Andrews, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Andrews is a town in Cherokee County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,602 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Clay
and Macon Counties
. Within the township are the towns of Marble, Andrews and Topton.
At the heart of the township is the Valley River. Once known by the Cherokee name Gunahita, meaning long, the Valley River begins near the Topton community in the far eastern corner of the county, and meanders southeasterly until it meets the Hiwassee River below Murphy.
The area is rich in Native American history. An 1805 map shows the area as the Cherokee settlement Toonatla. It was later listed on a map of the Cherokee Nation as Gunahita. By the time of the removal of the Cherokee Indians in 1838, it was known as Konehetee, or valley. One of the most infamous periods in history, the removal of the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears, also impacted the valley. Fort Delaney, one of five forts in the area, was located about 16 miles from the mouth of the Valley River. The road across Tatham Gap was built by the US Army to transport Cherokee from Fort Montgomery, which was located in what is now Robbinsville, to Fort Delaney and beyond. It is said that the first store in the valley was opened in a former home of Chief Junaluska, who was residing in Valley Town at the time of the removal.
The town of Marble derived its name from the white, blue, gray and pink marble which were quarried in the area and known throughout America for its high quality. It is located on the western edge of the township.
Topton, which is the first town visitors see coming from the east, was instrumental in the expansion of the railroad into the western corner of the state.
The largest town within the township is Andrews. In the early 19th century, when most white settlers began arriving, the area was known as Jamesville, after James Whitaker. An Indian Trading Post was established in 1837 and soon after the community was known as Valley Town.
The present town was established like many other southern towns, through a land auction. The Richmond and Danville Railroad had stopped construction of the Murphy Branch
just east of here. In the late 1880s, Col. A.B. Andrews, who was a second vice president for Richmond and Danville, was sent to the area to establish a commissary for workers in the Nantahala construction camps. Andrews bought 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land for the sum of $1,200.
By spring 1890, Andrews was instructed to sell off the 50 acres (200,000 m2) tract at a land sale, which was held in September. The land was plotted out and about three quarters of the lots were sold at the initial sale. Some lots were donated for a schoolhouse and churches. The remaining lots were sold through private sales.
In 1905, the town was incorporated, with David Samuel Russell appointed as the first mayor of the new town.
, there were 1,602 people, 703 households and 423 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,182.2 per square mile (454.8/km2). There were 831 housing units at an average density of 613.2 per square mile (235.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.76% White, 2.68% African American, 0.69% Native American, 1.06% from other races
, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.
There were 703 households of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.
Age distribution was 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median household income
was $20,273, and the median family income was $28,320. Males had a median income of $23,462 versus $16,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,350. About 17.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
Cherokee County, North Carolina
- Transportation :Cherokee County is well known in North Carolina as the westernmost of the state's 100 counties. Several US and state highways serve the county, linking it with other regions of North Carolina, along with the neighboring states of Georgia and Tennessee.US 64 - the longest highway...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,602 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Andrews is located at 35.200011°N 83.826252°W.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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
History
Valley Town Township dominates the eastern part of Cherokee County. The area is bordered by GrahamGraham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,993 people, 3,354 households, and 2,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
Clay
Clay County, North Carolina
-Communities and Townships:Hayesville, with a 2000 population of 297, is the only incorporated town in the county, the county seat, and center of economic activity for Clay County...
and Macon Counties
Macon County, North Carolina
- Geographic features :Of the in Macon County, are federal lands that lie within the Nantahala National Forest and are administered by the United States Forest Service. Of the of USFS land, lie in the Highlands Ranger District and the remaining lie in the Wayah Ranger District...
. Within the township are the towns of Marble, Andrews and Topton.
At the heart of the township is the Valley River. Once known by the Cherokee name Gunahita, meaning long, the Valley River begins near the Topton community in the far eastern corner of the county, and meanders southeasterly until it meets the Hiwassee River below Murphy.
The area is rich in Native American history. An 1805 map shows the area as the Cherokee settlement Toonatla. It was later listed on a map of the Cherokee Nation as Gunahita. By the time of the removal of the Cherokee Indians in 1838, it was known as Konehetee, or valley. One of the most infamous periods in history, the removal of the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears, also impacted the valley. Fort Delaney, one of five forts in the area, was located about 16 miles from the mouth of the Valley River. The road across Tatham Gap was built by the US Army to transport Cherokee from Fort Montgomery, which was located in what is now Robbinsville, to Fort Delaney and beyond. It is said that the first store in the valley was opened in a former home of Chief Junaluska, who was residing in Valley Town at the time of the removal.
The town of Marble derived its name from the white, blue, gray and pink marble which were quarried in the area and known throughout America for its high quality. It is located on the western edge of the township.
Topton, which is the first town visitors see coming from the east, was instrumental in the expansion of the railroad into the western corner of the state.
The largest town within the township is Andrews. In the early 19th century, when most white settlers began arriving, the area was known as Jamesville, after James Whitaker. An Indian Trading Post was established in 1837 and soon after the community was known as Valley Town.
The present town was established like many other southern towns, through a land auction. The Richmond and Danville Railroad had stopped construction of the Murphy Branch
Murphy Branch
The historically important Murphy Branch is the western most part of what was the Western North Carolina Railroad, later the Richmond and Danville, Southern Railway and today the Norfolk Southern Railway. The branch runs between Asheville, North Carolina in the east and Andrews in the west. It...
just east of here. In the late 1880s, Col. A.B. Andrews, who was a second vice president for Richmond and Danville, was sent to the area to establish a commissary for workers in the Nantahala construction camps. Andrews bought 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land for the sum of $1,200.
By spring 1890, Andrews was instructed to sell off the 50 acres (200,000 m2) tract at a land sale, which was held in September. The land was plotted out and about three quarters of the lots were sold at the initial sale. Some lots were donated for a schoolhouse and churches. The remaining lots were sold through private sales.
In 1905, the town was incorporated, with David Samuel Russell appointed as the first mayor of the new town.
Demographics
At the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 1,602 people, 703 households and 423 families residing in the town. The population density
Population 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 1,182.2 per square mile (454.8/km2). There were 831 housing units at an average density of 613.2 per square mile (235.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.76% White, 2.68% African American, 0.69% Native American, 1.06% 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 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.
There were 703 households of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.
Age distribution was 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $20,273, and the median family income was $28,320. Males had a median income of $23,462 versus $16,375 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 $11,350. About 17.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Official website
- Andrews Community Radio, based in Andrews, NC, is an internet radio station featuring Classic Rock plus local news, weather, community updates and special features. Website: http://www.andrewsradio.com/