King, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
King, North Carolina
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South Main Street in King
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| Nickname(s):
Gateway To The Foothills
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 King, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| Counties | Stokes, Forsyth | ||
| Incorporated | 1983 | ||
| Named for | Charles and Frances King's Cabin | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6.10 sq mi (15.80 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.04 sq mi (15.66 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,063 ft (324 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,197 | ||
| • Density | 1,190.57/sq mi (459.66/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
27021
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| Area code(s) | 336 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-35760 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404830 | ||
King is a city in North Carolina, located in both Stokes and Forsyth counties. In 2020, about 7,197 people lived there. King is part of the Piedmont Triad area. It is about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Winston-Salem.
Contents
History of King, North Carolina
The city of King was once called "King's Cabin". In the 1830s, a couple named Charles and Francis King lived in a cabin there. They were Quakers and did not believe in slavery. Because of this, the King family moved to the free Northern states.
After the King family left, their cabin became a well-known landmark. People used it to give directions. In 1888, a post office was opened and named King's Cabin. A few years later, the railroad came through and shortened the name to "King" for their business. To avoid confusion, the post office also changed its name to "King" on September 26, 1894. Charles and Francis King never came back to Stokes County. They never knew their old home became the name of a town.
Growth and Development of King
Over time, King grew into a busy community with schools and businesses. The first car arrived by train in October 1911. This led to new highways being built. With better roads and its closeness to Winston-Salem, King began to grow quickly. A new four-lane Highway 52 was built in the 1960s. This helped turn farmland into new neighborhoods.
Local groups acted like a town council. They helped provide important services. These included a fire department and water and sewer systems. On September 13, 1983, King officially became an incorporated city. This was 95 years after the King's Cabin post office first opened.
The King Historic District is a special area in the city. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized for its important history.
Geography and Location
King is mostly in southern Stokes County. Some parts of the city also reach into Forsyth County. U.S. Route 52 is a four-lane highway that runs near the city center. You can get to King from Exit 123.
Downtown Winston-Salem is about 16 miles (26 km) southeast on US 52. Mount Airy is about 21 miles (34 km) to the northwest. There are also beautiful state parks nearby. Pilot Mountain State Park is 8 miles (13 km) northwest. Hanging Rock State Park is 16 miles (26 km) north. You can drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains in about 40 minutes using the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The city covers a total area of about 6.1 square miles (15.8 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 4,059 | — | |
| 2000 | 5,952 | 46.6% | |
| 2010 | 6,904 | 16.0% | |
| 2020 | 7,197 | 4.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 7,156 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 7,197 people living in King. There were 2,956 households and 1,954 families. Most people in King are White (88.88%). Other groups include Black or African American (2.31%), Asian (1.11%), Native American (0.26%), and people of two or more races (3.39%). About 4.04% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Education in King
King has several schools for students.
High Schools
- West Stokes High School
- Meadowbrook Academy
Private School
- Calvary Christian School
Notable People from King
Many interesting people have connections to King.
- Rex L. Baker was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly.
- Tom Baker is a professional bowler.
- Billy J. Boles was a four-star general in the United States Air Force.
- Sam Gibson was a pitcher in MLB (Major League Baseball).
- William C. McGee was also a member of the North Carolina General Assembly.
- Kenny Dennard was a basketball star at Duke University. He also played in the NBA for the KC Kings and the Denver Nuggets.
See also
In Spanish: King (Carolina del Norte) para niños
