Carthage, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Carthage is a town in Moore County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Moore County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,871 people, 653 households, and 440 families residing in the town. The population density
was 321.3 people per square mile (124.1/km²). There were 768 housing units at an average density of 131.9 per square mile (50.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.72% White, 30.84% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.37% from other races
, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 653 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,050, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $32,305 versus $23,603 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,343. About 8.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 33.9% of those age 65 or over.
was interested in buying the old plant and converting it into a car assembly line; however, the owners refused to let Ford buy the plant and so he moved on to build a plant in Detroit. A few years afterwards the Tyson Buggy plant burned down. The town was also originally to be the home of the University of North Carolina
; however, city leaders determined that they didn't want the university built there. City leaders told the State that Carthage was on too steep of a hill for locomotives to climb and that access to the University would be limited if built there. The town now has an annual event that takes place every spring called the Buggy Festival. This event is used to showcase the history of the town as well as show off music, hot rods, old tractors, old buggies made by the Tyson Buggy Company, and crafts from potteries in the surrounding areas. This event takes place in the town square around the Old Court House, considered to be a historic landmark.
and wounded three others at the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center of Carthage. Seven of the victims were elderly patients, with ages ranging from 78 to 98 years old. The eighth was a 39-year-old registered nurse who worked at the facility. The gunman, Robert Stewart, traded gunfire with a local police officer before he was wounded and taken to a nearby medical facility. Authorities identified the victims as Pinelake residents Tessie Garner, 75; Lillian Dunn, 89; Jesse Musser, 88; Bessie Hedrick, 78; John Goldston, 78; Margaret Johnson, 89; Louise DeKler, 98; and nurse Jerry Avant, 39.
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
, 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 1,871 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Moore County
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
.
Geography
Carthage is located at 35°19′46"N 79°24′31"W (35.329441, -79.408475).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 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 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...
of 2000, there were 1,871 people, 653 households, and 440 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 321.3 people per square mile (124.1/km²). There were 768 housing units at an average density of 131.9 per square mile (50.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.72% White, 30.84% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.37% 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 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 653 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% 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 32.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,050, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $32,305 versus $23,603 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 $17,343. About 8.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 33.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
The town was the home of the Tyson Buggy Company, a predominant cart and buggy manufacturer in the 1800s. After the closing of the Tyson Buggy Company, Henry FordHenry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
was interested in buying the old plant and converting it into a car assembly line; however, the owners refused to let Ford buy the plant and so he moved on to build a plant in Detroit. A few years afterwards the Tyson Buggy plant burned down. The town was also originally to be the home of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
; however, city leaders determined that they didn't want the university built there. City leaders told the State that Carthage was on too steep of a hill for locomotives to climb and that access to the University would be limited if built there. The town now has an annual event that takes place every spring called the Buggy Festival. This event is used to showcase the history of the town as well as show off music, hot rods, old tractors, old buggies made by the Tyson Buggy Company, and crafts from potteries in the surrounding areas. This event takes place in the town square around the Old Court House, considered to be a historic landmark.
Pinelake Health and Rehab shooting
On March 29, 2009, a man named Robert Stewart shot and killed eight peopleCarthage nursing home shooting
The Carthage nursing home shooting was a mass murder that occurred on March 29, 2009, when a gunman opened fire at the Pinelake Health and Rehab nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina. The shooter, 45-year-old Robert Stewart, killed eight people and wounded another two before being shot and...
and wounded three others at the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center of Carthage. Seven of the victims were elderly patients, with ages ranging from 78 to 98 years old. The eighth was a 39-year-old registered nurse who worked at the facility. The gunman, Robert Stewart, traded gunfire with a local police officer before he was wounded and taken to a nearby medical facility. Authorities identified the victims as Pinelake residents Tessie Garner, 75; Lillian Dunn, 89; Jesse Musser, 88; Bessie Hedrick, 78; John Goldston, 78; Margaret Johnson, 89; Louise DeKler, 98; and nurse Jerry Avant, 39.