Saxapahaw, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saxapahaw, North Carolina
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The renovated Saxapahaw Spinning Mill building along the Haw River in the center of the village
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Location of Saxapahaw, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Alamance |
| Founded | 1844 |
| Named for | Sissipahaw Indians |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.52 sq mi (14.29 km2) |
| • Land | 5.18 sq mi (13.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) |
| Elevation | 512 ft (156 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,671 |
| • Density | 322.28/sq mi (124.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
27340
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| Area code(s) | 336 |
| FIPS code | 37-59580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2402827 |
Saxapahaw (pronounced SAKS-uh-puh-haw) is a small community in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area counted by the government for population statistics. In 2010, about 1,648 people lived there. By 2020, the population grew slightly to 1,671.
Contents
History of Saxapahaw
The name Saxapahaw comes from an old Native American language, Catawban. It means "hill" and "step."
Like many towns in Alamance County, Saxapahaw grew up around a large cotton mill. This mill was built next to the Haw River. The first mill was started in 1844 by a Quaker settler named John Newlin. Later, this first mill was taken down to build a stronger brick building.
The current mill building was once owned by a company called Dixie Yarns. In 1994, a tornado damaged the building, and the mill stopped working. However, the building was fixed up and finished in 2006. Now, it's called Rivermill and has apartments inside.
Today, part of the old cotton mill's Dye House is a popular place called the Haw River Ballroom. It's a cool spot where people go to listen to music.
Geography of Saxapahaw
Saxapahaw covers a total area of about 14.3 square kilometers (5.5 square miles). Most of this area, about 13.4 square kilometers (5.2 square miles), is land. The rest, about 0.9 square kilometers (0.3 square miles), is water, mainly from the Haw River.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 1,648 | — | |
| 2020 | 1,671 | 1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,418 people living in Saxapahaw. There were 541 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 37% of these households had children under 18 living with them.
The people in Saxapahaw are of different ages. About 26% of the population was under 18 years old. About 8% were between 18 and 24, and about 34% were between 25 and 44. Around 24% were between 45 and 64, and about 8% were 65 or older. The average age in Saxapahaw was 34 years old.
Famous People from Saxapahaw
Saxapahaw has been home to a few well-known people:
- Tom Zachary: He was a professional baseball pitcher. He played for teams like the Washington Senators and the New York Yankees. He even won two World Series!
- Whammy Douglas: Another professional baseball pitcher from Saxapahaw. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957.
- B. Everett Jordan: He was a US senator from North Carolina. A senator is a person elected to represent their state in the United States government.
- Paperhand Puppet Intervention: This is a puppet theater company that started in 1998. They put on amazing shows with puppets and often share messages about important social topics.
Images for kids
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Gateway to the Ben Bulla Boy Scout Cabin in Saxapahaw
See also
In Spanish: Saxapahaw (Carolina del Norte) para niños
