kids encyclopedia robot

Morrisville, North Carolina facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Morrisville, North Carolina
Morrisville, North Carolina (2014).jpg
Motto(s): 
"Live Connected. Live Well."
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Country United States
State North Carolina
Counties Wake, Durham
Area
 • Total 8.84 sq mi (22.89 km2)
 • Land 8.78 sq mi (22.75 km2)
 • Water 0.06 sq mi (0.14 km2)
Elevation
299 ft (91 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 18,576
 • Estimate 
(2019)
28,846
 • Density 3,284.30/sq mi (1,268.06/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
27519, 27560
Area code(s) 919 & 984
FIPS code 37-44520
GNIS feature ID 1021537

Morrisville is a town located primarily in Wake County, North Carolina, United States (a small portion extends into neighboring Durham County). The population was 18,576 at the 2010 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population to be 28,846 as of July 1, 2019. Morrisville is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. The regional name originated after the 1959 creation of the Research Triangle Park, located midway between the cities of Raleigh and Durham. The Research Triangle region encompasses the U.S. Census Bureau's Combined Statistical Area (CSA) of Raleigh-Durham-Cary. The estimated population of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary CSA was 1,565,223 as of July 1, 2006, with the Raleigh-Cary Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) portion estimated at 994,551 residents. The headquarters of multinational Lenovo are located in the municipal limits (other headquarters of the company are located in Beijing, China).

History

The area was originally named in 1852 after Jeremiah Morris. Morris donated land to the North Carolina Railroad for a depot, water tower, and other buildings. The town continued to grow as a result of the rail line and its location at the intersection of roads leading to Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Hillsborough.

On April 13, 1865, in the Battle of Morrisville, Federal cavalry under the command of Gen. Judson Kilpatrick skirmished with the retreating Confederate armies at Morrisville Station. The Confederate troops were successful in evacuating their remaining supplies and wounded to the west toward Greensboro, but Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's cavalry forced the Confederates to leave the train behind and retreat toward Durham and the eventual surrender of the largest Confederate force of the war at Bennett Place.

The town was officially chartered in 1875 but was disincorporated in 1933. Eventually the town charter was restored in 1947.

Morrisville History (as listed on historical marker):

Morrisville Station: "On April 16, 1865, Union cavalry under the command of General William T. Sherman, captured Raleigh and pursued the retreating Confederate cavalry west along the railroad. Rearguard skirmishes erupted at points along the Hillsborough Road until the combatants reached Morrisville. Using cavalry and artillery, Union forces attacked a Confederate train loaded with supplies and wounded. Before withdrawing, the Confederate cavalry repelled the attack long enough to allow the railcars of wounded to escape while abandoning the supplies. This was the last major cavalry engagement in Sherman's campaign. The next night, a courier from the Confederate commander, General Joseph E. Johnston, rode into the Union camp at Morrisville with a truce proposal. Subsequent negotiations between Johnston and Sherman led to the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War at the Bennett Farm in Durham on April 26."

The history marker notes it was given in memory of Commissioner C.T. Moore.

Morrisville was the home of noted artist Mabel Pugh (1891–1986).

The Morrisville Christian Church, Williamson Page House, and Pugh House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.5 km2), of which 8.3 square miles (21.4 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.62%, is water.

Morrisville is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. As a result, most of Morrisville features gently rolling hills that slope eastward toward the state's flat coastal plain. Its central Piedmont location situates the county about three hours west of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The central core of Morrisville is located along the upper portion of Crabtree Creek, which then feeds into Lake Crabtree, located in the southeastern part of the town.

Climate

Morrisville enjoys a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are typically hot with high humidity. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F (10 to 13 °C) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (15 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. This is canceled out, however, with several days where highs do not get out of the 30s. There are usually about 1 or 2 substantial snowfalls per winter, occurring mainly in February. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 165
1890 149 −9.7%
1900 100 −32.9%
1910 151 51.0%
1920 166 9.9%
1930 161 −3.0%
1950 221
1960 222 0.5%
1970 209 −5.9%
1980 251 20.1%
1990 1,022 307.2%
2000 5,208 409.6%
2010 18,576 256.7%
2019 (est.) 28,846 55.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Morrisville racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 10,074 34.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,880 9.72%
Native American 80 0.27%
Asian 13,700 46.24%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,177 3.97%
Hispanic or Latino 1,714 5.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29,630 people, 9,699 households, and 6,781 families residing in the town.

2015

A special census was conducted in 2015, and the total population reported by the U.S. Census Bureau was 23,699.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census there were 18,576 people, 7,641 households, and 4,752 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,237.7 people per square mile (864.0/km2). There were 8,357 housing units at an average density of 1,006.9 per square mile (390.5/km2). Known as North Carolina's "little India" by locals, Morrisville has become one of the most diverse towns in the state particularly due to the expansion of the technology industry. The racial makeup of the town was 54.0% White, 12.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 27.2% Asian, 2.0% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

There were 7,641 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 50.3% of all households were headed by married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 44.4% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

In 2017, the median income for a household in the town was $95,763. Males had a median income of $59,982 versus $44,729 for females. The per capita income for the town was $43,054. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Morrisville is home to six parks and a community center. They include:

  • Morrisville Community Park - includes Hatcher Creek greenway in addition to rentable shelters, athletic fields, gazebo and picnic shelters
  • Shiloh Community Park & Luther Green Community Center - includes athletic field, picnic shelters, basketball court and playground
  • Crabtree Creek Nature Park - 34-acre (140,000 m2) wooded and wetland site with a multi-purpose field
  • Ruritan Park - includes a gazebo, open areas, and sand volleyball courts,
  • Indian Creek Greenway and Trailhead - includes two picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms, and a 1.8-mile trail
  • Cedar Fork District Park - 37 acres (150,000 m2) that includes eight multi-purpose fields
  • Church Street Park - including a cricket pitch and tennis courts.

Morrisville has several youth sports groups, such as youth basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and cricket.

Economy

Morrisville's location adjacent to the Research Triangle Park, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and Interstate 40 makes it an attractive location for offices, light industry and hotels. Companies based in Morrisville include Oracle ,Syneos Health and Lenovo (operational headquarters)
.

Prior to its disestablishment, Midway Airlines had its headquarters in Morrisville.

The Morrisville Chamber of Commerce serves as the economic development arm for the town.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Passenger

2008-07-05 TTA bus 713 at DATA terminal
Triangle Transit bus
  • Air: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in northwestern Wake county on I-40, just to the north of Morrisville.
  • Morrisville is not served directly by passenger trains. Amtrak serves the nearby municipalities of Cary and Raleigh.
  • Local bus: The Triangle Transit operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Roads

  • NC 54 is a major highway that goes through town and provides easy access to Cary, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
  • I-40 runs through the eastern part of the town.
  • I-540 / NC 540 serves the Morrisville area and is located to the west of the town. The highway offers access to I-40, North Raleigh, RDU airport and eastern Wake County.
  • NC 147 is located in the northern part of town and provides easy access to Durham.

Notable people

  • David Ray Boggs, former NASCAR driver
  • Hill Carrow, sports tourism executive
  • Tom Murry, politician, attorney, and pharmacist
  • Mabel Pugh (1891–1986), art teacher, painter, woodblock printmaker and illustrator
  • Vic Sorrell, former Major League Baseball pitcher

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Morrisville (Carolina del Norte) para niños

kids search engine
Morrisville, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.