New London, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New London, North Carolina
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Location of New London, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Stanly |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Incorporated | March 25, 1891 |
| Named for | An English mining company |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.98 sq mi (5.12 km2) |
| • Land | 1.98 sq mi (5.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 607 |
| • Density | 307.34/sq mi (118.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28127
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| Area code(s) | 704 |
| FIPS code | 37-46820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406978 |
New London is a town in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 600 at the 2010 census, and was estimated to be 724 as of 2019. The town lies between Albemarle and Richfield along U.S. 52 in the southern Piedmont region of the state, approximately 45 miles (72 km) east-northeast of Charlotte. It was the site of a gold mine, which was active during periods of the mid-1800s and early 1900s.
History
New London was founded as the unincorporated settlement of Bilesville, north of Albemarle, circa 1830, and named after Thomas "Uncle Tommy" Biles, a local landowner and farmer. At the time, the land was part of Montgomery County until Stanly County was formed in 1841. Near the area where the first Carolina Gold Rush took place, gold was found near Bilesville and the first mine was opened in 1859, though it closed during the Civil War. When the New London & States Company purchased the mine to reopen it in the early 1870s, and at the suggestion of company executive W. A. Judd, the settlement voted to rename itself after the company. The settlement became officially incorporated as a town on March 25, 1891. The main gold mine, known as the Parker Mine (after the farmer on whose land it was discovered) ceased operation in 1894, though several other local industries continued to provide employment for the town, including a cordage mill, a lumber mill, a brick mill, and a livery stable. In 1923, less than three years after the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote, the town elected Mrs. T. V. Staton as their mayor, becoming the first female mayor, as well as the first female to serve in municipal government in the state. The mine was reopened for a time starting in 1934, and throughout the 1920s and 1930s, modern amenities such as telephone service, electrical service, paved roads, and a state highway were built in town. Town sewer and water service was completed in 2002.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 317 | — | |
| 1900 | 299 | −5.7% | |
| 1910 | 312 | 4.3% | |
| 1920 | 228 | −26.9% | |
| 1930 | 246 | 7.9% | |
| 1940 | 243 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 285 | 17.3% | |
| 1960 | 223 | −21.8% | |
| 1970 | 285 | 27.8% | |
| 1980 | 454 | 59.3% | |
| 1990 | 414 | −8.8% | |
| 2000 | 326 | −21.3% | |
| 2010 | 600 | 84.0% | |
| 2020 | 607 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 510 | 84.02% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 35 | 5.77% |
| Native American | 2 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 26 | 4.28% |
| Other/Mixed | 22 | 3.62% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12 | 1.98% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 607 people, 245 households, and 189 families residing in the town.
Transportation
One US highway and two North Carolina State Highways cross New London:
- US 52 crosses from the northwest corner to the southern border of town, connecting to Richfield in the north and Albemarle in the south.
- NC 8 has its southern terminus at US 52 near the southern border of New London, following Main Street north out of town through an unincorporated portion of Stanly County.
- NC 740 has its northern terminus at US 52 near the western border New London, following Gold Street east out of town and connecting to the town of Badin.
Notable people
- Chris Buescher (born 1992), NASCAR driver, lives in town
- Donald Byrd (born 1949), modern dance choreographer
- Rhett Lowder (born 2002), Wake Forest University pitcher
- Antonio Williams (born 1997), Buffalo Bills running back
See also
In Spanish: New London para niños
