Person County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Person County
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Person County Courthouse
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| Motto(s):
"Everything is Better in Person"
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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 North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| Founded | 1792 | ||||
| Named for | Thomas Person | ||||
| Seat | Roxboro | ||||
| Largest community | Roxboro | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 404.39 sq mi (1,047.4 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 392.34 sq mi (1,016.2 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 12.05 sq mi (31.2 km2) 2.98% | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39,097 | ||||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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39,737 | ||||
| • Density | 99.65/sq mi (38.48/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| Congressional district | 4th | ||||
Person County is a county in North Carolina, USA. About 39,097 people lived here in 2020. The main town and county seat is Roxboro.
Person County is part of the larger Durham-Chapel Hill area. This area is also part of the even bigger Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had over 2.3 million people in 2023.
Contents
History of Person County
The area that is now Person County has a long history. It was first set up as part of Edgecombe County in 1746. Over the years, its boundaries changed many times. It was part of Granville County, then Orange County, and later Caswell County.
Finally, in 1792, the state created Person County by dividing Caswell County. The new county was named after Brigadier General Thomas Person. He was a hero of the American Revolutionary War and helped the area a lot.
Early Inhabitants and Settlers
Long before European settlers arrived, Native Americans lived here for over 10,000 years. An ancient stone quarry, called the Two Dogs Site, is in Person County.
When early Spanish explorers came, they met Siouan-speaking tribes like the Saponi and Occaneechi.
Later, in the 1600s and 1700s, settlers from Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, France, and Germany moved to the area. Most of these settlers were farmers who owned small farms.
The county's religious groups mostly reflect these early settlers, with many being Protestant. Because Person County is close to Virginia, the coast, and the Appalachian Mountains, you can hear many different Southern American English accents here.
Wars and Changes
Person County is named after Thomas Person, a Revolutionary War hero. He was a trustee for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A building there, Person Hall, is named after him because of his generous gifts.
Another Revolutionary War hero was Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Moore. He led the Person County militia in the Battle of Camden. He was captured during the war. In 1775, he bought land in Person County and named his farm Mt. Tirzah. His home, built in 1778, has been restored.
During the American Civil War, Person County sent between 800 and 1000 soldiers to the Confederate Army. There's a monument at the Courthouse honoring E. Fletcher Satterfield, who carried the Confederate flag at Gettysburg.
Growth in the Late 1800s
After the Civil War, leaders like J.A. Long helped the county's economy grow beyond just farming. When the Norfolk and Western Railroad arrived around 1890, it brought tobacco processing plants and warehouses. While these plants are gone, some old warehouses still stand.
J.A. Long also started Peoples Bank in 1891 and the Roxboro Cotton Mill in 1899. This mill later became Tultex Yarns. His home, the James A. and Laura Thompson Long House, is now a historic place. His son, J.A. Long, Jr., continued to bring new businesses to Roxboro. For example, Baker Company opened in 1923, making textile manufacturing a big part of the local economy for many years.
Modern Times: 1900s and 2000s
In recent years, more homes and businesses have been built in Person County. This is partly because it's close to the Research Triangle area. Places like Hyco Lake and the southern part of the county have seen a lot of new development.
Today, some of the biggest employers in Person County include Duke Energy, Eaton Corporation, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and GKN Driveline.
Several historic homes outside Roxboro are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Holloway-Walker Dollarhite House, Henry-Vernon House, Burleigh, and Waverly Plantation.
Geography and Nature
Person County covers about 404 square miles. Most of this is land (392 square miles), and about 12 square miles is water.
Rivers and Lakes
Person County is important for water because parts of three major river systems start here: the Neuse, the Roanoke, and the Tar. These rivers provide clean drinking water to areas south and east of the county. The Tar River actually begins in the southeast part of Person County.
In the northwest, you'll find Hyco Lake, and in the northeast, there's Mayo Reservoir. Both of these lakes are used to generate electricity and for fun activities like boating and fishing. Near the western border with Caswell County is Lake Roxboro. The Flat River also starts here and flows into the Neuse River system.
Mountains and Hills
The Uwharrie Mountains are the oldest mountain range in North America. They are also the lowest mountains in North Carolina. These mountains end at Hager's Mountain in the northern hills of Person County.
The county mostly has rolling hills, with farms and forests spread out. The highest point in the county is a hill in Roxboro, where the town's water tank is located. Person County also has three small mountains: Hager's Mountain (north of Roxboro), Red Mountain, and Mt. Tirzah (in the southeast). The ground here is mostly made of igneous rock, covered by different types of soil. You can find Granite boulders all over the county.
Protected Areas and Water Bodies
Person County has several protected natural areas:
- Hagers Mountain
- Hyco Game Land
- Mayo Lake Park
- Mayo Game Land
Here are some of the main water bodies in Person County:
- After Bay Reservoir
- Byrds Creek
- Castle Creek
- Flat River
- Ghent Creek
- Hyco Lake
- Mayo Lake
- Mill Creek
- Richland Creek
- Roxboro Lake
- South Hyco Creek
- Storys Creek
- Tar River
Neighboring Counties
Person County shares borders with these counties:
- Halifax County, Virginia - north
- Granville County – east
- Durham County – south
- Orange County – south
- Caswell County – west
Transportation and Infrastructure
Major Roads
US 501
US 158
NC 49
NC 57
NC 157
The closest major highway, Interstate 85, is about 29 miles south in Durham.
Other Important Facilities
- Norfolk Southern, a company that provides freight train services.
- Raleigh Regional Airport at Person County, located about 6 miles south of Roxboro.
Larger airports nearby include Raleigh-Durham International Airport (42 miles south) and Piedmont Triad International Airport (82 miles southwest).
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 6,402 | — | |
| 1810 | 6,642 | 3.7% | |
| 1820 | 9,029 | 35.9% | |
| 1830 | 10,027 | 11.1% | |
| 1840 | 9,790 | −2.4% | |
| 1850 | 10,781 | 10.1% | |
| 1860 | 11,221 | 4.1% | |
| 1870 | 11,170 | −0.5% | |
| 1880 | 13,719 | 22.8% | |
| 1890 | 15,151 | 10.4% | |
| 1900 | 16,685 | 10.1% | |
| 1910 | 17,356 | 4.0% | |
| 1920 | 18,973 | 9.3% | |
| 1930 | 22,039 | 16.2% | |
| 1940 | 25,029 | 13.6% | |
| 1950 | 24,361 | −2.7% | |
| 1960 | 26,394 | 8.3% | |
| 1970 | 25,914 | −1.8% | |
| 1980 | 29,164 | 12.5% | |
| 1990 | 30,180 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 35,623 | 18.0% | |
| 2010 | 39,464 | 10.8% | |
| 2020 | 39,097 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 39,737 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, Person County had 39,097 people. There were 15,896 households and 10,695 families living in the county.
The population density was about 99 people per square mile. In terms of race, about 64.28% of the people were White (not Hispanic), and 25.27% were Black or African American (not Hispanic). About 5.61% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Economy and Jobs
Person County's economy includes many different types of jobs. These include electrical work, textiles (making fabric), manufacturing, and making car parts. There are also jobs in food processing and paper products. Farmers are also growing new types of tobacco and other crops.
The county has two industrial parks for businesses:
- Person County Business and Industrial Center (PCBIC)
- North Park
Person County is also close to North Carolina's Research Triangle. This area is home to many high-tech companies. The county's location is great for businesses because it's within an hour's drive of major economic centers like the Research Triangle (Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh) and the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point). It's also only two hours from Richmond, Virginia.
Healthcare
- Person Memorial Hospital, which is connected to the Duke University Health System.
- Roxboro MedAccess
- Person County Medical and Dental
Education
Person County offers many educational options for students.
Higher Education
- Piedmont Community College offers programs where students can earn associate degrees, get technical training, or take college classes that can transfer to other universities. There's also a campus in nearby Caswell County.
Public Schools
The Person County School System manages all public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2018–2019, the system had over 4,364 students and more than 555 staff members.
| Name | Principal/Director | Mascot | Colors | Enrollment as of 2021-2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Bradsher Pre-School Center (Pre-K) | Treco Lea-Jeffers, Director | Shining Stars | 186 | |
| Early Intervention & Family Services (Pre-K) | Dana Faulkner, Director | |||
| Helena Elementary (K-5) | Sherita Fuller, Principal | Hornets | Black, yellow | 500 |
| North Elementary (K-5) / Carolina Community Academy | Nell Sydnor-Waugh / Renee Carmon, Principal | Eagles | Red, gold, orange | 217 |
| North End Elementary (K-5) | Melody Wilson, Principal | Jets | Red, blue | 179 |
| Oak Lane Elementary (K-5) | Heather Bowling, Principal | Cougars | Green, white | 223 |
| Stories Creek Elementary (K-5) | Dusty Martin, Principal | Gators | Green, yellow | 377 |
| South Elementary (K-5) | Whitney Sharlow, Principal | Shooting Stars | Orange, yellow | 356 |
| Woodland Elementary (K-5) | Dwayne Johnson, Principal | Lakers | Blue, white | 213 |
| Northern Middle (6-8) | Ashley Warren, Principal | Raiders | Purple, blue, black | 418 |
| Southern Middle (6-8) | Patrick Holmes, Principal | Panthers | Blue, white | 485 |
| Person High (9-12) | Michelle Honeycutt, Principal | Rockets | Blue, white, cardinal | 1,080 |
| Person County Learning Academy (6-10) | Rhonda Daye, Director | 50 | ||
| Person County Schools Virtual Academy (4-12) | Dr. Tisha Duncan, Principal | 134 | ||
| Person Early College for Innovation & Leadership | Shirlrona Johnson, Principal | Mavericks | Green, White, Orange | 151 |
Charter Schools
North Carolina also has charter schools, which are public schools but run a bit differently from the main school system. Roxboro has two charter schools:
- Bethel Hill Charter School: This school offers an alternative for grades K–5. It opened in 2000 and has about 385 students.
- Roxboro Community School: This school is in a historic building in uptown Roxboro. It opened in 2006 and serves grades 6–12, with about 700 students.
Private Schools
- Person Christian School
- Roxboro Christian Academy: Founded in 1976, it serves K–12 students. It has about 176 students.
- Zion Christian Academy: Founded in 2002, it offers programs for grades 1–12. It has about 30 students.
Communities in Person County
City
- Roxboro (This is the county seat and the largest community.)
Census-Designated Place
Townships
- Allensville
- Bushy Fork
- Cunningham
- Flat River
- Holloway
- Mount Tirzah
- Olive Hill
- Roxboro
- Woodsdale
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
- Ai
- Allensville
- Bethel Hill
- Brooksdale
- Bushy Fork
- Cavel
- Ceffo
- Concord
- Cunningham
- Denny Store
- Five Forks
- Gentry Store
- Gordonton
- Hesters Store
- Hurdle Mills
- Leasburg
- Longhurst
- Longs Store
- Moriah
- Mount Tirzah
- Olive Hill
- Paynes Tavern
- Peeds Store
- Roseville
- Semora
- Somerset
- Surl
- Timberlake
- Triple Springs
- Whitt Town
- Woodsdale
Notable People from Person County
Many interesting people have come from Person County:
- Henry Atkinson, a soldier.
- Leonidas Berry, a medical doctor and inventor.
- Robert L. Blackwell, a soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War I.
- Margie Bowes, a country music singer.
- Mic'hael Brooks, a football player for the Seattle Seahawks.
- Anderson Clayton, a political leader in North Carolina.
- Carl Long, a NASCAR driver.
- Wendy Palmer, a former WNBA player.
- James E. Ramsey, a politician.
- Ray Scott, a country music singer.
- Enos Slaughter, a famous baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Jim Thorpe, a professional golfer.
- Luke Torian, a politician in Virginia.
Images for kids
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Person County Courthouse
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Seal of Person County
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Logo of Person County
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Flag of Person County
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Person para niños
