West Jefferson, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Jefferson, North Carolina
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North Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson
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Location of West Jefferson, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Ashe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.15 sq mi (5.58 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,986 ft (910 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,279 |
| • Density | 594.33/sq mi (229.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
28694
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| Area code(s) | 336, 743 |
| FIPS code | 37-72540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406863 |
West Jefferson is a resort town in Ashe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,279 at the 2020 census.
West Jefferson is a popular destination among tourists and retirees from Florida, as well as those from the lower elevations of the Carolinas and Georgia.
History
West Jefferson was incorporated in 1909. At one time, West Jefferson had the distinction of having the only cheese factory in the southeastern United States. For many decades, West Jefferson was served by the Norfolk and Western Railroad, better known as the "Virginia Creeper." The railroad was the primary reason for the creation of West Jefferson, as the town became a major stop on the railway. With the decline of the railroad and the loss of textile factory jobs to foreign markets, West Jefferson's economy is increasingly devoted to the tourism industry. The town's location in the Appalachian Mountains has led to many tourists visiting the area each year, and many out-of-state tourists have begun to build cabins and housing developments around the town. Attractions include a walkable main street with food, breweries, local art, a cheese factory, a vintage theater, an annual festival, a caboose from a train, and a children's playground.
Geography
West Jefferson is situated in the Appalachian Mountain chain, in a valley between Mount Jefferson (to the east) and Paddy Mountain (to the west).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 462 | — | |
| 1930 | 704 | 52.4% | |
| 1940 | 883 | 25.4% | |
| 1950 | 871 | −1.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,000 | 14.8% | |
| 1970 | 889 | −11.1% | |
| 1980 | 822 | −7.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,002 | 21.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,081 | 7.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,299 | 20.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,279 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,079 | 84.36% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 18 | 1.41% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 10 | 0.78% |
| Other/Mixed | 29 | 2.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 139 | 10.87% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,279 people, 663 households, and 333 families residing in the town.
West Jefferson Dr Pepper
West Jefferson is the home of soda manufacturers West Jefferson Dr Pepper (WJDP). The company is known for producing all their non-diet products with cane sugar, most of which are Dr Pepper Snapple Group (formerly Dr Pepper/Seven Up) products but also include Mountain Dew. WJDP is one of only two non-Pepsi franchises existing in the United States permitted to produce Mountain Dew.
The company does not ship outside its contracted territory, but several websites sell the product at a premium price. The premium price has been justified by the fact that WJDP is one of the last bottlers in the U.S. to use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
Newspapers
Ashe County has two newspapers. The oldest covering West Jefferson and Ashe County is the Jefferson Post, which publishes twice weekly and is distributed throughout the county via subscription and newsstand sales. It is owned by Civitas Media, which operates a large chain of small-town newspapers.
The second newspaper is the "Ashe Mountain Times," known as the newspaper of content publishes once a week and is distributed through subscription and newsstand sales. It is the largest newspaper in Ashe County according to US Postal filings. It is owned by Jones Media publishing company and is a sister publication of the Watauga Democrat in Boone.[1]
See also
In Spanish: West Jefferson (Carolina del Norte) para niños
