Crisp, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Crisp is a community in Edgecombe County
in eastern North Carolina
. It is located at the intersection of US Route 258 and North Carolina Highway 124, about 11 miles south of Tarboro
.
. Before that time, the community had been referred to as "Eagles' Store," "Eagles' Crossroads," and other variations after the store run by the Eagles family, now through five generations. In 1896, the Eagles had taken on a business partner, Sellus M. Crisp, and when the business, on behalf of the community, applied for a post office with the request that the community be named "Eagles," it was on Eagles & Crisp Mercantile business stationery. The post office department, noting that several towns throughout the state had the word "Eagles" in the name, suggested that the town be called "Crisp." There was no disagreement and the Post Office had a station in Eagles' store until the early 1990s.
Eagles Baptist Church was organized in 1891. At the time it was the second Missionary Baptist church in the county and it is still the largest church in Crisp. Crisp Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, formerly Eagles Chapel, is the other church in the community. Historically, Eagles Baptist Church has served a white congregation and Crisp Chapel (formerly, Eagles Chapel) has served an African-American congregation.
There was a private academy, Eagles Academy, in Crisp from an unknown time in the 19th century into the 20th century. It was followed by a public school on the same site. The public school was graded and replaced several ungraded school
s in the area, including Edgewood School. In around 1925 the high school grades (8-11) consolidated into South Edgecombe High School, about two miles away, being joined with Macclesfield
and Pinetops
high school grades. The elementary grades(1-8) did not consolidate until around 1960. During the 1950s, Crisp Elementary School was a seven-teacher, eight-grade school. The school site was east of and adjacent to Eagles Baptist Church and the Church now owns the property.
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
in eastern 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...
. It is located at the intersection of US Route 258 and North Carolina Highway 124, about 11 miles south of Tarboro
Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a city located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the town had a total population of 13,121. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
.
History
Various family records indicate that farmers settled in the area by the late 18th century. The community became known as "Crisp" in 1896, when it acquired a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. Before that time, the community had been referred to as "Eagles' Store," "Eagles' Crossroads," and other variations after the store run by the Eagles family, now through five generations. In 1896, the Eagles had taken on a business partner, Sellus M. Crisp, and when the business, on behalf of the community, applied for a post office with the request that the community be named "Eagles," it was on Eagles & Crisp Mercantile business stationery. The post office department, noting that several towns throughout the state had the word "Eagles" in the name, suggested that the town be called "Crisp." There was no disagreement and the Post Office had a station in Eagles' store until the early 1990s.
Eagles Baptist Church was organized in 1891. At the time it was the second Missionary Baptist church in the county and it is still the largest church in Crisp. Crisp Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, formerly Eagles Chapel, is the other church in the community. Historically, Eagles Baptist Church has served a white congregation and Crisp Chapel (formerly, Eagles Chapel) has served an African-American congregation.
There was a private academy, Eagles Academy, in Crisp from an unknown time in the 19th century into the 20th century. It was followed by a public school on the same site. The public school was graded and replaced several ungraded school
Ungraded school
An ungraded school is a school that does not formally organize students according to age-based grade levels. Students' achievements are assessed by teachers, and each student is individually assigned to one of several fluid groups, according to what the student needs to learn next.Typically,...
s in the area, including Edgewood School. In around 1925 the high school grades (8-11) consolidated into South Edgecombe High School, about two miles away, being joined with Macclesfield
Macclesfield, North Carolina
Macclesfield is a town in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 458 at the 2000 census.-History:...
and Pinetops
Pinetops, North Carolina
Pinetops is a town in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
high school grades. The elementary grades(1-8) did not consolidate until around 1960. During the 1950s, Crisp Elementary School was a seven-teacher, eight-grade school. The school site was east of and adjacent to Eagles Baptist Church and the Church now owns the property.