 music fans each year. A painting of Chang and Eng Bunker, circa 1836 Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker (May 11, 1811–January 17, 1874) were the twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term Siamese twins. ... A painting of Chang and Eng Bunker, circa 1836 Conjoined human fetuses Conjoined twins can occur in non-human animal species. ... MerleFest is an annual Americana music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina by Wilkes Community College at the end of April. ... Doc Watson Merle Watson, c. ...

Wilkesboro's largest industry is the Tyson Poultry food processing plant - it is one of the largest poultry plants east of the Mississippi River. The town also hosts a number of furniture and textile factories. Wilkesboro was founded in 1800 and quickly designated as the county seat. During the American Civil War many of the town's residents remained loyal to the Union, and the town and surrounding area were nicknamed "The Old United States" by pro-Confederate citizens. In March 1865 George Stoneman, a Union Cavalry General, led a cavalry raid through the town. Tom Dula (Dooley), a Wilkes native and Confederate veteran, was arrested shortly after the war and charged with the murder of his fiancee, Laura Foster. He was kept in the county jail (now a museum), before being convicted and hanged for the murder. To this day many people believe that Dula was innocent of the crime, and his legend was popularized by the Kingston Trio, a folk music group, in the top-selling 1958 ballad "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley". Dula's story was subsequently turned into a 1959 movie starring Michael Landon as Dula, and each summer the Wilkes Playmakers present a popular play based on the story. Zach Galifianakis, a popular stand-up comedian and actor, is a native of Wilkesboro. Portrait of George Stoneman during the Civil War George Stoneman (August 22, 1822 – September 5, 1894) was a career U.S. Army officer, a Union cavalry general in the American Civil War, and the Governor of California between 1883 and 1887. ... Tom Dooley is an old North Carolina folk song based on a historical event. ... The Kingston Trio is an American folk group, perhaps the single most prominent one. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Zach Galifianakis with singer Fiona Apple in the music video for her single Not About Love (2006). ...

(Note: "Wilkesboro" is not to be confused with the city of Wilkes-Barre, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, located about 550 miles from Wilkesboro.) Nickname: The Diamond City Motto: Pattern After Us Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Luzerne Founded Incorporated  Borough  City 1769  1806  1871 Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Leighton (D) Area    - City  7. ... Location in the state of Pennsylvania Formed Seat Wilkes-Barre Area  - Total  - Water 2,349 km² (907 mi²) 42 km² (16 mi²) 1. ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

Geography

Wilkesboro is located at 36°8′33″N, 81°9′45″W (36.142490, -81.162533)^GR1. The town is located on the south bank of the Yadkin River, directly opposite the slightly larger town of North Wilkesboro. Image File history File links NCMap-doton-Wilkesboro. ... The Yadkin River at Elkin, North Carolina The Yadkin River is the second longest river in North Carolina, surpassed only by the Cape Fear. ... North Wilkesboro is a town located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.3 km² (5.5 mi²), all land. 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 3,159 people, 1,305 households, and 805 families residing in the town. The population density was 221.0/km² (572.0/mi²). There were 1,382 housing units at an average density of 96.7/km² (250.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.38% White, 9.81% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 1.27% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.12% 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. ... Race, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is a self-identification data item in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify. ... 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 1,305 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79. “Matrimony” redirects here. ...

In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,982, and the median income for a family was $53,355. Males had a median income of $37,931 versus $23,893 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,300. About 9.8% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% 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 Homepage, NC
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 36.14249° -81.162533°
  • 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

• News aggregation site focusing on Wilkesboro, NC