Caswell County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caswell County
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Old Caswell County Courthouse in Yanceyville
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| Motto(s):
"Preserving the Past – Embracing the Future"
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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 North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| Founded | June 1, 1777 | |
| Named for | Richard Caswell | |
| Seat | Yanceyville | |
| Largest community | Yanceyville | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 428.71 sq mi (1,110.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 425.37 sq mi (1,101.7 km2) | |
| • Water | 3.34 sq mi (8.7 km2) 0.78% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,736 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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22,807 | |
| • Density | 53.45/sq mi (20.64/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 4th, 6th | |
Caswell County is a county in the state of North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Piedmont Triad region. In 2020, about 22,736 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Yanceyville.
Caswell County borders Virginia to the north. It was created in 1777 from Orange County. The county is named after Richard Caswell, who was the first governor of North Carolina. Other communities in Caswell County include Blanch, Casville, Leasburg, Milton, Pelham, Prospect Hill, Providence, and Semora.
The Dan River flows through parts of the county. Hyco Lake is a popular spot for fun activities and an important source of water.
Contents
History of Caswell County
Caswell County was formed in 1777 from the northern part of Orange County. It was named after Richard Caswell, who was the Governor of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780. The first county seat was Leasburg.
In 1792, the eastern half of Caswell County became Person County. After this change, the county government moved to a more central place. This new county seat was first called Caswell Court House. Later, its name was changed to Yanceyville.
Many important political leaders came from Caswell County. These leaders helped shape laws for North Carolina. For example, Bartlett Yancey, Jr., was a powerful speaker in the North Carolina Senate for many years.
A big change for the region happened in Caswell County when the Slade family found a new way to cure tobacco. This "bright-leaf" process made the tobacco industry much bigger and brought a lot of money to the area.
The local newspaper, "The Caswell Messenger," has been around for over 85 years and is now available online.
Geography and Nature
Caswell County covers about 428 square miles. Most of this area, about 425 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.3 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Areas
Caswell County shares borders with these other counties and cities:
- Danville, Virginia - north
- Pittsylvania County, Virginia - north
- Halifax County, Virginia - northeast
- Person County - east
- Orange County - southeast
- Alamance County - southwest
- Rockingham County - west
Main Roads
Many important roads pass through Caswell County, connecting it to other places:
US 29
US 158
NC 49
NC 57
NC 62
NC 86
NC 87
NC 119
NC 150
NC 700
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 10,096 | — | |
| 1800 | 8,701 | −13.8% | |
| 1810 | 11,757 | 35.1% | |
| 1820 | 13,253 | 12.7% | |
| 1830 | 15,185 | 14.6% | |
| 1840 | 14,693 | −3.2% | |
| 1850 | 15,269 | 3.9% | |
| 1860 | 16,215 | 6.2% | |
| 1870 | 16,081 | −0.8% | |
| 1880 | 17,825 | 10.8% | |
| 1890 | 16,028 | −10.1% | |
| 1900 | 15,028 | −6.2% | |
| 1910 | 14,858 | −1.1% | |
| 1920 | 15,759 | 6.1% | |
| 1930 | 18,214 | 15.6% | |
| 1940 | 20,032 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 20,870 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 19,912 | −4.6% | |
| 1970 | 19,055 | −4.3% | |
| 1980 | 20,705 | 8.7% | |
| 1990 | 20,693 | −0.1% | |
| 2000 | 23,501 | 13.6% | |
| 2010 | 23,719 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 22,736 | −4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 22,807 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, Caswell County had 22,736 people living there. There were 9,145 households and 6,570 families.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 14,036 | 61.73% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 6,804 | 29.93% |
| Native American | 65 | 0.29% |
| Asian | 61 | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander | 13 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 755 | 3.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,002 | 4.41% |
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 23,719 people living in Caswell County. The average age was about 42.8 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 103.7 males.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 14,513 | 61.19% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 7,991 | 33.69% |
| Native American | 70 | 0.30% |
| Asian | 60 | 0.25% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 337 | 1.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 744 | 3.14% |
Economy and Jobs
Caswell County's economy has always been based on farming. While tobacco was once very important, farming is now growing in new ways. The county's good location, business properties, and lower property taxes have helped new businesses start and grow.
Farmers in Caswell County grow many crops like hemp, tobacco, soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, barley, and hay. They also raise animals like beef cattle, sheep, swine, and chickens. The county also has natural resources like soapstone, graphite, and mica.
The NC Cooperative Extension in Yanceyville helps local farms and food businesses. They share important research and new technology. The Caswell County Local Foods Council runs the Caswell Farmers' Market in Yanceyville. They also start community projects related to food.
The county has two industrial parks: Pelham Industrial Park and Caswell County Industrial Park. These parks offer space for businesses. CoSquare, a shared workspace in downtown Yanceyville, helps new business owners. The biggest industries in Yanceyville are hotels and restaurants, healthcare, and manufacturing. Factories here make things like clothes and electronics.
Caswell County is close to the larger Piedmont Triad area, Danville, Virginia, and the Research Triangle. This means people living in Caswell County can easily get to many shops, services, fun places, and jobs in these nearby areas.
Infrastructure and Transportation
Utilities
- Electricity in Caswell County is provided by Duke Energy and Piedmont Electric Cooperative.
- Brightspeed provides telephone and broadband internet services.
- Comcast also offers broadband internet and cable television.
- Wireless phone service is available from AT&T Mobility, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless.
Transportation
_entering_Caswell_County,_North_Carolina_from_Danville,_Virginia.jpg)
Major Roads
Here are some of the main highways in Caswell County:
Future I-785- US 29
US 29 Bus.
US 58- US 158
- NC 49
- NC 57
- NC 62
- NC 86
- NC 87
- NC 119
- NC 150
- NC 700
The closest major interstate highways are Interstate 40 and Interstate 85. They are about 14 miles south of the county in Graham. When Interstate 785 is finished, it will go through Caswell County near Pelham.
Airports
Several airports are located near Caswell County:
- Yanceyville Municipal Airport (in the county)
- Danville Regional Airport, about 15 miles north of Yanceyville
- Person County Airport, about 26 miles southeast of Yanceyville
- Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport, about 29 miles southwest of Yanceyville
- Piedmont Triad International Airport, about 46 miles southwest of Yanceyville
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport, about 56 miles southeast of Yanceyville
Train Station
The Danville station is about 14 miles north of Yanceyville.
Public Transportation
The Caswell County Area Transportation System (CATS) provides public transit services.
Education in Caswell County
Higher Education
Piedmont Community College has a campus in Yanceyville.
Schools for Kids
The Caswell County public school system has six schools for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. There is one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools:
- Bartlett Yancey High School
- N.L. Dillard Middle School
- North Elementary School
- Oakwood Elementary School
- South Elementary School
- Stoney Creek Elementary School
Healthcare Services
Here are some healthcare providers in Caswell County:
- Caswell Family Medical Center
- Sovah Family Medicine-Yanceyville
- Yanceyville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
- Caswell House
Parks and Fun Activities
Caswell County has many outdoor places for fun and recreation:
- Animal Park at the Conservators Center (a place to see animals)
- The Dan River (great for water activities)
- Hyco Lake (a popular spot near Semora)
- Person Caswell Recreation Park
- Maud F. Gatewood Municipal Park (in Yanceyville)
- S.R. Farmer Lake
- Cherokee Scout Reservation's Boy Scouts of America camp
- Yanceyville Park/Memorial Park
- Caswell Community Arboretum
- Caswell County Parks & Recreation Center
- Caswell Pines Golf Club
- Caswell Game Land (a large area for outdoor activities)
- Country Line Creek
- Hyco Creek
The Caswell County Department of Parks & Recreation offers many indoor and outdoor activities and sports programs. The Caswell Senior Center in Yanceyville also has fitness facilities.
Arts and Culture
Caswell County hosts two big festivals each year: the "Bright Leaf Hoedown" and the "Spring Fling." The Bright Leaf Hoedown is a one-day festival in late September in downtown Yanceyville. It has local food, live music, crafts, and usually draws over 5,000 visitors. The Spring Fling is a two-day event in late April or early May, held at the Providence Volunteer Fire Department.
The Caswell County Historical Association holds its annual Heritage Festival in Yanceyville every May. This festival celebrates the county's history with tours, reenactments, games, and live music.
Downtown Yanceyville's historic district has an old courthouse designed by William Percival. It also features other examples of old architecture. Several historic homes and places in Caswell County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Yanceyville Historic District, Bartlett Yancey House, and John Johnston House.
Other historic places listed on the National Register include Warren House and Warren's Store in Prospect Hill, the Garland-Buford House and James Malone House near Leasburg, Wildwood near Semora, and Woodside near Milton.
Caswell County also has many cultural attractions:
- Caswell Council for the Arts (in Yanceyville)
- Caswell County Civic Center (in Yanceyville)
- Caswell County Veterans Memorial (in Yanceyville)
- Caswell Farmers' Market (in Yanceyville)
- Caswell Horticulture Club
- Gunn Memorial Public Library (in Yanceyville)
- Milton Historic District
- Milton Renaissance Foundation Museum & Visitors Center
- Milton Studio Art Gallery
- Piedmont Triad Visitor Center (in Pelham)
- Old Caswell County Jail (in Yanceyville)
- Old Poteat School/Poteat One-Room School (in Yanceyville)
- Red House Presbyterian Church (in Semora)
- Richmond-Miles History Museum (in Yanceyville)
- Shangri-La Miniature Stone Village (in Prospect Hill)
- Thomas Day House and Union Tavern (in Milton)
- Town of Yanceyville Public Safety Memorial
- Yanceyville Museum of Art
- Yanceyville Pavilion
- Yanceyville's municipal water tower
- Yoder's Country Market (in Yanceyville)
The Caswell County Civic Center in Yanceyville has a large stage and an auditorium with 912 seats. It also has rooms for meetings and banquets. The Civic Center is used for concerts, plays, and other social events. It also has an art gallery in its lobby.
The Gunn Memorial Public Library in Yanceyville offers summer reading programs for children of all ages.
Communities in Caswell County
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially towns:
Townships
Caswell County is divided into these townships:
- Anderson
- Hightowers
- Leasburg
- Locust Hill
- Providence
- Milton
- Pelham
- Stoney Creek
- Yanceyville
Notable People from Caswell County
Academics
- A. Oveta Fuller (1955–2022), a professor of microbiology at the University of Michigan Medical School.
- Henry Lee Graves (1813–1881), who was president of Baylor University.
- William Louis Poteat (1856–1938), a biology professor and president of Wake Forest University. He was an early supporter of evolution.
- Henry Roland Totten (1892–1974), a botanist (someone who studies plants).
Art, Literature, and Music
- The Badgett Sisters, a folk and gospel music group.
- Max Drake (born 1952), a musician.
- Maud Gatewood (1934–2004), an artist.
- Mel Melton, a musician.
- Ida Isabella Poteat (1858–1940), an artist and teacher.
- Moses Roper (1815–1891), an African American who spoke out against slavery and wrote books.
- Ray Scott (born 1969), a country music singer.
- Carolina Slim (1923–1953), a blues guitarist and singer.
- Hazel Smith (1934–2018), a country music journalist, songwriter, and TV/radio host.
Athletes
- Mic'hael Brooks (born 1991), a former NFL (National Football League) player.
- John Gunn (1939–2010), a race car driver.
- Lee Pulliam (born 1988), a stock car racing driver.
- Neal Watlington (1922–2019), an MLB (Major League Baseball) player.
- Carl Willis (born 1960), a former MLB player and current pitching coach.
Business Leaders
- Thomas Day (1801–1861), a skilled free Black furniture maker.
- Edmund Richardson (1818–1886), an entrepreneur who worked with cotton.
- Samuel Simeon Fels (1860–1950), a businessman and philanthropist (someone who gives money to good causes).
Other Notable People
- Oscar Penn Fitzgerald (1829–1911), a Methodist religious leader, writer, and educator.
- Henrietta Phelps Jeffries (1857–1926), an African American midwife and a founder of Macedonia AME Church.
- Peter U. Murphey (1810–1876), a naval officer during the Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Caswell para niños
