Connelly Springs, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Connelly Springs
Town
Town hall
Motto(s):  "Growing a Newly Formed Town on the Dreams and the Heritage of its Past"
Location in North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Burke
Area
• Total	4.99 sq mi (12.93 km2)
• Land	4.99 sq mi (12.93 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,263 ft (385 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,529
• Density	306.41/sq mi (118.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28612
FIPS code	37-14280
GNIS feature ID	2406306

Connelly Springs is a small town in Burke County, North Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,529 people lived there. It is part of a larger area called the Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the cities of Hickory, Lenoir, and Morganton.

History of Connelly Springs

The town of Connelly Springs has an interesting past. It was named after one of its first settlers, William Lewis Connelly. He was a colonel in the North Carolina militia.

Early Settlement and a Rest Stop

In 1838, Colonel Connelly built a log home. This home also worked as a "way station." A way station was a place where stagecoaches could stop to get fresh horses. It was also a place for travelers to rest overnight during their long journeys. The stagecoach line ran between Salisbury and Asheville.

A small community started to grow around this way station. It was first known as Happy Home. A post office was also set up there.

The Famous Mineral Spring

Something special happened in 1885. People discovered a mineral spring in the area. A mineral spring is natural water that comes from the ground and contains minerals. Many believed this water could help heal different illnesses.

Mrs. Elmira Connelly, who owned the land, allowed others to use her spring. Soon, people came from far away. They traveled by horse, wagon, and even by train. They wanted to collect the spring water in large glass bottles called demijohns.

The spring became very popular. Because of this, the Connelly Mineral Springs Hotel was built. It was a large hotel with 50 rooms. It stood right by the railroad tracks and close to the famous spring. As more people came, the community grew. It officially became a town called Connelly Springs on May 4, 1920.

Geography of Connelly Springs

Connelly Springs is located in the eastern part of Burke County. It sits next to the town of Rutherford College on its west side. To the north, you'll find Rhodhiss Lake, which is part of the Catawba River.

Major Roads and Travel

A big highway, Interstate 40, runs along the southern edge of the town. This highway makes it easy to travel. You can go about 10 miles east to Hickory. Or, you can go about 10 miles west to Morganton.

U.S. Route 70 is the main local road that goes through the town. The town covers an area of about 12.9 square kilometers (about 5 square miles). All of this area is land.

Population Information

The population of Connelly Springs has changed over the years. In 1930, there were 384 people. The population grew to 1,814 in 2000. By 2020, the number of people living in the town was 1,529.

Who Lives in Connelly Springs?

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 1,529 people living in Connelly Springs. These people lived in 727 households. About 473 of these households were families.

The census also shows the different groups of people living in the town:

See also

In Spanish: Connelly Springs para niños