Jefferson, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson, North Carolina
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Town hall
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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Location within Ashe County
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| Country |  United States |
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| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Ashe | |
| Founded | as Jeffersonton (1799) as Jefferson (1799) |
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| Named for | Thomas Jefferson | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.12 sq mi (5.48 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.11 sq mi (5.47 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,907 ft (886 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,622 | |
| • Density | 767.63/sq mi (296.33/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
28640
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| Area code(s) | 336, 743 | |
| FIPS code | 37-34440 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405910 | |
Jefferson is a small town located in Ashe County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's the main town, also known as the county seat, for Ashe County. In 2020, about 1,622 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Jefferson's History
The town of Jefferson has a long history, starting way back in 1799. The government of North Carolina decided Ashe County needed a main town.
How Jefferson Got Its Name
A special group was formed to find a good spot for the new town. They bought about 50 acres of land. This land became the town of Jeffersonton. Soon after, its name was shortened to Jefferson.
It's one of the very first towns in the entire country to be named after Thomas Jefferson. He was the vice president of the United States when the town was founded in 1799.
Historic Places in Jefferson
Jefferson is home to some important historic spots. The Ashe County Courthouse and the Poe Fish Weir are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as special places that are important to the history of the country.
Exploring Jefferson's Geography
Jefferson is nestled in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. These mountains stretch across many parts of eastern North America.
Waterways and Land Area
The town covers about 2.12 square miles (5.48 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny bit, about 0.004 square miles (0.01 square kilometers), is water. The New River flows right through Jefferson. This river is very old and beautiful. It's part of a larger river system that eventually flows into the Ohio River.
Understanding Jefferson's Climate
Because Jefferson is high up in the mountains, it has a special kind of weather called a subtropical highland climate. This means it has mild temperatures.
Winter and Summer Weather
In winter, Jefferson often gets snow and feels quite cold. It can be similar to the weather in the northeastern parts of the United States. During the summer, the town usually has cooler temperatures and less humidity. This makes it a pleasant place to be compared to areas further east or south.
Temperature Extremes in Jefferson
- The coldest month is January, with an average high temperature of 32.6°F (0.3°C).
- The warmest month is July, with an average high temperature of 69.5°F (20.8°C).
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Jefferson was -20°F (-29°C) in December 1917. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 98°F (37°C) in August 1925.
| Climate data for Jefferson, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
77 (25) |
85 (29) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
95 (35) |
88 (31) |
79 (26) |
83 (28) |
98 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.3 (6.3) |
46.6 (8.1) |
53.5 (11.9) |
63.1 (17.3) |
71.2 (21.8) |
78.0 (25.6) |
81.0 (27.2) |
80.2 (26.8) |
75.2 (24.0) |
65.5 (18.6) |
55.4 (13.0) |
47.0 (8.3) |
63.3 (17.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.6 (0.3) |
35.3 (1.8) |
41.4 (5.2) |
49.7 (9.8) |
58.2 (14.6) |
65.7 (18.7) |
69.5 (20.8) |
68.4 (20.2) |
62.7 (17.1) |
52.0 (11.1) |
42.0 (5.6) |
35.7 (2.1) |
51.1 (10.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
36.3 (2.4) |
45.3 (7.4) |
53.4 (11.9) |
58.0 (14.4) |
56.6 (13.7) |
50.3 (10.2) |
38.5 (3.6) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
38.9 (3.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −15 (−26) |
−13 (−25) |
2 (−17) |
7 (−14) |
22 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
36 (2) |
33 (1) |
26 (−3) |
14 (−10) |
−5 (−21) |
−20 (−29) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.91 (99) |
3.28 (83) |
4.06 (103) |
4.78 (121) |
5.34 (136) |
4.44 (113) |
4.79 (122) |
4.65 (118) |
4.35 (110) |
3.71 (94) |
3.61 (92) |
4.03 (102) |
50.95 (1,294) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.3 (11) |
3.3 (8.4) |
2.9 (7.4) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
3.7 (9.4) |
14.4 (37) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.4 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 8.0 | 95.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Understanding Jefferson's Population
Every ten years, the United States counts how many people live in each town. This is called a census. It helps us understand how towns are growing and changing.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 128 | — | |
| 1880 | 196 | — | |
| 1890 | 413 | 110.7% | |
| 1900 | 230 | −44.3% | |
| 1910 | 184 | −20.0% | |
| 1920 | 196 | 6.5% | |
| 1930 | 266 | 35.7% | |
| 1940 | 304 | 14.3% | |
| 1950 | 359 | 18.1% | |
| 1960 | 814 | 126.7% | |
| 1970 | 943 | 15.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,086 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,300 | 19.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,422 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,611 | 13.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,622 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
The most recent count was in 2020. At that time, 1,622 people lived in Jefferson. These people made up 615 households, with 340 of those being families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,416 | 87.3% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 18 | 1.11% |
| Native American | 8 | 0.49% |
| Asian | 13 | 0.8% |
| Other/Mixed | 47 | 2.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 120 | 7.4% |
Notable People from Jefferson
- Charles M. Bishop: He was a college professor and a Methodist minister. He also worked as an academic administrator.
See also
In Spanish: Jefferson (Carolina del Norte) para niños
