Seagrove, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Seagrove is a town in Randolph County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official. The center of population
of North Carolina is located a few miles east of Seagrove.
Seagrove is notable for its many potteries
, and it is sometimes referred to as the "pottery capital of North Carolina", or even pottery capital of the world. In this usage, the name Seagrove not only refers to the town proper, but includes several other communities that are part of the pottery tradition along and near the North Carolina Pottery Highway. Over 100 potteries are located in Seagrove and the neighboring towns of Star
, Whynot
, Erect
, Westmoore, and Robbins
. Seagrove is also home to the North Carolina Pottery Center, which was established on November 7, 1998 and has since received visitors across the continent and around the world.
, which was 129 miles (207.6 km) long and made of planks 8 feet (2.4 m), 9 to 16 in (228.6 to 406.4 mm) wide, and 3 inches (76.2 mm) thick. The road carried horseback riders, wagons, and stagecoaches. A toll
was charged of one cent
per mile (1.6 km) for a wagon and four horses. Toll revenues later declined after construction of the railroad, and by 1862 much of Plank Road was abandoned.
. Due to the high quality of the local clay, the Plank Road passing through the town, and, later, the railroad, Seagrove became known for its pottery.
The popularity of Seagrove pottery was severely reduced due to the Industrial Revolution
and the advent of modern food preparation. For a time whisky
jugs were a successful source of income, but the beverage was outlawed and potteries continued their decline in the early 20th century.
The potteries struggled until around 1920, when they became popular with Northern tourists visiting nearby Pinehurst
. The new tourist industry marked a general change from utilitarian pottery to more decorative ware.
After another decline from the 1950s through 1970s a renewed interest in traditional pottery was beginning to sweep the area, and in 1982 a group of concerned individuals founded the North Carolina Museum of Traditional Pottery and organized the Seagrove Pottery Festival, an annual event held each year the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The Cole, Auman, Owen, Teague, and Albright families are eighth- and ninth-generation potters in Seagrove who continue this tradition.
Some of the oldest, historic pottery locations still in operation include the "Original" Owens Pottery founded in 1895 and Jugtown Pottery founded in 1921. Jugtown is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
While known for pottery Seagrove also has a tradition in food products and was home for many years to Luck's Incorporated
. Founded as Mountain View Cannery in the 1950s by Ivey B. Luck, Alfred Spencer & H. Clay Presnell. Spencer & Presnell later sold out to Luck and the establishment became known as Luck's. Luck's specialized in pinto beans and other canned vegetables and food products and employed many Seagrove families. Bought out by American Home Products and then later by Conagra Foods the Luck's plant closed in 2002, but has been re-opened as Seagrove Foods, Inc.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 1.37% is water.
The center of population for the state of North Carolina is located approximately 2 miles east of Seagrove.
of 2000, there were 246 people, 109 households, and 69 families residing in the town. The population density
was 338.8 people per square mile (130.1/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 163.9 per square mile (62.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.12% White, 1.22% African American, 0.81% Native American, 2.85% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.
There were 109 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $19,327 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,824. About 9.0% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Randolph County, North Carolina
-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...
, 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 246 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a railroad official. The center of population
Center of population
In demographics, the center of population of a region is a geographical point that describes a centerpoint of the region's population...
of North Carolina is located a few miles east of Seagrove.
Seagrove is notable for its many potteries
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, and it is sometimes referred to as the "pottery capital of North Carolina", or even pottery capital of the world. In this usage, the name Seagrove not only refers to the town proper, but includes several other communities that are part of the pottery tradition along and near the North Carolina Pottery Highway. Over 100 potteries are located in Seagrove and the neighboring towns of Star
Star, North Carolina
Star is a town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Star is known as the geographic center of North Carolina as measured via satellite, according to the Army Corps of Engineers...
, Whynot
Whynot, North Carolina
Whynot, North Carolina is an unincorporated community in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States, and is included in the Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. Whynot is located on NC 705, also known as the "North Carolina Pottery Highway", one mile southeast of Seagrove and seven miles west of...
, Erect
Erect, North Carolina
Erect, North Carolina is an unincorporated community in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States, and part of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. Erect is located on NC 42, seven miles east of the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, and two miles west of Coleridge...
, Westmoore, and Robbins
Robbins, North Carolina
Robbins is a city in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,195 at the 2000 census.Robbins is the hometown of the late Charles E. Brady, NASA astronaut of STS-78 space shuttle mission in 1996...
. Seagrove is also home to the North Carolina Pottery Center, which was established on November 7, 1998 and has since received visitors across the continent and around the world.
History
Seagrove was named for Edwin G. Seagroves, a railroad official who was responsible for routing a railroad through the area. According to local sources, after a unanimous decision to name the railroad station after Seagroves, the town name resulted from a sign painter running out of space and simply dropping the 's' from the end of the name. The railroad served Seagrove until December 31, 1951. The old train depot later became a pottery museum.Plank Road
In 1849, construction began of Plank RoadPlank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
, which was 129 miles (207.6 km) long and made of planks 8 feet (2.4 m), 9 to 16 in (228.6 to 406.4 mm) wide, and 3 inches (76.2 mm) thick. The road carried horseback riders, wagons, and stagecoaches. A toll
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
was charged of one cent
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
per mile (1.6 km) for a wagon and four horses. Toll revenues later declined after construction of the railroad, and by 1862 much of Plank Road was abandoned.
Seagrove School
A school funded by members of the community was established on April 3, 1911. The school moved to a new site in 1918 and again in 1926. The school burned on March 24, 1934, and was subsequently rebuilt. Seagrove accepted students from elementary to high school until the fall of 1970, when the high school students began attending the new Southwestern Randolph High School. In the fall of 1990, Seagrove students in the 6th through 8th grades began attending Southwestern Randolph Middle School. Today, the school is known as Seagrove Elementary School and houses students only from Kindergarten until the 5th grade.Pottery
Seagrove's pottery tradition dates back to the 18th century, before the American Revolution. Many of the first Seagrove potters were English and German immigrants, and they primarily produced functional, glazed earthenwareEarthenware
Earthenware is a common ceramic material, which is used extensively for pottery tableware and decorative objects.-Types of earthenware:Although body formulations vary between countries and even between individual makers, a generic composition is 25% ball clay, 28% kaolin, 32% quartz, and 15%...
. Due to the high quality of the local clay, the Plank Road passing through the town, and, later, the railroad, Seagrove became known for its pottery.
The popularity of Seagrove pottery was severely reduced due to the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
and the advent of modern food preparation. For a time whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
jugs were a successful source of income, but the beverage was outlawed and potteries continued their decline in the early 20th century.
The potteries struggled until around 1920, when they became popular with Northern tourists visiting nearby Pinehurst
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pinehurst is a village in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,706 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the Pinehurst Resort, venue of the 1936 PGA Championship, the 1951 Ryder Cup. The host site for the 1999, 2005,& 2014 U.S. Open Golf Championships, the 2008 U.S....
. The new tourist industry marked a general change from utilitarian pottery to more decorative ware.
After another decline from the 1950s through 1970s a renewed interest in traditional pottery was beginning to sweep the area, and in 1982 a group of concerned individuals founded the North Carolina Museum of Traditional Pottery and organized the Seagrove Pottery Festival, an annual event held each year the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The Cole, Auman, Owen, Teague, and Albright families are eighth- and ninth-generation potters in Seagrove who continue this tradition.
Some of the oldest, historic pottery locations still in operation include the "Original" Owens Pottery founded in 1895 and Jugtown Pottery founded in 1921. Jugtown is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Pinto Beans
While known for pottery Seagrove also has a tradition in food products and was home for many years to Luck's Incorporated
Luck's Incorporated
Luck's Incorporated was a food production company founded in Seagrove, North Carolina, in 1947, which produced a line of canned bean and other canned food products. For a period of time, it was one of the largest employers in the area and its canned food products were a staple in many Southern homes...
. Founded as Mountain View Cannery in the 1950s by Ivey B. Luck, Alfred Spencer & H. Clay Presnell. Spencer & Presnell later sold out to Luck and the establishment became known as Luck's. Luck's specialized in pinto beans and other canned vegetables and food products and employed many Seagrove families. Bought out by American Home Products and then later by Conagra Foods the Luck's plant closed in 2002, but has been re-opened as Seagrove Foods, Inc.
Geography
Seagrove is located at 35°32′32"N 79°46′41"W (35.542167, -79.778114).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 1.37% is water.
The center of population for the state of North Carolina is located approximately 2 miles east of Seagrove.
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 246 people, 109 households, and 69 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 338.8 people per square mile (130.1/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 163.9 per square mile (62.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.12% White, 1.22% African American, 0.81% Native American, 2.85% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.
There were 109 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $19,327 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 $15,824. About 9.0% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Attractions
- http://www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com Museum of North Carolina Traditional Pottery- A non-profit organization promoting the traditional potters of Seagrove and the benefactor of the Seagrove Pottery Festival held the weekend before Thanksgiving each year.
- http://www.discoverseagroveseagrove.com Seagrove Area Potters Association- a non-profit organization representing and marketing the potters and clay artists of Seagrove, NC. Full color map and information available.
- Seagrove - The Potteries Complete list of pottery shops in the Seagrove area; links to area maps.
- NC Pottery Center
- Pisgah Covered Bridge One of only two covered bridges remaining in North Carolina
- Seagrove Orchids Orchid nursery tours
Events
- Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau Visit the Seagrove Community annually the weekend before Thanksgiving to celebrate the Seagrove Pottery Festival and Celebration of Seagrove Potters. Many other events and kiln openings are hosted throughout the year including the Seagrove Fiddler's Convention, Spring Kiln Opening.
External links
- http://www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com Museum of North Carolina Traditional Pottery
- Heart of North Carolina/Seagrove Visitors Bureau
- Official Seagrove Area Travel Guide
- Seagrove Area Potters Association Website
- Seagrove Elementary School