Conover, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Conover is a city in Catawba County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 8,180 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory
–Lenoir
–Morganton
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Conover is home to the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10.845 square miles (28.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 8,180 people, 3,456 households, and 2,945 families residing in the city. The population density
was 749.4 people per square mile (249.2/km²). There were 3,654 housing units at an average density of 336.9 per square mile (108.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.40% White, 8.43% African American, 0.23% Native American, 3.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races
, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% of the population.
There were 3,654 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,806, and the median income for a family was $48,681. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,581 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,985. About 8.1% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
The town of Conover had its beginning in the year 1871, when, according to early history of the community, the late Francis Smyre secured a portion of land from J. P. Spencer and erected a home for himself and his bride who was before her marriage Miss Ellen Miller, daughter of Ephriam and Amy Isenhower Miller.
Their son, Clinton Eugene Smyre was the first child to be born here."
The site chosen by the Smyres for Conover's first residence was known as the "WYE" and was a junction point from which the Southern Railway ran a branch line or track to the town of Newton, three miles to the south. This junction point served as a turn table for trains going either North or South.
60 miles west of Winston-Salem; and 80 miles east of Asheville, and is the geographic center of Catawba County.
Interstate 40
traverses the City along with other major roads including US 70, US 321, US Highway 70A, and NC 16, making it easy to access the City from any direction.
Catawba County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 160,000 people, 55,533 households, and 39,095 families residing in the county. The population density was 354 people per square mile . There were 59,919 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, 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 8,180 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
–Lenoir
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
–Morganton
Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton is a city in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. Reader's Digest included Morganton in its list of top ten places to raise a family. The town was recently profiled in The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The population was 17,310 at the 2000 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Unifour
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area or The Unifor, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in the Catawba Valley region of western North Carolina...
. Conover is home to the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in June in Conover, North Carolina at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa.The purse for the 2011 tournament was US$1,750,000, with $262,500 going to the winner...
.
Geography
Conover is located at 35°42′40"N 81°13′11"W (35.711232, -81.219608).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 city has a total area of 10.845 square miles (28.1 km²), all of it land.
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 2010, there were 8,180 people, 3,456 households, and 2,945 families residing in the city. 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 749.4 people per square mile (249.2/km²). There were 3,654 housing units at an average density of 336.9 per square mile (108.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.40% White, 8.43% African American, 0.23% Native American, 3.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.62% 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 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% of the population.
There were 3,654 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,806, and the median income for a family was $48,681. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,581 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 city was $19,985. About 8.1% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
The City of Conover began to develop in the mid 1800's as a "Y" intersection of the railroad traversing North Carolina. Although originally called Wye Town, legend says the name Canova was adopted, but transposed to Conover, over several years.The town of Conover had its beginning in the year 1871, when, according to early history of the community, the late Francis Smyre secured a portion of land from J. P. Spencer and erected a home for himself and his bride who was before her marriage Miss Ellen Miller, daughter of Ephriam and Amy Isenhower Miller.
Their son, Clinton Eugene Smyre was the first child to be born here."
The site chosen by the Smyres for Conover's first residence was known as the "WYE" and was a junction point from which the Southern Railway ran a branch line or track to the town of Newton, three miles to the south. This junction point served as a turn table for trains going either North or South.
Transportation
Conover is located in the western piedmont area of North Carolina. Conover is located approximately 50 miles northwest of Charlotte;60 miles west of Winston-Salem; and 80 miles east of Asheville, and is the geographic center of Catawba County.
Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
traverses the City along with other major roads including US 70, US 321, US Highway 70A, and NC 16, making it easy to access the City from any direction.
Mass Transit
- Greenway Bus Transportaion(Main office located in ConoverConover-Places in the United States:* Conover, Iowa, a ghost town* Conover, North Carolina, a city* Conover, Ohio, an unincorporated community* Conover, Wisconsin, a town* Conover , Wisconsin, an unincorporated community-People:...
) - ConoverConover-Places in the United States:* Conover, Iowa, a ghost town* Conover, North Carolina, a city* Conover, Ohio, an unincorporated community* Conover, Wisconsin, a town* Conover , Wisconsin, an unincorporated community-People:...
has been designated a stop on the future Western NC Rail service.
Elementary Schools
- Shuford Elementary School
- South Newton Elementary School
- Thorton Elementary School
- Conover School
- Lyle Creek Elementary School-(Catawba County SchoolsCatawba County SchoolsCatawba County Schools, also known as The Catawba County Schools Administrative Unit, is a school district in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States."Teach, Learn, and Lead for the Future"-High schools:*Bandys High School*Bunker Hill High School...
)
Private Schools
- Tri-City Christian SchoolTri-City Christian SchoolFor the California school, see Tri-City Christian Schools. Tri-City Christian School is a K3-12th grade private school located in Conover, North Carolina, just west of Hickory, North Carolina...
,(Baptist) - Concordia Christian Day School
- University Christian High School
Higher Education
- Catawba Valley Community CollegeCatawba Valley Community CollegeCatawba Valley Community College is a public community college in Hickory, North Carolina. The college, established April 3, 1958, is part of the North Carolina Community College System...
- Hickory Metro Higher Education Center
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- NC Center for Engineering Technologies
Notable people
- Birthplace of Pauletta Pearson WashingtonPauletta Pearson WashingtonPauletta Pearson Washington is an American actress.In 1970, she was the first black contestant in the Miss North Carolina Pageant, a preliminary to Miss America. She was the 2nd runner-up.-Personal life:...
-(wife of actor Denzel WashingtonDenzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
) - Birthplace of Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
-NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver - Morgan ShepherdMorgan ShepherdClay Morgan Shepherd has been a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver since 1977. He has also raced in the Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. He is a born again Christian who serves as a lay minister to the racing community...
- NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver - Glenn JarrettGlenn JarrettGlenn Jarrett is a former NASCAR driver from Conover, North Carolina and the oldest son of Ned Jarrett and older brother of Dale Jarrett. He made 10 Winston Cup starts from 1978 to 1983 with a best finish of 12th at Ontario Motor Speedway...
- Former NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver - Ned JarrettNed JarrettNed Jarrett is a retired race car driver and two-time NASCAR champion.Jarrett was best known for his calm demeanor, and he became known as "Gentleman Ned Jarrett", yet he was an intense competitor when he put his two hands on the steering wheel of a NASCAR Grand National stock car...
- Former NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver, And two-time NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Champion. - Rachel Lee CarterRachel Lee CarterRachel Lee Carter, professional model, beauty queen, Christian speaker, author and Bible teacher, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina to Margaret and the late Ben Adcock....
- professional model, beauty queen, Christian speaker, actor, author and Bible teacher - Margret "Sparky" Sparkman- National Gourd Lady.
Media
- The Claremont Courier, free monthly publication.
- The Hickory Daily RecordHickory Daily RecordHickory Daily Record is a newspaper based in Hickory, North Carolina. It is owned by Media General....
is published 7 days a week. - Local television station is WHKY-TVWHKY-TVWHKY-TV is an independent television station in Hickory, North Carolina that serves the northwestern corner of the Charlotte media market locally referred to as "The Unifour." Owned and operated by Long Communications, LLC , WHKY-TV broadcasts on UHF digital channel 40 .WHKY-TV commenced...
, channel 14.