Ayden, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayden, North Carolina
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Lee Street in Ayden
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| Motto(s):
"A great place to visit, a better place to live."
"A vibrant community with hometown charm" |
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Location of Ayden, North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| County | Pitt | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.81 sq mi (9.88 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.81 sq mi (9.88 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,977 | ||
| • Density | 1,304.93/sq mi (503.83/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
28513
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| Area code(s) | 252 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-02840 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2405193 | ||
| Website | www.ayden.com | ||
Ayden is a small town in Pitt County, North Carolina, USA. In 2020, about 4,977 people lived there. It's part of the larger Greenville area, located in a region called the Inner Banks of North Carolina.
Contents
Geography of Ayden
Ayden covers about 3.84 square miles (9.9 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the town's official area.
History of Ayden
Ayden started in 1891 thanks to a man named William Henry Harris. He asked the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to build a train station on his farm. This station helped create a new village.
Harris divided 40 acres of his land into building lots around the new train depot. This area was first called "Harristown." People soon bought lots and built homes. Businesses also started to open to serve the new residents. On February 3, 1891, the town officially became "Ayden."
Over the next few years, two colleges were built in Ayden: the Carolina Christian College and the Free Will Baptist Seminary. By 1919, Ayden had its own power plant, providing electricity to everyone.
After facing tough times during the Great Depression and World War II, Ayden began to grow again. More businesses, cultural places, and churches opened. The town is still growing today. This is partly because Greenville, a nearby city, is becoming a big center for jobs and business in eastern North Carolina.
The Ayden Historic District, which includes many old and important buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Population of Ayden
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 557 | — | |
| 1910 | 990 | 77.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,673 | 69.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,607 | −3.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,884 | 17.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,282 | 21.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,108 | 36.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,450 | 11.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,361 | 26.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,740 | 8.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,622 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,932 | 6.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,977 | 0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the town of Ayden had 4,977 people living there. There were 2,160 households and 1,230 families.
Education in Ayden
Schools in Ayden are part of the Pitt County Public School System. The three main schools in Ayden are:
- Ayden Elementary School
- Ayden Middle School
- Ayden-Grifton High School
For higher education, Pitt Community College is located between Ayden and Greenville. Also, East Carolina University is in downtown Greenville, not far from Ayden.
Local Events in Ayden
One of Ayden's most famous events is the Ayden Collard Festival. It happens every year in September, right after Labor Day. This festival started in 1975.
The Collard Festival is a fun event that includes:
- The Miss Ayden contest (which used to be called the Collard Queen contest)
- Sporting events
- Fun rides
- Live music
- Lots of food
- A parade
See also
In Spanish: Ayden para niños
