Courtney, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Courtney
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 Courtney
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Yadkin |
| Elevation | 902 ft (275 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1019806 |
Courtney is a small community in Yadkin County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of the larger county.
Courtney is located in the southeastern part of Yadkin County. It is near the town of Yadkinville to the north. To the south, it reaches the border of Davie County. The community of Huntsville is to the east, and Lone Hickory is to the west. People living in Courtney use the Yadkinville ZIP code (27055).
Contents
History of Courtney
The history of Courtney is quite interesting. It shows how communities grow and change over time.
How Courtney Got Its Name
The community of Courtney is named after a "Mr. Courtney." He was a teacher who worked at a local school many years ago.
Early Religion in Courtney
Religion was very important to the people of Courtney from the beginning. A church called Cross Roads Baptist Church started in 1835. This was in an area then known as Bryan Settlement. The church was built at a busy crossroads. This road was part of the Great Wagon Road, a historic travel route.
Early church records sometimes called it Chinquapin Cross Roads. This church was special because it held the first Sunday school in all of Yadkin County. In 1952, the church changed its name to Courtney Baptist. It also helped start other Baptist churches nearby. These included Deep Creek, South Oak Ridge, and Turner's Creek.
Gold Mining in Courtney
Did you know there was gold in Courtney? Gold was mined in the area from about 1875 until the 1920s.
Groce Gold Mine
The Groce Gold Mine was one of the first. It operated from 1875 until around 1920.
Dixon Gold Mine
Another mine was the Dixon Gold Mine, located on Wyo Road. It mined gold from 1902 to 1923. Thomas M. Dixon was the first to find gold on this land. He started by panning for gold in streams. Later, he found a vein of gold about three feet underground! Both of these gold mines have been closed for a long time. Today, a company called Vulcan Materials owns land nearby. They use it for a granite quarry, which is a place where stone is dug out of the ground.
Local Businesses in Courtney
Courtney is mostly a rural area with many farms. However, because it's close to a larger city like Winston-Salem, more people are choosing to live there. This means it's becoming a "bedroom community," where people live but often work in a nearby city.
Several local businesses provide jobs for people in the area:
- Hanover Park Vineyard: This was the first licensed winery in Yadkin County since Prohibition ended. It opened in 1999 on Courtney-Huntsville Road. An old farmhouse from 1897 was turned into the vineyard's tasting room.
- Yadkin Valley Telecom: This company has been on Courtney-Huntsville Road since 1971. It's a telephone company that serves about 32,000 customers. They provide phone service in Yadkin County and parts of Davie and Iredell counties.
- J.H. Craver and Son: This business started in 1920. They first made tool handles from hickory wood. In 1960, the company moved to a plant on U.S. Highway 601. Today, they make and import wooden chairs and tables.
- Hibco Plastics: This company makes foam packaging materials. It is also located on U.S. Highway 601.
- Local Stores: Courtney General Store, Courtney Grocery, and Hollars General Store offer everyday items. They provide food and groceries for local residents.
- Reavis Welding & Muffler: This business was established in 1973. You can find more information about them online here.
Education in Courtney
Education is a very important part of the Courtney community.
Courtney Elementary School
Most children in Courtney attend Courtney Elementary School. This public school teaches students from kindergarten through sixth grade. It is located on Courtney-Huntsville Road and is a central part of the community. After sixth grade, students from Courtney Elementary go on to Forbush High School. Forbush High School is located just north of Courtney.
Courtney School first opened in 1927. It was the first standard high school in Yadkin County. However, after schools were combined in 1967, it became an elementary-only school. The school was mostly rebuilt after a special vote in 1986 that provided money for school improvements across the county.
