Cherryville Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Cherryville Township is a township
in northwestern Gaston County
, North Carolina
, United States
. It includes the incorporated City of Cherryville
, the inactive incorporated town of Dellview
, the unincorporated area of Tryon
, and a portion of the town of High Shoals
(most of which is in Dallas Township
). It is represented on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners by Allen Fraley of Cherryville.
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
Voting-age population figures from the 2000 Census are reported for each of the township's five voting precincts. Three of the precincts are in the northwestern part of the township near Cherryville, one in the south near Tryon, and one in the northeast near Landers Chapel Methodist Church. The township's total voting-age population in the was 8507, or itemized by area:
ridge and local high point at elevation 1220 feet (371.9 m), forms the boundary between Cherryville Township and Dallas Township to the east.
Cherryville Township lies within six watersheds. The northwest corner of the township is in the Buffalo Creek watershed and the area southwest of Cherryville in the watershed of Muddy Fork Creek (itself a tributary of Buffalo Creek). These watersheds are in the Broad River
catchment basin and most of their area is in Cleveland County
. Highway 274 / Mountain Street generally follows the watershed separating the catchement basins of the Broad and Catawba rivers. Areas north of Cherryville are in the Indian Creek watershed, drained by Mill Creek, Lick Fork Creek and an unnamed tributary of Indian Creek. Indian Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Catawba River, entering the river near Laboratory, North Carolina. Most of central and eastern Cherryville Township is in the Beaverdam Creek watershed, drained by the 8.4 miles (13.5 km)-long Beaverdam Creek and its 4.8 miles (7.7 km)-long tributary Little Beaverdam Creek. Beaverdam Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Catawba River, entering the river near High Shoals
. The southern section of the township is in the Long Creek watershed. Long Creek flows east through Bessemer City
, Dallas
, and Gastonia
before emptying into the South Fork Catawba River in Ranlo
. Finally, a small area in the far northeastern corner of the township is in the Hoyle Creek watershed.
(VFD) in areas northwest of Cherryville, Waco Community Fire Department (of Cleveland County
) southwest of Cherryville, Crouse VFD (of Lincoln County
) northeast of Cherryville, Tryonota VFD southeast of Cherryville, High Shoals VFD in the northeast corner of the township, and Agricultural Center VFD in areas along the eastern boundary of the township.
attendance district. Students in southern parts of the township go to Bessemer City High School
and far eastern parts to North Gaston High School
in Dallas
Mount Zion Baptist Church, located 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Cherryville, is the oldest Baptist church in the township. It was organized on October 7, 1857. The site had been the location of a Presbyterian meeting house called Anthony's Meeting House, established on May 18, 1807. The meeting house later became an inter-denominational place of worship for Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Baptists, called Hebron Meeting House.
Other rural churches in Cherryville Township include Zion Hill Baptist Church, Oak Grove AME Zion Church, Shady Grove Baptist Church (organized in 1881), Iglesia Bautista Hispana, Creekside Community Church (Tryon), Concord United Methodist Church (Tryon), Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Mount Beulah Baptist Church (organized 1916), Sunnyside Baptist Church, Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Landers Chapel United Methodist Church.
Courthouse site near the Tryon Community was the location of a courthouse at the time of the American Revolution
. Bethel Lutheran Church in the eastern part of the township dates to 1893. The cemetery, school, and church building at Landers Chapel United Methodist Church in the northeastern part of the township date to 1875, 1912, and 1925, respectively.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
in northwestern Gaston County
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It includes the incorporated City of Cherryville
Cherryville, North Carolina
Cherryville is a small city in northwestern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,361 at the 2000 census. The New Year's Shooters preserve the area's German heritage by honoring the custom of beginning each year with a chant and the shooting of muskets...
, the inactive incorporated town of Dellview
Dellview, North Carolina
Dellview is an inactive incorporated town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 13 , it was the smallest municipality in the state, and arguably the smallest incorporated town in the United States. Its population is currently 11, and was at one point as low as...
, the unincorporated area of Tryon
Tryon, Gaston County, North Carolina
Tryon is an unincorporated community in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is in Cherryville Township, located approximately southeast of the city of Cherryville on North Carolina Highway 274...
, and a portion of the town of High Shoals
High Shoals, North Carolina
High Shoals is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 729 at the 2000 census.-History:High Shoals was the location of the High Shoals Iron Works, founded by Swiss-born John Fulenwider in about 1795. Fulenwider developed one of the earliest methods of making pig...
(most of which is in Dallas Township
Dallas Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Dallas Township is a township in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It includes the incorporated towns of Dallas, High Shoals , and Stanley . It also includes small portions of the City of Gastonia and a small outlying portion of the town of Ranlo...
). It is represented on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners by Allen Fraley of Cherryville.
Demographics
Cherryville Township had a reported population in the 2000 United States Census of 15,724. This includes 5361 people in the incorporated City of Cherryville. The racial makeup of the township was 92.12% White, 6.24% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.54% from other racesRace (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 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
Voting-age population figures from the 2000 Census are reported for each of the township's five voting precincts. Three of the precincts are in the northwestern part of the township near Cherryville, one in the south near Tryon, and one in the northeast near Landers Chapel Methodist Church. The township's total voting-age population in the was 8507, or itemized by area:
- Cherryville area election precincts - population 5399
- Tryon precinct - pop. 1524
- Landers Chapel precinct - pop. 1584
Geography
Cherryville Township occupies a total area of 65.33 square miles (169.2 km²). Pasour Mountain, a monadnockMonadnock
A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain...
ridge and local high point at elevation 1220 feet (371.9 m), forms the boundary between Cherryville Township and Dallas Township to the east.
Cherryville Township lies within six watersheds. The northwest corner of the township is in the Buffalo Creek watershed and the area southwest of Cherryville in the watershed of Muddy Fork Creek (itself a tributary of Buffalo Creek). These watersheds are in the Broad River
Broad River (Carolinas)
The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
catchment basin and most of their area is in Cleveland County
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
. Highway 274 / Mountain Street generally follows the watershed separating the catchement basins of the Broad and Catawba rivers. Areas north of Cherryville are in the Indian Creek watershed, drained by Mill Creek, Lick Fork Creek and an unnamed tributary of Indian Creek. Indian Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Catawba River, entering the river near Laboratory, North Carolina. Most of central and eastern Cherryville Township is in the Beaverdam Creek watershed, drained by the 8.4 miles (13.5 km)-long Beaverdam Creek and its 4.8 miles (7.7 km)-long tributary Little Beaverdam Creek. Beaverdam Creek is a tributary of the South Fork Catawba River, entering the river near High Shoals
High Shoals, North Carolina
High Shoals is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 729 at the 2000 census.-History:High Shoals was the location of the High Shoals Iron Works, founded by Swiss-born John Fulenwider in about 1795. Fulenwider developed one of the earliest methods of making pig...
. The southern section of the township is in the Long Creek watershed. Long Creek flows east through Bessemer City
Bessemer City, North Carolina
Bessemer City is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,592 at the 2010 census. The city is approximately 6 miles northwest of Gastonia and 25 miles west of Charlotte...
, Dallas
Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...
, and Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
before emptying into the South Fork Catawba River in Ranlo
Ranlo, North Carolina
Ranlo is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,198.-Geography:Ranlo is located at ....
. Finally, a small area in the far northeastern corner of the township is in the Hoyle Creek watershed.
Community Services
Fire protection in unincorporated areas of the township in provided by the Hughs Pond Volunteer Fire DepartmentVolunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
(VFD) in areas northwest of Cherryville, Waco Community Fire Department (of Cleveland County
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
) southwest of Cherryville, Crouse VFD (of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 71,498 people, 24,041 households, and 18,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 people per square mile . There were 25,717 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile...
) northeast of Cherryville, Tryonota VFD southeast of Cherryville, High Shoals VFD in the northeast corner of the township, and Agricultural Center VFD in areas along the eastern boundary of the township.
Education
Most of Cherryville Township is in the Cherryville High SchoolCherryville High School
Cherryville High School is a high school in the Gaston County Schools public school district located in Cherryville, North Carolina, United States.-History:...
attendance district. Students in southern parts of the township go to Bessemer City High School
Bessemer City High School
Bessemer City High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Bessemer City, North Carolina, United States.Bessemer City High is home to the district's only Early College...
and far eastern parts to North Gaston High School
North Gaston High School
North Gaston High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools school district located in Dallas, North Carolina, United States. Administrators are:* Brent Boone, Principal...
in Dallas
Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...
Religious Life
Saint Mark's Lutheran Church (ELCA), located about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the City of Cherryville, is one of the oldest churches in the township and is among the older Lutheran congregations in the entire Piedmont area (and in the Lutheran Synod of North Carolina). It was originally organized in 1790 as Beaver Dam Lutheran Church and located at a site about 1 miles (1.6 km) east of the present location. The first congregants were immigrants from southern Germany. The congregation moved to its present site in 1858 and changed the church's name to St. Marks. The cemetery at the original site was restored in 1992.Mount Zion Baptist Church, located 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Cherryville, is the oldest Baptist church in the township. It was organized on October 7, 1857. The site had been the location of a Presbyterian meeting house called Anthony's Meeting House, established on May 18, 1807. The meeting house later became an inter-denominational place of worship for Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Baptists, called Hebron Meeting House.
Other rural churches in Cherryville Township include Zion Hill Baptist Church, Oak Grove AME Zion Church, Shady Grove Baptist Church (organized in 1881), Iglesia Bautista Hispana, Creekside Community Church (Tryon), Concord United Methodist Church (Tryon), Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Mount Beulah Baptist Church (organized 1916), Sunnyside Baptist Church, Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Landers Chapel United Methodist Church.
Historic Properties
Cherryville Township has three sites designated as Gaston County Historic Properties. The Tryon CountyTryon County, North Carolina
Tryon County is a former county which was located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was formed in 1768 from the part of Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River, although the legislative act that created it did not become effective until April 10, 1769. Due to inaccurate and delayed...
Courthouse site near the Tryon Community was the location of a courthouse at the time of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Bethel Lutheran Church in the eastern part of the township dates to 1893. The cemetery, school, and church building at Landers Chapel United Methodist Church in the northeastern part of the township date to 1875, 1912, and 1925, respectively.