Bear Grass, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bear Grass, North Carolina
|
|
|---|---|
 Bear Grass, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Martin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.25 sq mi (0.66 km2) |
| • Land | 0.25 sq mi (0.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 89 |
| • Density | 350.39/sq mi (135.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
27892
|
| Area code(s) | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-04180 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405220 |
Bear Grass is a small town located in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. It's a quiet place with a unique history and a special annual festival. In 2020, about 89 people lived there.
Contents
Geography of Bear Grass
The town of Bear Grass covers a small area. It is about 0.25 square miles (0.66 square kilometers) in size. All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the town's borders.
People of Bear Grass
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 56 | — | |
| 1920 | 108 | 92.9% | |
| 1930 | 131 | 21.3% | |
| 1940 | 114 | −13.0% | |
| 1950 | 128 | 12.3% | |
| 1960 | 103 | −19.5% | |
| 1970 | 99 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 82 | −17.2% | |
| 1990 | 77 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 53 | −31.2% | |
| 2010 | 73 | 37.7% | |
| 2020 | 89 | 21.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in Bear Grass has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 53 people living in the town. These people lived in 26 different homes. Most residents were White.
About 15% of the homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes were married couples living together. Some homes had a female head of household without a husband. Others were individuals living alone.
The average age of people in Bear Grass in 2000 was 54 years old. About 15% of the population was under 18. About 24% of the population was 65 years or older.
History of Bear Grass
How Bear Grass Got Its Name
The town of Bear Grass is named after a plant called Bear Grass. This plant is a type of yucca, which is a spiky, grass-like plant. It grows commonly in the area and usually stays less than two feet tall.
Early Settlers and Life
One of the first people to settle here was John Swinson. He received a large piece of land in 1761. The Bear Grass Swamp was part of his property. Many early settlers were farmers. They grew crops like cotton and corn. They also raised animals such as sheep, cattle, and hogs.
Farmers often made extra money by making shingles (for roofs) and other wood crafts. They also produced tar and turpentine from the many trees in the forests.
Growth of the Community
The Bear Grass community started to grow after the American Civil War. A public school made of logs was built in the late 1860s. In the 1880s, Reuben H. Rogerson opened a general store. More stores and a blacksmith shop followed in the early 1900s.
However, the community's growth was slow at first. This was because it wasn't located near a river where boats could travel. It also wasn't on any of the main railroad lines in Martin County. A post office opened in 1885 but closed less than two years later.
Becoming an Official Town
By the early 1900s, Bear Grass had several businesses. These included places that made alcohol, cotton gins (machines that separate cotton fibers), sawmills, and blacksmith shops. Reuben H. Rogerson had a large sawmill and cotton gin that was powered by steam. It was destroyed by fire in 1908.
The community grew a lot in the first ten years of the 20th century. In 1909, the town's business owners decided to officially make Bear Grass a town. On February 16, 1909, the state government granted a charter to the town of Bear Grass.
Unique Town Shape
When Bear Grass became a town, its boundary was set in a very unusual way. The town limits formed a perfect circle. This circle had a radius of 500 yards (about 457 meters) from a specific white oak tree. This tree was near some stores. Bear Grass is one of the few towns in North Carolina with this circular shape, and it still has these limits today.
Local Art and Statues
A local artist named Henry C. Cowen created two statues for the Bear Grass School campus. In 1981, he sculpted a "rampant bear" statue. This statue stands in front of the school. He also created a statue of George Washington. This statue is in front of the Yucca House, which used to be where the school teachers lived. The George Washington statue was made in 1987 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. Cowen also made several statues of soldiers for war memorials in the town.
Chicken Mull Festival
Since 2014, Bear Grass has hosted an annual Chicken Mull Festival. Chicken mull is a special local dish. It's a comfort food made with cooked chicken, broth, crushed soda crackers, chopped boiled eggs, and seasonings. The festival happens every fall. It includes selling local goods, fundraising for local groups, and, of course, selling chicken mull. There are also musical performances by gospel, country, and bluegrass bands.
Education
Bear Grass has its own school called Bear Grass Charter School.
See also
In Spanish: Bear Grass para niños
