Granite Falls, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Granite Falls, North Carolina
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Downtown Granite Falls, as viewed facing southeast on Main Street
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Location of Granite Falls, North Carolina
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| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Caldwell | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.98 sq mi (12.90 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.94 sq mi (12.79 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,099 ft (335 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,965 | |
| • Density | 1,005.67/sq mi (388.33/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28630
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| Area code(s) | 828 | |
| FIPS code | 37-27420 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406601 | |
Granite Falls is a town located in Caldwell County, North Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,965 people lived there. It's part of a larger area that includes the cities of Hickory, Lenoir, and Morganton.
Contents
History of Granite Falls
The town of Granite Falls gets its name from the way water splashes over large granite rocks. These rocks are found in a stream called Gunpowder Creek.
Back in 1791, a pioneer named Andrew Baird started an iron works business. He built it right next to Gunpowder Creek. Because of this, he became the owner of all the land where Granite Falls is today. This is how the community began to grow.
Granite Falls officially became a town in 1899. Before that, it was known by other names. Some of these names included Baird's Forge, Catawba View, Lovelady, and simply Granite.
In 1952, a woman named Evelyn Kent was elected as the Mayor of Granite Falls. She served from 1952 to 1954. She was one of the first women to become a mayor in the state of North Carolina.
Geography and Location
Granite Falls is located near the southern edge of Caldwell County. To the south, it shares a border with the town of Rhodhiss. To the southwest, you'll find Lake Rhodhiss, which is part of the Catawba River. The town of Sawmills is to the west.
The main part of Granite Falls sits on a high area. This area is between the Catawba River on the west side and Gunpowder Creek on the east. Gunpowder Creek flows into the Catawba River.
U.S. Route 321 is a major highway that runs through the eastern part of town. This highway has four lanes. If you go southeast on US 321, it's about 6 miles to Hickory. If you go northwest, it's about 10 miles to Lenoir, which is the main town in Caldwell County. Another road, US 321 Alternate, goes right through the center of Granite Falls. It is known as North and South Main Street.
The town covers a total area of about 5.25 square miles (13.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 5.21 square miles (13.5 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Population of Granite Falls
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 277 | — | |
| 1910 | 381 | 37.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,101 | 189.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,147 | 95.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,873 | −12.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,286 | 22.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,644 | 15.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,388 | −9.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,580 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,253 | 26.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,612 | 41.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,722 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,965 | 5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Granite Falls has grown a lot over the years. In 1900, there were only 277 people living there. By 2020, the population had increased to 4,965 people.
2020 Census Information
According to the 2020 United States census, there were 4,965 people living in Granite Falls. These people made up 1,799 households. Out of these, 1,344 were families.
The census also collects information about different groups of people. Here's a quick look at the racial makeup of Granite Falls in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 4,189 | 84.37% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 164 | 3.3% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 39 | 0.79% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 223 | 4.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 337 | 6.79% |
Schools in Granite Falls
Granite Falls and the surrounding area have several schools for students of all ages.
High School
- South Caldwell High School (located in Hudson)
Middle School
- Granite Falls Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Baton Elementary School
- Dudley Shoals Elementary School
- Granite Falls Elementary School
- Sawmills Elementary School
Alternative School
- Gateway School (for grades 6–12)
Local Media
Granite Falls has a few local radio stations that serve the community:
- Kicks 103.3
- WJRI, News Talk 1340 WJRI
- WKGX, AM 1080 WKGX
- WYCV AM 900
- WAIZ, "63 Big Ways", AM 630 (plays oldies music from the 1950s and 1960s)
Famous People from Granite Falls
Many notable people have connections to Granite Falls:
- Madison Bumgarner – A professional baseball pitcher who won the World Series three times. He was also named the MVP in 2014.
- Eric Church – A well-known country music singer and songwriter.
- Charlie Cozart – A former professional baseball player.
- Jack Curtis – Another former professional baseball player.
- Sara Payne Hayden – A member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II.
- Donnie Kirkpatrick – A coach in college football.
- Cyndee Peters – An American-Swedish gospel singer and author.
- Edgar V. Starnes – A politician and someone who invested in real estate.
- Amy H. Sturgis – An author, speaker, and expert in science fiction/fantasy and Native American studies.
- Jeff Triplette – A former NFL referee.
- Maxie Williams – A former offensive lineman in the NFL.
See also
In Spanish: Granite Falls (Carolina del Norte) para niños
