Dobson, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Dobson is a town in Dobson Township
, Surry County
, North Carolina
, United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the town population was 1,457. It is the county seat
of Surry County. Dobson is the home of the Shelton Vineyards, the largest winery
in North Carolina.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,457 people, 555 households, and 339 families residing in the town. The population density
was 813.8 people per square mile (314.3/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 331.8 per square mile (128.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.84% White, 3.91% African American, 0.41% Native American, 19.42% from other races
, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.81% of the population.
There were 555 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,765, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $22,050 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,346. About 17.8% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
in 1853, replacing Rockford
after all land in Surry County south of the Yadkin River
was used to form Yadkin County
. Dobson was named for prominent Rockford and Surry County citizen William Polk Dobson
who was also the cousin of former president, James K. Polk
.
Dobson Township, Surry County, North Carolina
Dobson Township is one of fifteen townships in Surry County, North Carolina. The township had a population of 8,088 according to the 2000 census....
, Surry County
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 73,673. Its county seat is Dobson.- History :The county was formed in 1771 from Rowan 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...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the town population was 1,457. 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 Surry County. Dobson is the home of the Shelton Vineyards, the largest winery
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
in North Carolina.
Geography
Dobson is located at 36°23′30"N 80°43′16"W (36.391698, -80.721126).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 1.8 square miles (4.7 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 2000, there were 1,457 people, 555 households, and 339 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 813.8 people per square mile (314.3/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 331.8 per square mile (128.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.84% White, 3.91% African American, 0.41% Native American, 19.42% 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 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.81% of the population.
There were 555 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,765, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $22,050 versus $21,000 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 $19,346. About 17.8% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
Dobson was established as the county seatCounty 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....
in 1853, replacing Rockford
Rockford, North Carolina
-Geography:Rockford is situated along the Yadkin River in the Rockford Township of southern Surry County. Rockford sits along the former Southern Railway, now used by the Yadkin Valley Railroad, which follows the Yadkin River through Surry County.-History:...
after all land in Surry County south of the Yadkin River
Yadkin River
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing . It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee...
was used to form Yadkin County
Yadkin County, North Carolina
- Cities and towns :*Boonville*East Bend*Jonesville*Yadkinville-Towns of the past:These towns were incorporated at one time:*Arlington, merged with Jonesville in 2001.*Hamptonville, chartered in 1818.*Huntsville, incorporated in 1792....
. Dobson was named for prominent Rockford and Surry County citizen William Polk Dobson
William Polk Dobson
William Polk Dobson was a prominent 19th century North Carolina politician in Surry County. He was the first cousin of President James Knox Polk. Dobson was a state senator, representing Surry County in the state senate in Raleigh in 1818–1819, 1827, 1830–1834, 1836, and 1842...
who was also the cousin of former president, James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
.
Notable people
- Tabitha Ann HoltonTabitha Ann HoltonTabitha Ann Holton was the first woman to be licensed as a lawyer in North Carolina and in the Southern United States, in 1878. Her brothers, John Holton and Samuel Holton were licensed to practice law by the North Carolina Supreme Court on January 7, 1878, but Tabitha’s admission occurred several...
who became the first licensed female lawyer in the Southern United StatesSouthern United StatesThe Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in 1878. She practiced law in Dobson from 1878-1886.http://womenslegalhistory.stanford.edu/papers/HoltonT-kharris03.pdf
- Roy H. ParkRoy H. ParkRoy Hampton Park was an American media executive and entrepreneur. -Biography:Park was born in Dobson, North Carolina, the son of a tenant farmer...
, broadcaster and publisher.