Wilkesboro, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilkesboro
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Former Wilkes County Courthouse, now the Wilkes Heritage Museum
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| Motto(s):
Where the Mountains Begin
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Location of Wilkesboro, North Carolina
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| County | Wilkes | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Named for | John Wilkes | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | municipal | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6.43 sq mi (16.64 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.43 sq mi (16.64 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 991 ft (302 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,687 | ||
| • Density | 573.76/sq mi (221.52/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
28697
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| Area code(s) | 336 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-74020 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2406886 | ||
Wilkesboro is a town in North Carolina, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Wilkes County. In 2020, about 3,687 people lived there.
The town sits by the south bank of the Yadkin River. It is directly across the river from the town of North Wilkesboro. Wilkesboro has worked to make its historic downtown area better. It now has places like the Carolina West Wireless Community Commons and Heritage Square.
Next to downtown is Cub Creek Park. This park offers many fun activities. You can find baseball fields, walking trails, and mountain biking trails. There are also places for trout fishing, a dog park, and courts for basketball, tennis, and pickleball. Wilkesboro is also famous for its yearly festivals. These include MerleFest, Carolina in the Fall, and the Brushy Mountain Peach & Heritage festivals.
Contents
History of Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro was started in the year 1800. It quickly became the county seat, which means it was chosen as the main town for the county government. The town is built on a low, wide ridge. This ridge runs for more than a mile along the Yadkin River.
For many years, a famous spot in Wilkesboro was the "Tory Oak." This was a large oak tree. During the American Revolutionary War, a local patriot named Colonel Benjamin Cleveland used this tree. He dealt with Loyalist leaders who supported the British King there. The tree was located behind the old Wilkes County courthouse.
During the American Civil War, many people in Wilkesboro supported the Union. They were against the Confederacy. In March 1865, a Union cavalry leader, General George Stoneman, led a raid through the town.
After the war, a story became famous about Tom Dula. He was a soldier who had fought in the war. He was accused of a crime and was hanged. Many people believed he was innocent. His story became a very popular song in 1958. The Kingston Trio sang "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley." Later, in 1959, a movie was made about the story. Today, a play based on Dula's story is performed every summer by the Wilkes Playmakers.
Many historic buildings in Wilkesboro are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Robert Cleveland Log House, the Downtown Wilkesboro Historic District, and the Wilkes County Courthouse.
People and Population
Wilkesboro's Population in 2020
In 2020, the census counted 3,687 people living in Wilkesboro. There were 1,386 households and 808 families.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 2,725 | 73.91% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 327 | 8.87% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 122 | 3.31% |
| Other/Mixed | 165 | 4.48% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 342 | 9.28% |
Population Changes Over Time
The population of Wilkesboro has grown over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 200 | — | |
| 1890 | 336 | 68.0% | |
| 1900 | 634 | 88.7% | |
| 1910 | 799 | 26.0% | |
| 1920 | 814 | 1.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,042 | 28.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,309 | 25.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,370 | 4.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,568 | 14.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,038 | 30.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,335 | 14.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,573 | 10.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,159 | 22.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,413 | 8.0% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 3,453 | 1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Economy and Jobs
Wilkesboro's biggest industry is the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant. It is one of the largest poultry plants east of the Mississippi River.
Local communication companies also have their homes in Wilkesboro. These include Wilkes Communications and Carolina West Wireless.
Education in Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro is part of the Wilkes County Schools system. Most high school students from Wilkesboro go to Wilkes Central High School. This school is in the nearby community of Moravian Falls.
Other high school choices for students include Wilkes Early College. This school is based at Wilkes Community College. There is also Bridges Charter School in State Road, North Carolina. Middle school students attend Central Wilkes Middle School. Elementary schools serving the town are Wilkesboro Elementary, Moravian Falls Elementary, and CC Wright Elementary.
Wilkesboro is also home to Wilkes Community College. This is a public, two-year college. It is part of the North Carolina Community College System. About 3,500 students usually attend the college.
Local Media
Wilkesboro gets its news from sources in nearby North Wilkesboro. The Record of Wilkes is a newspaper published every week. The Journal-Patriot is also a weekly newspaper.
Wilkes County's two biggest radio stations broadcast from North Wilkesboro. WKBC-FM (97.3 FM) plays Adult Contemporary music. WKBC (AM) (800 AM) plays American Country music.
Getting Around Wilkesboro
Public Transportation
The Wilkes Transportation Authority (WTA) is a local shuttle service. It uses vans and buses to help people travel around Wilkes County. Fares are usually around $4. There is a scheduled shuttle that runs every hour. You can also ask for a van to pick you up anywhere in the county.
Bus Service to Other Cities
You can find daily bus service from Greyhound. These buses are called Greyhound Express buses. The bus stop is in front of the Former Federal Building. This building is at 207 West Main Street in Wilkesboro.
Buses go to Boone, NC and Greensboro, NC. This route is called the Mountaineer East/West line. Prices can be as low as $4. From Greensboro, passengers can connect to other Greyhound services. These services go all over the East Coast.
Main Roads
Several major highways pass through or near Wilkesboro:
- U.S. Route 421 Business
- NC 16
- NC 18
- NC 268
Fun Places to Visit
Wilkesboro has many attractions for visitors and locals:
- MerleFest: A famous music festival.
- W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir: A great place for outdoor activities.
- Carolina West Wireless Community Commons: A modern public space.
- Wilkes Communications Pavilion: A place for events.
- Heritage Square Splash Pad: A fun water play area.
- Wilkes Heritage Museum: Learn about the area's history.
- Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course: A course for disc golf.
- Wilkesboro Sundial: A unique way to tell time.
- Wilkes Community College: The local college campus.
- Ben Long Frescoes at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Beautiful artworks.
- Cub Creek Park and Mountain Biking Trails: Outdoor recreation.
- Hidden Oaks Dog Park: A place for dogs to play.
- Blue Ridge Artisan Center at The 1915 Building: See local art.
- Yadkin River Greenway: A path along the river.
- North Wilkesboro Speedway: A historic race track.
Famous People from Wilkesboro
Many notable people have connections to Wilkesboro:
- Rhoda Bryan Billings: A law professor and judge. She was the second woman to be Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
- Chang and Eng Bunker: Known as the original Siamese twins.
- Zach Galifianakis: A well-known stand-up comedian and actor.
- Deneen Graham: The first Black woman to be crowned Miss North Carolina in 1983.
- Richard N. Hackett: Served as a Congressional Representative from 1907 to 1909.
- Jim Hamby: A former MLB (Major League Baseball) player.
- Junior Johnson: A former NASCAR driver who won 50 races.
- Montford Stokes: A former United States Senator and the 25th Governor of North Carolina.
- Rachel Montgomery Stokes: The First Lady of North Carolina, married to Montford Stokes.
Images for kids
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Wilkesboro Town Hall
See also
In Spanish: Wilkesboro para niños
