Moravian Falls, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moravian Falls, North Carolina
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The waterfall and pumphouse at Moravian Falls
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Location of Moravian Falls, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Wilkes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.14 sq mi (13.32 km2) |
| • Land | 5.13 sq mi (13.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,178 ft (359 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,712 |
| • Density | 333.40/sq mi (128.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28654
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| Area code(s) | 336/743 |
| FIPS code | 37-44280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403307 |
Moravian Falls is a small community in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. It was once known as Petersburg and Forks of the Road. In 2020, about 1,712 people lived there.
Contents
Where is Moravian Falls?
Moravian Falls covers an area of about 5.1 square miles (13.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. The community is located in the lower parts of the Brushy Mountains. These mountains are to the south of the town.
The highest point in the Brushy Mountains, called Pores Knob, is actually located within Moravian Falls.
Weather in Moravian Falls
Moravian Falls has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cool winters. It tends to be wet and partly cloudy throughout the year.
The area gets a good amount of rain, about 49.7 inches (126 cm) each year. This is a bit less than other parts of the Southern Appalachian region. Moravian Falls also gets about 6 inches (15 cm) of snow every year.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Moravian Falls was 100°F (38°C). The coldest temperature recorded was -10°F (-23°C).
Rain, Snow, and Storms
Moravian Falls gets plenty of rain, especially with thunderstorms in spring and summer. In winter, you might see rain, snow, sleet, or even freezing rain.
Strong storms are not very common, but they do happen. Tornadoes are rare. However, severe thunderstorms can bring strong winds. These winds can knock down trees and power lines. They can also cause hail.
On October 23, 2017, a rare EF 1 tornado touched down in Moravian Falls. It then moved through nearby towns like Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro. This tornado caused a lot of damage.
| Climate data for Moravian Falls, North Carolina | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78.0 (25.6) |
82.0 (27.8) |
87.0 (30.6) |
92.0 (33.3) |
95.0 (35.0) |
98.0 (36.7) |
100.0 (37.8) |
100.0 (37.8) |
95.0 (35.0) |
93.0 (33.9) |
84.0 (28.9) |
80.0 (26.7) |
100.0 (37.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47.9 (8.8) |
51.8 (11.0) |
60.0 (15.6) |
69.3 (20.7) |
76.9 (24.9) |
84.5 (29.2) |
87.3 (30.7) |
85.9 (29.9) |
79.6 (26.4) |
70.3 (21.3) |
60.8 (16.0) |
50.2 (10.1) |
68.8 (20.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.0 (−2.8) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
36.0 (2.2) |
43.7 (6.5) |
52.9 (11.6) |
62.3 (16.8) |
65.8 (18.8) |
65.1 (18.4) |
57.6 (14.2) |
45.7 (7.6) |
36.8 (2.7) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
46.0 (7.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) |
−7.0 (−21.7) |
1.0 (−17.2) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
36.0 (2.2) |
43.0 (6.1) |
41.0 (5.0) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
15.0 (−9.4) |
6.0 (−14.4) |
−2.0 (−18.9) |
−10.0 (−23.3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.20 (107) |
3.90 (99) |
4.50 (114) |
4.10 (104) |
4.20 (107) |
4.40 (112) |
4.50 (114) |
4.80 (122) |
4.10 (104) |
3.50 (89) |
3.50 (89) |
4.0 (100) |
49.7 (1,260) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.01 (5.1) |
2.01 (5.1) |
.98 (2.5) |
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) |
0.0 (0.0) |
.98 (2.5) |
5.9 (15) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.5 | 9.6 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 11.9 | 11.2 | 12.7 | 11.3 | 9.5 | 8.2 | 9.5 | 10.3 | 124.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.5 |
History and Local Life
Moravian Falls gets its name from a beautiful waterfall in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains. The Owen family first settled this area around 1750.
In 1754, the Moravian Church bought a large piece of land. This land is now covered by the nearby W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir. However, the Moravians never built a settlement here in the 1700s. Today, the waterfall is a popular spot for visitors.
A Hub for Newspapers
Starting in the late 1800s, Moravian Falls became a surprising center for publishing. Several local newspapers were printed here and sent all over the country. They claimed to have hundreds of thousands of readers!
The most famous papers were The Yellow Jacket, The Fool-Killer, and The Lash. More than a dozen different papers were published in this small town. At its busiest, The Yellow Jacket said it printed 1 million copies. Even if rivals thought it was closer to 250,000, that was still more than double any other newspaper in the South!
Schools and Historic Sites
Wilkes Central High School and Central Wilkes Middle School are both located in Moravian Falls. These are the largest schools in the Wilkes County public school system. They also have the most diverse student populations.
The Benjamin Hubbard House is a historic building in Moravian Falls. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This means it's an important place to protect for its history.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,712 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People in Moravian Falls (2020)
In 2020, there were 1,802 people living in Moravian Falls. There were 874 households and 521 families. On average, about 2 people lived in each household.
The average income for a household in Moravian Falls was $39,321. About 10.3% of the people lived below the poverty line.
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 1,313 | 72.66% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 75 | 4.16% |
| Native American | 26 | 1.44% |
| Other/Mixed | 14 | 0.78% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 374 | 20.8% |
See also
In Spanish: Moravian Falls para niños
