Star, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Star, North Carolina
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Main Street
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Location of Star, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Montgomery |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.29 sq mi (3.35 km2) |
| • Land | 1.29 sq mi (3.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 806 |
| • Density | 623.84/sq mi (240.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
27356
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| Area codes | 910, 472 |
| FIPS code | 37-64580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406660 |
| Website | Star, NC Official Website: http://www.starnc.gov/ |
Star is a small town in Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 806 people lived there.
Contents
Where is Star Located?
Star is often called the geographic center of North Carolina. This was measured by satellites, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. A special marker was placed at 35°23′59″N 79°46′00″W / 35.399756°N 79.766613°W. However, this marker is on private land, so visitors cannot see it. Some reports suggest the actual center might be in Chatham County. The town of Star covers about 1.2 square miles (3.35 square kilometers) of land.
How Many People Live in Star?
This section shows how Star's population has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 211 | — | |
| 1910 | 239 | 13.3% | |
| 1920 | 467 | 95.4% | |
| 1930 | 634 | 35.8% | |
| 1940 | 611 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 677 | 10.8% | |
| 1960 | 745 | 10.0% | |
| 1970 | 892 | 19.7% | |
| 1980 | 816 | −8.5% | |
| 1990 | 775 | −5.0% | |
| 2000 | 807 | 4.1% | |
| 2010 | 876 | 8.6% | |
| 2020 | 806 | −8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Star's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 806 people living in Star. These people lived in 262 households, and 147 of these were families.
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 490 | 60.79% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 71 | 8.81% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.37% |
| Other/Mixed | 16 | 1.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 226 | 28.04% |
The History of Star
The town of Star officially became a town in 1897. It was first known as Hunsucker's Store. This name came from a trading post run by Mr. Martin Hunsucker, who owned the land.
After the Civil War, a man named Angus Leach moved to Hunsucker's Store. He helped start the town we know today as Star. He worked as a postmaster, ran a hotel, and owned a general store.
Gold and Railroads
Gold was found in the Star area around 1866. By 1874, there were many gold mining operations, especially near the Little River. In 1895, the Aberdeen and West End Railroad built a line to Star. Soon after, Star became an official town.
Star became an important place for shipping lumber, turpentine, and bricks. This started in 1896 when the Asheboro and Montgomery Railroad was completed. In 1896, the Leach Family built a large wooden hotel for travelers and railroad workers. This hotel, now called The Star Hotel Bed and Breakfast, is still standing today.
In 1897, the two railroads joined to form the Aberdeen and Asheboro Railroad. This opened the area to even more shipping. The timber industry was a big reason for Star's early growth. The Star Lumber Company built a special track in 1896 to bring logs to the mills. This track was removed in 1901 when the Durham and Charlotte Railroad was built to Star. This new railroad aimed to connect the cities of Durham and Charlotte. Because Star was a meeting point for these railroads, businesses in town grew quickly.
New Businesses and Growth
Around 1900, a company started bottling sodas in Star. This company came before the Coca-Cola Plant, which later moved to Biscoe, North Carolina. Also in 1900, the Montgomery Roller Mill was started by Braxton Auman. He also ran a whiskey distillery and a chair factory.
In 1907, Mr. H.D. Phillips opened Star's first funeral parlor. This business, Phillips Funeral Home, is still run by the Phillips family today. Around 1910, a school called "Carolina Collegiate and Agricultural Institute" was started in Star. It worked with North Carolina A & M College in Raleigh.
Star grew a lot between 1912 and 1950. This was when the Norfolk Southern Railway (former) bought the old railroad lines. The railway had a depot, water tank, and coal chute in Star. This new time brought hosiery (sock) mills, more lumber production, new stores, and a big increase in people living there. In 1914–1915, Boy Scout Troop 111 was formed in Star. It was one of the first Boy Scout troops in North Carolina.
Since then, Star has continued to grow. In the 1960s, the town built some of the first public housing units in the state. On March 14, 1969, Lancer Inc., a furniture maker, started its operations in Star. It is still one of Star's biggest employers today.
Changes in Recent Years
Over time, the hosiery mills in Star closed down. This left many people without jobs, and the town faced challenges. Many buildings that once employed people are now empty. In September 2013, downtown Star was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Star Historic District. This means it is recognized for its important history.
Star Today
Star is known as a U.S. Postal Service Christmas Town. The Star Christmas Parade is one of the oldest and longest parades in North Carolina.
Central Park NC has its main office in the old Country Life Academy building in Star. This building is now called STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise. STARworks holds fun yearly events like the Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch and FireFest: Community Fueled Art.
The town is located right in the middle of North Carolina. Nearby places to visit include Uwharrie National Forest, Badin Lake, Lake Tillery, the North Carolina Zoo, and Pinehurst.
Images for kids
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The Plaque of the Geographical Center of North Carolina. This photo was taken in 2009 by a family member of the land owner. The land is private and not open to visitors.
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The Star Hotel, built by the Leach Family in 1897, is now known as The Star Hotel Bed and Breakfast Inn.
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Carolina Collegiate and Agricultural Institute (Country Life Academy), Star, NC.
See also
In Spanish: Star (Carolina del Norte) para niños
