Centerville, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Centerville is a town in the rural northeastern corner of Franklin County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 89 at the 2010 census, a loss of 10 persons from the previous count of 99 at the 2000 census. There is no post office in Centerville, and thus no zip code; it simply uses that of Louisburg
, which is located 12 miles (19.3 km) west. "Downtown" Centerville is centered around "the crossroads", which is the intersection of NC-561
and NC-58, and consists of three small old-fashioned country store
s, one each on three of that intersection's four corners. One has a butcher store inside (Hamlet's), two sell gasoline (Arnold's and The Country Store), and one of those also sells diesel and kerosene (The Country Store). All three sell basic general store
items, such as toilet paper, soap, household cleaning products, canned and boxed food, etc., as well as common convenience store
items such as sodas, snack foods, cigarettes, beer, etc.
Centerville has its own church (Centerville Baptist Church, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention
), and volunteer fire department. There is no police department, so Centerville - like the surrounding unincorporated area - is patrolled by the Franklin County sheriff.
As is common in the rural stretches of eastern North Carolina, many of the houses in and around Centerville are quite old and in poor states of repair, and agriculture is the main use of land. Tobacco, soybeans, corn, and hay are the main crops.
Centerville includes many antique buildings from its heyday, including the now-defunct Serepta Church, a former Methodist church located at the intersection of NC-561 and Centerville-Laurel Mill Road.
At 0.28 square mile (0.7251966708 km²), Centerville is among the smallest incorporated cities in North Carolina. Nearby cities and towns of larger size include Louisburg
(12 miles west on NC-561, population 3,111), Warrenton
(17.5 miles north on NC-58, population 811), and Castalia (10 miles south on NC-58, population 340).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 89 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 93% White (83 persons), 3.5% Black (3 persons), and 3.5% other (3 persons).
Franklin County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 47,260 people, 17,843 households, and 12,882 families residing in the county. The population density was 96 people per square mile . There were 20,364 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 89 at the 2010 census, a loss of 10 persons from the previous count of 99 at the 2000 census. There is no post office in Centerville, and thus no zip code; it simply uses that of Louisburg
Louisburg, North Carolina
Louisburg is a town in Franklin County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,111. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
, which is located 12 miles (19.3 km) west. "Downtown" Centerville is centered around "the crossroads", which is the intersection of NC-561
North Carolina Highway 561
NC 561 is a 101-mile North Carolina state highway and a rural traffic artery connecting Louisburg and Ahoskie with many small-to-medium sized towns in the "Down East" and Coastal Plain regions within minutes from the Virginia state line...
and NC-58, and consists of three small old-fashioned country store
Country store
Country store may refer to:* A general store in a rural setting such as a village* Country Store , a muesli-based breakfast cereal...
s, one each on three of that intersection's four corners. One has a butcher store inside (Hamlet's), two sell gasoline (Arnold's and The Country Store), and one of those also sells diesel and kerosene (The Country Store). All three sell basic general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
items, such as toilet paper, soap, household cleaning products, canned and boxed food, etc., as well as common convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
items such as sodas, snack foods, cigarettes, beer, etc.
Centerville has its own church (Centerville Baptist Church, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
), and volunteer fire department. There is no police department, so Centerville - like the surrounding unincorporated area - is patrolled by the Franklin County sheriff.
As is common in the rural stretches of eastern North Carolina, many of the houses in and around Centerville are quite old and in poor states of repair, and agriculture is the main use of land. Tobacco, soybeans, corn, and hay are the main crops.
Centerville includes many antique buildings from its heyday, including the now-defunct Serepta Church, a former Methodist church located at the intersection of NC-561 and Centerville-Laurel Mill Road.
At 0.28 square mile (0.7251966708 km²), Centerville is among the smallest incorporated cities in North Carolina. Nearby cities and towns of larger size include Louisburg
Louisburg, North Carolina
Louisburg is a town in Franklin County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,111. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
(12 miles west on NC-561, population 3,111), Warrenton
Warrenton, North Carolina
Warrenton is a town in Warren County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 811 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1779, it is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to one of the campuses of Vance-Granville Community College....
(17.5 miles north on NC-58, population 811), and Castalia (10 miles south on NC-58, population 340).
Geography
Centerville is located at 36°11′6"N 78°6′41"W (36.184980, -78.111252).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 89 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 93% White (83 persons), 3.5% Black (3 persons), and 3.5% other (3 persons).