Cramerton, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cramerton, North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
Location of Cramerton, North Carolina
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  North Carolina |
|
| County | Gaston | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Commissioner-Manager Form of Government | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.94 sq mi (12.80 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.64 sq mi (12.03 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2) | |
| Elevation | 571 ft (174 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 5,296 | |
| • Density | 1,140.64/sq mi (440.38/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28032 and a portion of 28012
|
|
| Area code(s) | 704 | |
| FIPS code | 37-15260 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406332 | |
Cramerton is a small town located in Gaston County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's like a neighborhood of the bigger city of Charlotte, and it's also east of Gastonia. In 2010, about 4,165 people lived here. By 2020, the population grew to 5,296 people.
One famous part of Cramerton is the Cramer Mountain area. It has fancy homes built around an 18-hole golf course at the Cramer Mountain Country Club.
Contents
Where is Cramerton Located?
Cramerton is about 571 feet (174 meters) above sea level. There are two higher spots nearby: Berry Mountain, which is 922 feet (281 meters) high, and Cramer Mountain, about 850 feet (259 meters) high. Both are in the southwestern part of town.
The town covers about 4.94 square miles (12.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.30 square miles (0.78 square kilometers) is water.
The South Fork Catawba River flows right through Cramerton, making a big S-shape around the town center. Another stream, Duharts Creek, joins the South Fork Catawba just southwest of downtown.
Cramerton is located about seven miles east of Gastonia and 16 miles west of Charlotte.
A Look Back: Cramerton's History
Cramerton was first called Mayesworth. It was started in 1906 when J.H. Mayes built a spinning mill. This mill was located along the South Fork of the Catawba River.
In 1910, a textile engineer named Stuart W. Cramer took over the mill and the land around it. He wanted to make the mill and the community a perfect example of a "mill village." In 1921, Cramer changed the town's name to Cramerton. The mill became Cramerton Mills in 1922. He also built another mill, the Mayflower Weave Mill, in 1923.
Stuart W. Cramer was very important in the textile world. He helped design and set up many new cotton mills in the South between 1895 and 1915. He also owned many textile mills himself. Cramer even invented the "Cramer System of Air Conditioning." This system helped control temperature and humidity in factories. It was mainly used to remove lint (tiny fibers) from the air in textile mills. The term "air conditioning" is actually said to have been created by Cramer!
In 1946, the mills and the homes were sold to a company called Burlington Industries. Later, Burlington Industries sold the homes to the people who lived in them. The Town of Cramerton officially became its own town in 1967. This meant it could start providing services to its residents.
The Mayworth School building is an important historical site in Cramerton. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Who Lives in Cramerton?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 3,211 | — | |
| 1960 | 3,123 | −2.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,142 | −31.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,869 | −12.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,371 | 26.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,976 | 25.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,165 | 40.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,296 | 27.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of 2020, there were 5,296 people living in Cramerton. These people lived in 1,637 households, and 1,165 of those were families.
Jobs and Businesses in Cramerton
For a long time, the textile industry was the most important part of Cramerton's economy. However, as companies started making things all over the world, many local textile factories closed down. This made things tough for the town's economy. For example, Burlington Industries, which owned the old Cramerton Mills, went out of business in 2001.
But in recent years, Cramerton has started to grow and improve. Since it's close to Gaston and Charlotte, many people who live in Cramerton can work in other industries. These include jobs in banking, technology, tourism, and retail.
In downtown Cramerton, you'll find many restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. There are also fun places like Centennial Park, which has a Veteran's Memorial, and Goat Island Park. You can get to Goat Island Park by two footbridges. These parks help bring visitors to the area, which supports local businesses.
Getting Around Cramerton
The main roads that go through Cramerton from east to west are U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 74. North Carolina Highway 279 forms the southwestern edge of the town.
Trains that carry goods use the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks here. While Amtrak passenger trains also use these tracks, the closest station for passengers is in Charlotte.
You can also take a bus from nearby Belmont to uptown Charlotte. The closest airport is Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, which is about 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) east of Cramerton.
Learning in Cramerton
Public schools in Cramerton are part of the Gaston County Schools system.
Younger students in elementary school might go to New Hope Elementary, J.B. Page Elementary, Belmont Central Elementary, McAdenville Elementary, or Gardner Park Elementary.
Most middle school students attend Cramerton Middle School. Some students might go to Holbrook Middle School or Belmont Middle School.
High school students usually attend Stuart W. Cramer High School. Even though the school is in Cramerton, its mailing address is Belmont.
There is also a private school called Cramerton Christian Academy. It offers classes for students from Pre-K all the way through 12th grade.
Fun and Recreation
Cramerton has a long history of golfing. The town's founder, Stuart W. Cramer, even built a golf course on Cramer Mountain. This course is still open today and is part of the Cramer Mountain Club. It was designed by a famous golf course architect named Dan Maples.
Since the town is on the South Fork Catawba River, water sports are popular here. People enjoy kayaking and canoeing. Goat Island Park in Cramerton also has an 18-hole Disc Golf course for people to play.
Interesting Places to See
The Mayworth School building, located at 236 Eighth Avenue, is a special historical site in Cramerton. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous People From Cramerton
- Stuart W. Cramer (1868–1940) – He was an American engineer and inventor who founded the town of Cramerton.
- Perry Fewell – A football coach who has worked in the National Football League.
- Rube Melton (1917–1971) – A baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball.
- George Tinkham (1870–1956) – A Congressman who lived in Cramerton for a long time.
See also
In Spanish: Cramerton (Carolina del Norte) para niños
