North Carolina's 10th congressional district
Encyclopedia
The 10th Congressional District of North Carolina is a Congressional district
in central and western North Carolina
. It currently includes all of Avery
, Burke
, Caldwell
, Catawba
, Cleveland
, Lincoln
and Mitchell
counties, along with parts of Gaston
, Iredell
and Rutherford
counties.
The district is arguably the most Republican district in North Carolina and one of the most Republican in the South. Republicans have held the seat since 1969. Republican Patrick McHenry has represented the district since 2005. Jeff Gregory (D) was defeated in the 2010 election to represent this district.
Congressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
in central and western 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...
. It currently includes all of Avery
Avery County, North Carolina
- Climate :As a result of its relatively high elevation, Avery County has a Humid continental climate enjoying considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the Eastern US. Likewise, winters are longer, colder and snowier than most other locations in the region. This can be evidenced by the...
, Burke
Burke County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 37,427 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
, Caldwell
Caldwell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile...
, Catawba
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...
, Cleveland
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...
, Lincoln
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...
and Mitchell
Mitchell County, North Carolina
-National protected areas:* Blue Ridge Parkway * Pisgah National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,687 people, 6,551 households, and 4,736 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 7,919 housing units at an...
counties, along with parts of Gaston
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...
, Iredell
Iredell County, North Carolina
Iredell County, along with Moore County in the eastern Piedmont, are among a very few counties in the United States sharing borders with nine adjacent counties.-Demographics:...
and Rutherford
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
counties.
The district is arguably the most Republican district in North Carolina and one of the most Republican in the South. Republicans have held the seat since 1969. Republican Patrick McHenry has represented the district since 2005. Jeff Gregory (D) was defeated in the 2010 election to represent this district.
List of representatives
Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | District Residence | Notes |
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District created March 4, 1793 | |||||
Benjamin Williams Benjamin Williams Benjamin Williams was the 11th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 1799 to 1802 and from 1807 to 1808. He was the first of two North Carolina Governors since the American Revolution to serve nonconsecutive terms.Williams was born in Johnston County, North Carolina in 1751... |
March 4, 1793 | March 3, 1795 | Anti-Administration Anti-Administration Party (United States) Anti-Administration "Party" was the informal faction comprising the opponents of the policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in the first term of President George Washington. This was not an organized political party but an unorganized faction... |
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Nathan Bryan Nathan Bryan Nathan Bryan was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina from 1795 to 1798.Bryan was born in Craven County, North Carolina in 1748 and was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1787 and from 1791 to 1794. In 1794, Bryan, a Republican, was elected to the 4th United States Congress and... |
March 4, 1795 | June 4, 1798 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
Died | |
Richard D. Spaight Richard Dobbs Spaight Richard Dobbs Spaight was the eighth Governor of the American State of North Carolina from 1792 to 1795.-Early life:Spaight was born in New Bern, North Carolina, the son of the Secretary of the Crown in the colony... |
December 10, 1798 | March 3, 1801 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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John Stanly John Stanly John Stanly was a Federalist U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1801 and 1803 and again between 1809 and 1811. He was the father of Edward Stanly.... |
March 4, 1801 | March 3, 1803 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
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Nathaniel Alexander Nathaniel Alexander Nathaniel Alexander was the 13th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1805 to 1807.-Biography:Alexander was born near Concord, North Carolina , the son of a local sheriff... |
March 4, 1803 | November, 1806 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
Resigned to become Governor Governor of North Carolina The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:... |
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Evan S. Alexander Evan Shelby Alexander Evan Shelby Alexander was a United States Democratic-Republican Party Congressman from North Carolina between 1806 and 1809.... |
February 24, 1806 | March 3, 1809 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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Joseph Pearson Joseph Pearson Joseph Pearson was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1776; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Salisbury, North Carolina; member of the State house of commons from Rowan county in... |
March 4, 1809 | March 3, 1815 | Federalist Federalist Party (United States) The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801... |
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William C. Love William Carter Love William Carter Love was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born near Norfolk, Virginia, in 1784; moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina; was tutored at home; attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1802–1804; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced... |
March 4, 1815 | March 3, 1817 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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George Mumford George Mumford George Mumford was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina.Mumford was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, birth date unknown. He attended the common schools. He was a member of the State house of commons in1810 and 1811... |
March 4, 1815 | December 31, 1818 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
Died | |
Charles Fisher Charles Fisher (congressman) Charles Fisher was an American politician and legislator from North Carolina who was twice elected U.S. Representative from his state.... |
February 11, 1819 | March 3, 1821 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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John Long | March 4, 1821 | March 3, 1823 | Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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March 4, 1823 | March 4, 1825 | Crawford D-R Democratic-Republican Party (United States) The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along... |
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March 4, 1825 | March 4, 1829 | Adams | |||
Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born near Raleigh, North Carolina, August 12, 1798; tutored at home and attended the common schools and Pittsboro Academy; graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822; studied law; was admitted to... |
March 4, 1829 | March 3, 1833 | Jacksonian | ||
March 4, 1833 | March 4, 1837 | Anti-Jacksonian | |||
March 4, 1837 | March 4, 1839 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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Charles Fisher Charles Fisher (congressman) Charles Fisher was an American politician and legislator from North Carolina who was twice elected U.S. Representative from his state.... |
March 4, 1839 | March 3, 1841 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
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Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born near Raleigh, North Carolina, August 12, 1798; tutored at home and attended the common schools and Pittsboro Academy; graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822; studied law; was admitted to... |
March 4, 1841 | March 3, 1843 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
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District inactive March 3, 1843 | |||||
District re-established March 4, 1903 | |||||
James M. Gudger, Jr. James M. Gudger, Jr. thumb|James M Gudger, Jr. ca1912James Madison Gudger, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, father of Katherine Gudger Langley.... |
March 4, 1903 | March 3, 1907 | Democrat | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
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William T. Crawford William T. Crawford William Thomas Crawford was a Representative from North Carolina.He attended the public schools and Waynesville Academy.... |
March 4, 1907 | March 3, 1909 | Democrat | Waynesville Waynesville, North Carolina Waynesville is a town in and the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in Haywood County and the largest in Western North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about or 50 km southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue... |
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John G. Grant | March 4, 1909 | March 3, 1911 | Democrat | Hendersonville Hendersonville, North Carolina Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county... |
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James M. Gudger, Jr. James M. Gudger, Jr. thumb|James M Gudger, Jr. ca1912James Madison Gudger, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, father of Katherine Gudger Langley.... |
March 4, 1911 | March 3, 1915 | Democrat | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
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James Jefferson Britt James Jefferson Britt James Jefferson Britt was a United States Representative in Congress from North Carolina.-Biography:... |
March 3, 1915 | March 3, 1917 | Republican | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
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Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.-Early years and education:... |
March 3, 1917 | March 1, 1919 | Democrat | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
Lost contested election |
James Jefferson Britt James Jefferson Britt James Jefferson Britt was a United States Representative in Congress from North Carolina.-Biography:... |
March 1, 1919 | March 3, 1919 | Republican | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
Won contested election |
Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.-Early years and education:... |
March 4, 1919 | March 3, 1929 | Democrat | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
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George M. Pritchard George M. Pritchard George Moore Pritchard was a lawyer, Republican politician, and one-term U.S. representative from North Carolina. He was the son of Senator Jeter C. Pritchard.... |
March 4, 1929 | March 3, 1931 | Republican | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
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Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver Zebulon Weaver was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1917 and 1929 and between 1931 and 1947.-Early years and education:... |
March 4, 1931 | March 3, 1933 | Democrat | Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
Redistricted to the 11th district North Carolina's 11th congressional district The 11th Congressional District encompasses most of Western North Carolina, anchored by Asheville. Starting in the 110th Congress, it is represented by Heath Shuler, a Democrat. Shuler defeated 8-term Republican representative Charles H. Taylor in the 2006 midterm elections.The 11th District is... |
Alfred L. Bulwinkle Alfred L. Bulwinkle Alfred Lee Bulwinkle was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Bulwinkle moved with his parents to Dallas, North Carolina, in 1891.He attended the common schools.... |
March 4, 1933 | January 3, 1943 | Democrat | 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,... |
Redistricted from the 9th district North Carolina's 9th congressional district The 9th Congressional District of North Carolina is a Congressional district in south-central North Carolina. Currently, the district includes more than half of Mecklenburg County, two-thirds of Union County and almost all of Gaston County.... , Redistricted to the 11th district North Carolina's 11th congressional district The 11th Congressional District encompasses most of Western North Carolina, anchored by Asheville. Starting in the 110th Congress, it is represented by Heath Shuler, a Democrat. Shuler defeated 8-term Republican representative Charles H. Taylor in the 2006 midterm elections.The 11th District is... |
Cameron A. Morrison Cameron A. Morrison Cameron A. Morrison was the 55th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1921 to 1925.He was born in 1869 in Richmond County, North Carolina. With the backing of Sen. Furnifold Simmons and the help of race-baiting tactics employed by A. D. Watts, Morrison defeated O. Max Gardner in the... |
January 3, 1943 | January 3, 1945 | Democrat | Rockingham Rockingham, North Carolina Rockingham is a city in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States named after the Marquis of Rockingham. The population was 9,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Richmond County... |
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Joseph Wilson Ervin Joseph Wilson Ervin Joseph Wilson Ervin was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina.- Family background, education and early professional life :... |
January 3, 1945 | December 25, 1945 | Democrat | 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... |
Died |
Sam J. Ervin, Jr. | January 22, 1946 | January 3, 1947 | Democrat | 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... |
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Hamilton C. Jones Hamilton C. Jones Hamilton Chamberlain Jones was a United States Representative from North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended the schools of Charlotte, Central High School in Washington, D.C., and Horners Military School in Oxford, North Carolina... |
January 3, 1947 | January 3, 1953 | Democrat | Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009... |
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Charles R. Jonas Charles R. Jonas Charles Raper Jonas was a U.S. representative from North Carolina for ten terms . At the time of his election in 1952, he became the first Republican to represent his state in either house of the U.S. Congress since his own father, Charles A. Jonas, and George M... |
January 3, 1953 | January 3, 1963 | Republican | Lincolnton Lincolnton, North Carolina Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route... |
Redistricted to the 8th district North Carolina's 8th congressional district North Carolina's eighth congressional district consists of a large portion of southern North Carolina from Charlotte to Fayetteville, including Concord, Albemarle, Monroe, Wadesboro, Troy, Rockingham, Laurinburg, and Raeford... |
Basil Whitener | January 3, 1963 | January 3, 1969 | Democrat | 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,... |
Redistricted from the 11th district North Carolina's 11th congressional district The 11th Congressional District encompasses most of Western North Carolina, anchored by Asheville. Starting in the 110th Congress, it is represented by Heath Shuler, a Democrat. Shuler defeated 8-term Republican representative Charles H. Taylor in the 2006 midterm elections.The 11th District is... |
Jim Broyhill Jim Broyhill James Thomas "Jim" Broyhill is a Republican former U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of North Carolina. He represented much of the Foothills region of the state in the House from 1963 to 1986, and served in the Senate for four months in 1986.He was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, the... |
January 3, 1969 | July 14, 1986 | Republican | 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... |
Resigned after being appointed to US Senate |
Cass Ballenger Cass Ballenger Thomas Cass Ballenger is an American politician. A Republican, he represented North Carolina's 10th Congressional district, centered in North Carolina's foothills, in the United States House of Representatives from 1986 to 2005.... |
November 4, 1986 | January 3, 2005 | Republican | 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... |
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Patrick McHenry | January 3, 2005 | present | Republican | 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... |