Mount Holly, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Holly, North Carolina
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Downtown Mount Holly
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Location of Mount Holly, North Carolina
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| County | Gaston | |
| Incorporated | March 11, 1879 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.30 sq mi (29.26 km2) | |
| • Land | 11.21 sq mi (29.05 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) | |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,703 | |
| • Density | 1,578.51/sq mi (609.46/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP code |
28120, 28012
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| Area code(s) | 704, 980 | |
| FIPS code | 37-44960 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404319 | |
Mount Holly is a small city located in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's a suburban area, meaning it's a community near a larger city. The city is just west of the Catawba River. It is also north of Interstate 85 and south of North Carolina State Highway 16. In 2020, about 17,703 people lived there. This was an increase from 13,656 people in 2010.
Contents
Geography and Location
Mount Holly covers a total area of about 29.26 square kilometers (11.30 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The city is located about 12 miles northeast of Gastonia.
History of Mount Holly
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The first land grants in the Mount Holly area were given by King George II of Great Britain around 1750. A land grant is like an official permission to own land. In 1754, a grant was given to James Kuykendall from Holland. This area was known as Dutchman's Creek.
Later, in 1838, a post office in the area was named Woodlawn. The town's name changed to Mount Holly in 1875. This new name came from the Mount Holly Cotton Mill, which started that same year. The mill was named "Mount Holly" because of the famous yarn made in a mill in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
The Mount Holly Cotton Mill was first owned by A.P. and D.E. Rhyne and Ambrose Costner. It was the fourth mill built in Gaston County. It is also the oldest mill still standing today. The mill's success helped the area grow. Because of this growth, local residents asked the North Carolina General Assembly to officially make Mount Holly a town in 1879.
The first railroad in Gaston County, the Carolina Central Railway, started serving Mount Holly in 1860. This train line is still used today by CSX. In 1911, another railroad, the Piedmont and Northern Railway, began construction. Its first trip from Charlotte to Gastonia was on May 20, 1912.
Electricity became available for homes and businesses around the early 1900s. The Woodlawn Mill, built in 1906, was the first mill in Gaston County to get electricity.
Today, the Downtown Mount Holly Historic District and the Mount Holly Cotton Mill are important historical sites. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Population and People
Mount Holly has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 472 | — | |
| 1900 | 630 | 33.5% | |
| 1910 | 526 | −16.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,160 | 120.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,254 | 94.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,055 | −8.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,241 | 9.1% | |
| 1960 | 4,037 | 80.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,107 | 26.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,530 | −11.3% | |
| 1990 | 7,710 | 70.2% | |
| 2000 | 9,618 | 24.7% | |
| 2010 | 13,656 | 42.0% | |
| 2020 | 17,703 | 29.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 17,703 people living in Mount Holly. There were 6,134 households and 3,846 families. The population includes people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial makeup:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,734 | 66.28% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,189 | 18.01% |
| Native American | 50 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 495 | 2.79% |
| Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 879 | 4.97% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,349 | 7.62% |
Schools and Learning
Mount Holly has several public schools that are part of the Gaston County Schools system. These include:
- Pinewood Elementary School
- Catawba Heights Elementary School
- Ida Rankin Elementary School
- Mount Holly Middle School
- East Gaston High School
- Stuart W. Cramer High School
There is also Mountain Island Charter School located nearby. Because of Mount Holly's location, students can easily access many colleges and universities. Some of these include Belmont Abbey College, Gaston College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
The Mount Holly Branch of the Gaston County Public Library serves the community. It offers books, resources, and programs for everyone.
Economy and Jobs
Mount Holly's location between Charlotte and Gastonia has helped its economy grow. Many people have moved to the area in recent years.
The textile industry is still very important in Mount Holly. Textiles are fabrics or cloth. Many companies in the area are related to making textiles. One of the biggest textile companies is American & Efird, Inc. (A&E). This company is the second-largest thread maker in the world. A&E started in 1891 as Nims Manufacturing Company. Today, A&E has six plants and its main offices in Mount Holly. It employs over 980 people.
In 1990, the Freightliner Trucks manufacturing plant became part of the city. Freightliner makes large trucks. It has been a major employer in Mount Holly since 1979.
Since 2007, National Gypsum has operated a wallboard plant in Mount Holly. Wallboard is used to make walls in buildings. This plant uses a special type of gypsum. It comes from power plants that clean their smoke.
Mount Holly's historic downtown area has many businesses. You can find restaurants, churches, coffee shops, salons, and other stores there.
See also
In Spanish: Mount Holly (Carolina del Norte) para niños
