Taylorsville, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taylorsville, North Carolina
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Main Street in Taylorsville
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Location in North Carolina
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| County | Alexander | |
| Named for | Zachary Taylor | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.40 sq mi (6.21 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.40 sq mi (6.20 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,175 ft (358 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,320 | |
| • Density | 968.68/sq mi (373.94/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28681
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| Area code(s) | 828 | |
| FIPS code | 37-66960 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406720 | |
Taylorsville is a town located in Alexander County, North Carolina, in the United States. It is the main town and the county seat of Alexander County. In 2020, about 2,320 people lived there.
Taylorsville is part of a larger area called the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to nearby cities and towns for things like jobs and services.
Contents
History of Taylorsville
The town of Taylorsville was created in 1847. This happened at the same time that Alexander County was formed.
How Taylorsville Got Its Name
A group of people was chosen to find the best spot for the county's main town. They picked a place close to the center of the county. The town was named Taylorsville to honor General Zachary Taylor. He was a famous general who was fighting in the Mexican–American War at that time. He later became a U.S. President.
Land for the New Town
Local landowners generously gave land to create the town. J.M. Bogle donated 22 acres, William Matheson gave 13 acres, and James James gave 11.75 acres. In total, 46.75 acres were given for the town. Most of this land was covered in trees. The main road from Statesville to Morganton passed just south of the new town site.
Building the Town
Another group of people was put in charge of planning Taylorsville. Their job was to divide the land into lots and sell them. The money from these sales would be used to build a courthouse and a jail for the new county.
- An auction was held on August 11, 1847, where 47 lots were sold.
- A second sale on November 30, 1847, sold 10 more lots.
- A third auction on March 8, 1848, sold five lots.
In total, these sales raised $6,674.75 for the town's buildings.
Taylorsville Becomes an Official Town
Taylorsville officially became an incorporated town in 1851. This means it was recognized by the state and could have its own local government. The first mayor was John Watts. He was chosen by the town's commissioners. The town's original boundaries were shaped like a square, with each side being about half a mile long.
Geography of Taylorsville
Taylorsville is a small town covering about 6.1 square kilometers (2.4 square miles). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.01 square kilometers (0.004 square miles), is water.
Population of Taylorsville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 169 | — | |
| 1880 | 180 | 6.5% | |
| 1900 | 413 | — | |
| 1910 | 662 | 60.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,122 | 69.5% | |
| 1930 | 926 | −17.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,122 | 21.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,310 | 16.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,470 | 12.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,231 | −16.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,103 | −10.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,566 | 42.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,799 | 14.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,098 | 16.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,320 | 10.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Taylorsville has changed over the years. In 2020, the U.S. Census counted 2,320 people living in the town. There were 927 households and 573 families.
Who Lives in Taylorsville?
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Taylorsville based on the 2020 census.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 1,776 | 76.55% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 238 | 10.26% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.17% |
| Asian | 17 | 0.73% |
| Other/Mixed | 110 | 4.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 175 | 7.54% |
Education in Taylorsville
Students in Taylorsville attend schools that are part of the Alexander County Schools district.
High Schools in Taylorsville
There are two high schools located right in Taylorsville:
- Alexander Central High School
- Alexander Early College
Some students from Alexander County also attend Challenger Early College High School. This school is in Hickory, North Carolina, and is run by Catawba County Schools.
Notable People from Taylorsville
Many interesting people have connections to Taylorsville. Here are a few:
- Charles E. Allen – He used to work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Zach Brzykcy – A pitcher in MLB.
- Harry Deal and the Galaxies – A long-running "beach music" band.
- Harry Gant – A former NASCAR race car driver.
- Wesley Harris – A member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
- Romulus Z. Linney – He was a U.S. congressman.
- Jim Poole – A former MLB first baseman.
- Jerry Rushing – He was a real-life bootlegger who inspired the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard.
- Guppy Troup – A professional ten-pin bowler.
- Kyle Troup – Also a professional ten-pin bowler.
- Onur Tukel – A filmmaker.
- Rex White – A former NASCAR champion.
See also
In Spanish: Taylorsville (Carolina del Norte) para niños
