Bennett, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Bennett is an unincorporated community
in Chatham
and Randolph
counties in the U.S. state
of North Carolina
. Incorporated in 1915 and since disincorporated, the community is located just off NC 22/42.
between the two counties made many years ago. The announcement that the memorandum was being repealed stirred a firestorm of controversy, since the Randolph County students would be considered out-of-district students and could therefore be charged hundreds of dollars each year to attend school in Chatham County. The commute to the nearest Randolph County school was also a problem since it is located many miles from Bennett. To date, the Chatham County board has stood by its decision despite numerous complaints from residents.
instead of the Area code 919 like the rest of Chatham County. The community is in the 336 area code because of its proximity to Randolph County (which is entirely in the 336 district) and because phone service is provided by a company based in Randolph County.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Chatham
Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
and Randolph
Randolph County, North Carolina
-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. Incorporated in 1915 and since disincorporated, the community is located just off NC 22/42.
History
Formerly known as Boaz being inhabited by the Scott, Kidd, Powers, and Beck families, until the Bonlee & Western Railroad reached the area in 1910. Changed to Bennett in 1910 named after the Atlantic & Yadkin RR Superintendent J.M. Bennett. Bennett was incorporated in 1915 with H.A. Denson, a physician, being the first mayor. Bennett was to be a city and was built with 80 foot wide streets and 10 foot alleys laid out in a grid.At one time it had a hotel, a ladies emporium, a small mall owned by D.R. Smith, a jewelry and chocolate shop combination, a millinery shop,and several grocery stores supplied goods to citizens.A small house was converted into a silent movie theater, and they had an auditorium called the "Arbor" for local shows. The bank was robbed in 1927 and the robbers were never caught.It was home to Bennett Christian Church and Bennett Baptist Church and only the latter still stands.The train stopped in 1928 and the depression shrunk the town. A handful of people still call it home and lack of access to water has kept the community small.Today
Bennett has a hardware store, the Morning Glory Cafe, a Fire Station, Baxter's garage and grill, a post office, Routh's small grocery,the Ram Food Mart, the Tri-County Ruritans, and Bennett School K-8 which is one of the top schools in the county. It is home to the annual "Flatwoods Festival" every fall and has an annual Christmas parade.School controversy
In 2006, the Chatham County Board of Education announced that they were repealing a decision allowing students that lived in the Randolph County portion of Bennett to attend Bennett School, the local K-8 school, free of charge. For years students from both counties that lived in "Bennett" were allowed to attend the school free under a memorandum of understandingMemorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
between the two counties made many years ago. The announcement that the memorandum was being repealed stirred a firestorm of controversy, since the Randolph County students would be considered out-of-district students and could therefore be charged hundreds of dollars each year to attend school in Chatham County. The commute to the nearest Randolph County school was also a problem since it is located many miles from Bennett. To date, the Chatham County board has stood by its decision despite numerous complaints from residents.
Phone service
Bennett is located in Area code 336Area code 336
Area code 336 is a NANPA area code which covers northwest North Carolina, mainly the Piedmont Triad region and the northern Foothills and northern Mountain regions...
instead of the Area code 919 like the rest of Chatham County. The community is in the 336 area code because of its proximity to Randolph County (which is entirely in the 336 district) and because phone service is provided by a company based in Randolph County.
Points of interest
- The Devil's Tramping GroundsDevil's Tramping GroundsThe Devil's Tramping Ground is a barren circle in the forest in the Harper's Crossroad community near Bennett, North Carolina. It is the subject of some of North Carolina's oldest legends. For at least the last hundred years, nothing has grown within the 40 foot ring and the phenomenon is thus far...
is located a few miles north of Bennett in the Harper's Crossroads community. - The Southern Supreme Fruitcake factory is located just outside of Bennett off of 902.
- The Soapstone Quarry is a few miles south of Bennett in Moore County.
- Historic Mt. Vernon Springs is just a few miles north on Mt. Vernon Springs Rd.
- Colonel John Randolph Lane lived just north of Bennett on Little Brush Creek.