Bostic, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bostic, North Carolina
Town
Town hall
Location of Bostic, North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Rutherford
Area
• Total	0.93 sq mi (2.42 km2)
• Land	0.93 sq mi (2.42 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	915 ft (279 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	355
• Density	380.49/sq mi (146.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28018
Area code	828
FIPS code	37-07220
GNIS feature ID	2405305
Website	https://townofbostic.com

Bostic is a small town located in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 355 people lived there.

History of Bostic

The area where Bostic is now was first called Black Oak. Later, its name changed to Bostick, and then finally to Bostic. The town was named after George T. Bostic. He was an important businessman and a respected person in the community. His son, William Chivous Bostic Sr., grew up to be a skilled doctor and researcher. He studied how diseases spread.

In 1904, a man named George W. Jones started the Valdesian Nurseries in Bostic. A nursery is a place where plants are grown and sold. His nursery began on a small piece of land, but it grew very quickly. In less than 20 years, it covered 200 acres! The nursery mainly grew special and rare plants to sell to other businesses. It had offices, storage areas, and greenhouses. It was also conveniently located right next to the railroad.

Some old and important buildings in Bostic are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Bostic Charge Parsonage, the Melton-Davis House, and the Washburn Historic District.

Geography of Bostic

Bostic is a small town that covers about 0.9 square miles (2.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

Population Changes in Bostic

The number of people living in Bostic has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:

In the year 2000, there were 328 people living in Bostic. Most of the people were White (about 93%). A smaller number were African American (about 4%) or Asian (about 1%).

Abraham Lincoln and Bostic

Some people believe that Abraham Lincoln, a famous American president, was born near Bostic. They say he was born on a place called Puzzle Creek. The Bostic Lincoln Center shares ideas from historians and writers who think Lincoln was born five years earlier than most people believe. These stories suggest he was born to his mother, Nancy Hanks, and only took the name Lincoln later when she moved to Kentucky with him as a baby. Some historical accounts even name different men as his father.

Railroad History in Bostic

The Bostic Lincoln Center and a SCL caboose

Bostic has always been an important stop for trains. It was a place where train crews would switch shifts for the Seaboard Air Line (which later became Seaboard Coast Line, and now CSXT). Bostic was also a key point for the Clinchfield Railroad.

Today, CSXT still uses the old train yard just northwest of town. You can see a special train car called a caboose on display in the center of Bostic. It's painted in the colors of the 1970s Family Lines System. Bostic was almost chosen as the very end of the Clinchfield Railroad line, but Spartanburg, South Carolina was chosen instead.

Notable People from Bostic

• William Chivous Bostic Sr. – He was a well-known doctor and the son of the person Bostic was named after.
• Merle Davis Umstead – She served as the First Lady of North Carolina.
• Phil Prince – He was the 12th president of Clemson University.
• Lewis Jolley – He was a running back (a type of player) for the Houston Oilers football team.

See also

In Spanish: Bostic para niños