Old Fort, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Old Fort is a town in McDowell County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at 7:30 p.m. Concerts are performed in the historic Rockett Building and admission is free. In 2010, the N.C. Wildlife Commission added it to their list of N.C. Mountain Heritage Trout Towns. This designation includes a special $5.00 fishing license that is active for three days and good for use in any of the state's mountain trout towns. In downtown Old Fort, the section of Mill Creek bordering Mountain Gateway Museum at 102 Water Street is a public portion of this stream and is a delayed harvest stream.
Old Fort festivals include popular annual events such as Pioneer Day hosted by Mountain Gateway Museum on the last Saturday in April. The N.C. Gold Festival is held the first Friday/Saturday in June, also on the grounds of Mountain Gateway Museum. Old Fort's Chamber of Commerce continues their annual event with Octoberfest taking place the first weekend in October, again on the grounds of Mountain Gateway Museum. This is a N.C. State museum and is part of the N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources.
Old Fort has several attractions, including Andrews Geyser
and the Arrowhead Monument
. The granite arrowhead was built as a symbol of peace between the two Native American tribes; the Cherokee and Catawba. At the dedication ceremony in 1930, thousands of on-lookers gathered at town square to see the 14 ft. rose granite arrowhead sitting atop a natural stone base. The Arrowhead serves as the focal point for the town, which is traversed by United States Highway 70 and Interstate 40. Additionally, residents of Old Fort are reconstructing Davidson Fort
, the Revolutionary War fort that gave Old Fort its current name, it was first known as Catawba Vale. Catawba Falls, the largest waterfall in McDowell County and the headwaters of the Catawba River, is located just outside the town limits. In 2009, a partnership between the N.C. DOT, the local county and town governments with assistance from the U.S.F.S. and the local trails association, a portion of Old Highway 70 reopened to bicycle and foot traffic. Point Lookout Trail is a popular paved trail ascending almost 1,000 feet through the Swannanoa Gap in just under 4 miles. Point Lookout was once a popular tourist stop for travelers driving west to Asheville and the Smokey Mountains.
Lodging information, directions to these attractions and an event calendar are available at http://www.visitoldfort.com.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 25.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Old Fort is 54.01 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is March with an average rainfall of 5.59 Inches.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 963 people, 441 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density
was 769.4 people per square mile (297.5/km²). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 396.3 per square mile (153.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.13% White, 17.24% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.83% from other races
, and 2.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 441 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $28,854. Males had a median income of $25,347 versus $21,058 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,782. About 8.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
McDowell County, North Carolina
-Cities and towns:*Marion *Old Fort-Unincorporated places:*West Marion*Little Switzerland*Nebo*Glenwood*Pleasant Gardens*North Cove-Education:The following is a list of schools located in McDowell County:*Marion Elementary School...
, 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 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at 7:30 p.m. Concerts are performed in the historic Rockett Building and admission is free. In 2010, the N.C. Wildlife Commission added it to their list of N.C. Mountain Heritage Trout Towns. This designation includes a special $5.00 fishing license that is active for three days and good for use in any of the state's mountain trout towns. In downtown Old Fort, the section of Mill Creek bordering Mountain Gateway Museum at 102 Water Street is a public portion of this stream and is a delayed harvest stream.
Old Fort festivals include popular annual events such as Pioneer Day hosted by Mountain Gateway Museum on the last Saturday in April. The N.C. Gold Festival is held the first Friday/Saturday in June, also on the grounds of Mountain Gateway Museum. Old Fort's Chamber of Commerce continues their annual event with Octoberfest taking place the first weekend in October, again on the grounds of Mountain Gateway Museum. This is a N.C. State museum and is part of the N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources.
Old Fort has several attractions, including Andrews Geyser
Andrews Geyser
Andrews Geyser is a man-made fountain in Old Fort, North Carolina in McDowell County. The fountain is named for Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, a North Carolina native who was the Vice President of the Southern Railway Company and one of the men responsible for the construction of the railroad...
and the Arrowhead Monument
Arrowhead Monument
Just over the railroad tracks in Old Fort, North Carolina, is the town square defined by a arrowhead hand-chiseled in granite. The landmark was unveiled to a crowd of more than 6,000 people on July 27, 1930, by Marie Nesbitt as a symbol of the peace achieved in an earlier century between pioneers...
. The granite arrowhead was built as a symbol of peace between the two Native American tribes; the Cherokee and Catawba. At the dedication ceremony in 1930, thousands of on-lookers gathered at town square to see the 14 ft. rose granite arrowhead sitting atop a natural stone base. The Arrowhead serves as the focal point for the town, which is traversed by United States Highway 70 and Interstate 40. Additionally, residents of Old Fort are reconstructing Davidson Fort
Davidson Fort
Davidson Fort is a monument under construction in Old Fort, North Carolina. This will be the third monument in Old Fort standing with Old Fort's other monuments Andrews Geyser and the Arrowhead Monument. The estimated amount of tourism this will bring to Old Fort is over 100,000 visitors a year...
, the Revolutionary War fort that gave Old Fort its current name, it was first known as Catawba Vale. Catawba Falls, the largest waterfall in McDowell County and the headwaters of the Catawba River, is located just outside the town limits. In 2009, a partnership between the N.C. DOT, the local county and town governments with assistance from the U.S.F.S. and the local trails association, a portion of Old Highway 70 reopened to bicycle and foot traffic. Point Lookout Trail is a popular paved trail ascending almost 1,000 feet through the Swannanoa Gap in just under 4 miles. Point Lookout was once a popular tourist stop for travelers driving west to Asheville and the Smokey Mountains.
Lodging information, directions to these attractions and an event calendar are available at http://www.visitoldfort.com.
Climate
Old Fort, NC temperatures average in the 80s in the summer and in the 20s for lows in the winter.The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 25.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Old Fort is 54.01 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is March with an average rainfall of 5.59 Inches.
Geography
Old Fort is located at 35°37′46"N 82°10′45"W (35.629541, -82.179178).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 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 2000, there were 963 people, 441 households, and 269 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 769.4 people per square mile (297.5/km²). There were 496 housing units at an average density of 396.3 per square mile (153.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.13% White, 17.24% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.83% 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 2.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 441 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $28,854. Males had a median income of $25,347 versus $21,058 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 $20,782. About 8.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Official website of Old Fort, NC
- Old Fort Chamber of Commerce
- http://www.visitmcdowell.com