Ranlo, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ranlo, North Carolina
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| Motto(s):
“Built with Pride”
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Location of Ranlo, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Gaston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2) |
| • Land | 2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,511 |
| • Density | 2,189.81/sq mi (845.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28054
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| Area code(s) | 704 & 980 |
| FIPS code | 37-55260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407175 |
Ranlo is a small town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It's close to Charlotte and just north of Gastonia. In 2020, about 4,511 people lived there. This number grew from 3,434 people in 2010.
Geography
Ranlo is a small town with a total area of about 2.06 square miles (5.34 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.
History
Ranlo got its name from two important business leaders, John Calvin Rankin and William Thomas Love. The name "Ranlo" is a mix of parts of their last names: RANkin and LOve.
The town grew up around their textile mills. These mills made cotton products. The Rex Spinning Company started in 1915. Ranlo Manufacturing Company began in 1916, and Priscilla Spinning Company in 1921.
Another nearby community, Smyre, also grew around a mill. The A. M. Smyre Manufacturing Company was founded in 1917. In 1963, Ranlo and Smyre officially became one town, called Ranlo. This happened because people were worried that Gastonia might try to take over their communities.
In the 1920s and 1930s, row houses were built for the mill workers. The mills owned these houses and rented them out very cheaply. Today, these houses are owned by individuals. Most of the old mills are now closed, with only a few still running at a small scale.
Even though the mills are mostly closed, Ranlo has changed. It has become a "bedroom community." This means many people who live in Ranlo travel to other towns for work. The town is proud of its services and new growth. New businesses are moving in, and new neighborhoods are being built.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 2,092 | — | |
| 1980 | 1,774 | −15.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,650 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,198 | 33.2% | |
| 2010 | 3,434 | 56.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,511 | 31.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Ranlo?
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 4,511 people living in Ranlo. These people lived in 1,346 households, which are like homes or apartments. There were also 972 families.
The table below shows the different groups of people who lived in Ranlo in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic or Latino) | 2,599 | 57.61% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) | 1,038 | 23.01% |
| Native American | 18 | 0.4% |
| Asian | 116 | 2.57% |
| Other/Mixed (people of two or more races) | 188 | 4.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 552 | 12.24% |
See also
In Spanish: Ranlo (Carolina del Norte) para niños
