Garner, North Carolina Facts for Kids

Garner is a town located in Wake County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's like a neighbor to the bigger city of Raleigh. In 2020, about 31,159 people lived here.

Even though Garner is mostly in Wake County, some nearby areas also use a Garner mailing address. This includes parts of unincorporated Wake County and the Cleveland community in Johnston County. Garner is part of the Research Triangle region, which is known for its universities and technology companies. Many people who live in Garner work in other parts of this region.

Where is Garner Located?
How Many People Live in Garner?
- Garner's Population in 2020
A Look at Garner's History
Where Do People Work in Garner?
Getting Around Garner
Schools in Garner
Famous People from Garner
See also

Where is Garner Located?

Garner is entirely within Wake County. The town covers about 18.32 square miles (47.44 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Some areas outside the official town limits also have Garner addresses. This includes parts of Wake County and Johnston County.

How Many People Live in Garner?

Garner has grown a lot over the years! Here's how the population has changed:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	284	—
1920	376	32.4%
1930	476	26.6%
1940	768	61.3%
1950	1,180	53.6%
1960	3,451	192.5%
1970	4,923	42.7%
1980	10,073	104.6%
1990	14,967	48.6%
2000	17,757	18.6%
2010	25,745	45.0%
2020	31,159	21.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Garner's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 31,159 people living in Garner. These people lived in 11,642 households, with 7,637 of them being families.

The town is home to people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial makeup of Garner in 2020:

Garner racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	15,905	51.04%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	9,163	29.41%
Native American	132	0.42%
Asian	681	2.19%
Pacific Islander	17	0.05%
Other/Mixed	1,468	4.71%
Hispanic or Latino	3,793	12.17%

A Look at Garner's History

The area around Garner was first settled around 1751. In the 1850s, a railroad was built through the region. This led to a stop being created in what is now downtown Garner. This stop was called Garner's Station.

The community officially became a town in 1883. However, its town status was removed in 1891. Luckily, in 1905, Garner became a town again! The first mayor was J.B. Richardson.

In 1912, the telephone came to Garner, connecting people in new ways. A major road, US 70, was built through the town in 1917. It was the first paved highway in North Carolina.

Some important historic places in Garner are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Downtown Garner Historic District, Edenwood, and Meadowbrook Country Club.

Where Do People Work in Garner?

Garner has many different types of jobs. Here are some of the biggest employers in the town:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Wake County Public School System	1,280
2	Pepsi Bottling Ventures	400
3	Walmart	350
4	Lowe's Home Improvement	335
5	Sigma Electric Mfg Corp	300
6	Target	290
7	Hamlin Company	250
8	Food Lion	220
9	Ameri Gas	198
10	Town of Garner	170

In 2020, a large Amazon warehouse opened in Garner. It is expected to create many new jobs for the area.

Getting Around Garner

Roads and Highways

Several important roads and highways help people travel in and out of Garner:

Interstate 40 runs near Garner. You can get to the town from several exits.
U.S. 70 is the main east-west highway. Many businesses and shopping centers are located along this road.
U.S. 401 and N.C. 50 also pass through or near Garner.
N.C. 42 is south of Garner and serves many nearby areas.
Local roads like Timber Drive and Garner Road help connect different parts of the town.

Buses and Public Transport

Garner has bus services provided by GoRaleigh. Routes 7 and 40x serve shopping areas. Route 20 connects downtown Garner to downtown Raleigh and other important spots like the Town Hall and libraries.

There's also a special service called GoWake Access. It helps seniors and people with disabilities get around if they can't use regular buses.

Trains and Air Travel

While Amtrak trains pass through Garner, they don't stop there. The closest train station is in Raleigh.

For flying, the nearest big airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Smaller airports for private planes are also nearby.

Schools in Garner

Students in Garner attend schools that are part of the Wake County Public School System. Some schools are within Garner's town limits, while others are close by.

Here are some of the schools that serve students in and around Garner:

Aversboro Elementary School
Bryan Road Elementary School
Creech Road Elementary School
East Garner Elementary School
Rand Road Elementary School
Smith Magnet Elementary School
Timber Drive Elementary School
Vandora Springs Elementary School
Vance Elementary School
East Garner Middle School
North Garner Middle School
Garner Magnet High School
South Garner High School

Some students in areas with Garner addresses attend schools in Johnston County:

Polenta Elementary School
West View Elementary School
Cleveland Middle School

Famous People from Garner

Many talented people have come from Garner, North Carolina! Here are a few:

Brandon Banks, a wide receiver and return specialist in the Canadian Football League.
Chris Culliver, an NFL cornerback.
Nyheim Hines, an NFL running back.
Scotty McCreery, the winner of American Idol season 10.
John Wall, an NBA player.
David West, an NBA player.

Garner, North Carolina facts for kids

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