Graham, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Graham is a city in Alamance County
, North Carolina
, United States
. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate (2008) is 14,533. It is the county seat
of Alamance County
.
, United States Senator
from North Carolina (1840–1843) and Governor of North Carolina (1845–1849).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), all of it land.
, which was created by a merger between the Alamance County School System and the Burlington City School System in 1996.
Local public schools in Graham include:
Private Schools include:
Graham is also home to Alamance Community College
, a 2-year technical college.
of 2000, there were 12,833 people, 5,241 households, and 3,385 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,579.3 people per square mile (609.5/km²). There were 5,685 housing units at an average density of 699.6 per square mile (270.0/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 72.88% White, 21.64% Black or African American
, 10.14% Hispanic or Latino American
, 0.73% Asian American
, 0.44% Native American
, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
, 3.19% some other race
, and 1.12% two or more races
.
There were 5,241 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,706, and the median income for a family was $40,769. Males had a median income of $27,844 versus $22,163 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,865. About 11.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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...
. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate (2008) is 14,533. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Alamance County
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
History
Graham was laid out in 1849 as the county seat of the newly formed Alamance County, and was incorporated as a town in 1851; it became a city in 1961. It was named for William Alexander GrahamWilliam Alexander Graham
William Alexander Graham was a United States Senator from North Carolina from 1840 to 1843, the 30th Governor of North Carolina from 1845 to 1849 and United States Secretary of the Navy from 1850 to 1852. He was also a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1852.-Education:Graham was born near...
, United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from North Carolina (1840–1843) and Governor of North Carolina (1845–1849).
Geography
Graham is located at 36°3′52"N 79°23′53"W (36.064486, -79.397941).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 8.1 square miles (21 km²), all of it land.
Education
The local school system is known as the Alamance-Burlington School SystemAlamance-Burlington School System
The Alamance-Burlington School System is a school district covering Alamance County and the city of Burlington. It was created in 1996 by merging the respective systems of the county and city....
, which was created by a merger between the Alamance County School System and the Burlington City School System in 1996.
Local public schools in Graham include:
- Graham High School
- Southern Alamance High School
- Graham Middle School
- Southern Middle School
- Alexander Wilson Elementary School
- B. Everett Jordan Elementary School
- North Graham Elementary School
- South Graham Elementary School
Private Schools include:
Graham is also home to Alamance Community College
Alamance Community College
Alamance Community College is a community college located in Graham, NC, serving the area of Alamance County, NC. It was established in 1958 as part of a statewide system known as industrial education centers.- History :...
, a 2-year technical college.
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 2000, there were 12,833 people, 5,241 households, and 3,385 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,579.3 people per square mile (609.5/km²). There were 5,685 housing units at an average density of 699.6 per square mile (270.0/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 72.88% White, 21.64% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 10.14% Hispanic or Latino American
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, 0.73% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.44% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 3.19% some other race
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.12% two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
.
There were 5,241 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,706, and the median income for a family was $40,769. Males had a median income of $27,844 versus $22,163 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,865. About 11.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.