Leasburg, North Carolina facts for kids
Leasburg is a small community in Caswell County, North Carolina, in the United States. A small part of it is also in Person County, North Carolina. In 2010, about 1,662 people lived there. Leasburg was named after William Lea, who lived there for a long time. You can find Leasburg along US 158 and NC 119, not far from Hyco Lake.
History of Leasburg
When Caswell County was created in 1777, the area that is now Leasburg was chosen to be the county seat. A county courthouse was built there in 1784, after the American Revolutionary War. As more people moved to the area around the courthouse, the community grew. The town of Leasburg was officially recognized in 1788 by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Later, the eastern part of Caswell County became Person County. This meant Leasburg was no longer in the center of Caswell County. So, in 1792, the courthouse was moved to a new spot. This new place became known as "Caswell Court House" and later changed its name to Yanceyville.
Even after the courthouse moved, Leasburg kept growing. It became known as an important center for education in the region. Many mills, factories, and farms did well in the town for a while. However, new competition from nearby Durham caused problems for the area's tobacco businesses. The Civil War also caused a lot of damage to Leasburg. Still, many old homes from before the war are still standing today.
Some famous people once lived in Leasburg. Solomon Lea, the son of William Lea, was the first president of Greensboro College. Jacob Thompson was another famous resident. He worked for President James Buchanan as the Secretary of the Interior. Leasburg was also the birthplace of Carolina Slim, a Piedmont blues musician who was famous for a short time.
Two historic homes in Leasburg, the Garland-Buford House and the James Malone House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
Caswell County Speedway
There used to be a place called Caswell County Speedway in Leasburg. It was a dirt track where people could race go-karts. The track was 1/5 of a mile long. You can still see the old remains of the track from Solomon Lea Road today.
Nearby Communities
Images for kids
-
A robot icon, often used for kid-friendly content.
