Grover, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Grover is a town in Cleveland County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 698 at the 2000 census.
and South Carolina
. It was previously named Whitaker and legally was in South Carolina. The name change to Grover was in honor of President Grover Cleveland
. Gingerbread row, (Cleveland Avenue - NC 216) has an antique look with many restored homes.
A railroad dominated town started when the Atlanta Charlotte Airline Railway placed a turntable for engines to be spun. They operated from the 1880s to the 1920s and Southern Railway (U.S.) continues to carry passengers to this day (now known as Norfolk Southern). Mail drops and pickups by train occurred several times per day in Grover. Amtrak
also operates on the line (under permission) and carries passengers from Atlanta to Charlotte, Richmond and New York City. President George Bush, Jr. made a rail stop in in Grover during his Presidential campaign.
Grover is also home to international companies like Eaton, Commercial Vehicle Group, Southern Power, Cunningham Brick and the Presidential Culinary Museum and Library. Hatcher Hughes
previously lived in Grover and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for his Broadway Play, "Hell-Bent Fer Heaven
", a show about his own people from the area of the foothills - where Grover is located. He was a professor at the Ivy League ranked - Columbia University
. The Hambright (Hambrecht) family of Philadelphia and Prussia
lives in Grover and built the tallest and largest mansion there in 1879 under the guidance of Doctor Alfred Frederick Hambright (Hambrecht). Grover also hosts a former White House
Chef and manager of Camp David
, Martin CJ Mongiello, who lives there.
The name of the County that Grover is a part of, is Cleveland County, North Carolina
. The County is named after Colonel Benjamin Cleveland
(Cleaveland - Thorkil de Cleveland of Cleveland County York, England in the year 1066) - of the King's Mountain battle - a companion of Colonel Frederick Hambright
(with his son John by his side) during the Revolutionary war. Grover holds as many North Carolina Official Historical Markers as the county seat of Shelby. It was the town of entry by The Marquess, Lord Charles Cornwallis when he invaded North Carolina with his cavalry, artillery and army. The butcher of New Jersey, Major Patrick Ferguson, also camped near parts of present day Grover, prior to battle on King's Mountain, a local mountain range named after the King Family that lived there. In 1887, the Legislature voted to change the name of Grover's County - to the more utilized English word version of, "Cleveland," from its previous version of Cleaveland. President Grover Cleveland had been in office since 1885 (the first Democrat elected after the American Civil War
).
This portion of history affected local matters. A German bachelor, Grover Cleveland, was ill at ease at first with all the comforts of the White House
. "I must go to dinner," he wrote a friend, "but I wish it was to eat a pickled herring, a Swiss cheese, and a chop at Louis' instead of the French stuff I shall find." He gained advanced publicity and coverage as did the town of Grover. A portion of the original plan encompassed renaming the town after the Presidents first name to attain notice. In June 1886, this predicament would be fixed for Grover. President Cleveland married 21-year-old Frances Folsom; he was the only President ever married in the White House
. This historic event and the ensuing honeymoon took on news attention. The name change of Grover's county took on epic proportions shortly after this event. The town, White House and county historically affected each other in an unpredicted manner. In 1887, Cleaveland County held a referendum and vote to change its name to the more popular spelling of, "Cleveland." The latest, mistaken report of this (verified July, 2008) with a letter delivered by the US Postal Service, from the White House Historical Society to The Inn of the Patriots, 301 Cleveland Avenue, Grover Cleveland, NC 28073. No such town exists in America.
Cleveland Avenue (Route 226) runs through Grover - parallel to Main Street. Many Hambrights (Hambrechts), Hamricks and Herndons lived on Cleveland Avenue. Today, the Shiloh Presbyterian Church (built in 1905) remains next to Doctor Alfred Hambright's (Hambrecht) home that was built after the Civil War
. A statue was dedicated to Colonel Frederick Hambright (Hambrecht Prussian family) and US Marine Corporal, Clyde Furman Horton on July 1, 2008.
Many other prominent names dominate the makeup of Grover and are listed repeatedly in reference level books of the Cleveland County Library System, families like Herndon, Hambright (Hambrecht), Hamrick, Rountree, Keeter, Graham, Cleaveland, Cleveland, Scruggs and Goforth. Within the history of Grover - it is often confused with President Grover Cleveland versus Benjamin Cleveland and where the names came from. Although, each Cleveland are related - going back to Amos Cleveland, of Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio.
Grover is in the process of restoring itself to a more picturesque town, of a turn-of-the-century look and feel. Its train and spinning engine turntable with history applied for such in a 2010 North Carolina Main Street program. The current Mayor is Mr. John David Ledford. The town historian is Doctor Cobia Goforth.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.94%) is water.
of 2000, there were 698 people, 280 households, and 206 families residing in the town. The population density
was 706.2 people per square mile (272.2/km²). There were 313 housing units at an average density of 316.7 per square mile (122.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.12% White, 7.16% African American, 0.72% Asian, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 280 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $43,000. Males had a median income of $33,977 versus $25,769 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,132. About 13.5% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Major Transportation Routes
Schools:
There is one public elementary school, Grover Elementary, located in the town. Numerous, public, middle and high schools are located nearby in Kings Mountain, NC. Kings Mountain High School is the largest in the region and listed in America's Top 100 High Schools.
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 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 698 at the 2000 census.
History
Grover is classified a small town where railway and highway routes 85 and 29 cross the state line between North CarolinaNorth 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...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It was previously named Whitaker and legally was in South Carolina. The name change to Grover was in honor of President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. Gingerbread row, (Cleveland Avenue - NC 216) has an antique look with many restored homes.
A railroad dominated town started when the Atlanta Charlotte Airline Railway placed a turntable for engines to be spun. They operated from the 1880s to the 1920s and Southern Railway (U.S.) continues to carry passengers to this day (now known as Norfolk Southern). Mail drops and pickups by train occurred several times per day in Grover. Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
also operates on the line (under permission) and carries passengers from Atlanta to Charlotte, Richmond and New York City. President George Bush, Jr. made a rail stop in in Grover during his Presidential campaign.
Grover is also home to international companies like Eaton, Commercial Vehicle Group, Southern Power, Cunningham Brick and the Presidential Culinary Museum and Library. Hatcher Hughes
Hatcher Hughes
Hatcher Hughes was an American playwright who lived in Grover, NC, as featured in the book Images of America. He was on the teaching staff of Columbia University from 1912 onward...
previously lived in Grover and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for his Broadway Play, "Hell-Bent Fer Heaven
Hell-Bent Fer Heaven
Hell-Bent Fer Heaven is a play by Hatcher Hughes that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1924.The play ran at the Klaw Theatre from January to April 1924, featuring George Abbott, Glenn Anders and Margaret Borough...
", a show about his own people from the area of the foothills - where Grover is located. He was a professor at the Ivy League ranked - Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. The Hambright (Hambrecht) family of Philadelphia and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
lives in Grover and built the tallest and largest mansion there in 1879 under the guidance of Doctor Alfred Frederick Hambright (Hambrecht). Grover also hosts a former White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Chef and manager of Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
, Martin CJ Mongiello, who lives there.
The name of the County that Grover is a part of, is Cleveland County, North Carolina
Cleveland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile . There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 per square mile...
. The County is named after Colonel Benjamin Cleveland
Benjamin Cleveland
Benjamin Cleveland was an American pioneer and soldier in North Carolina. He is best remembered for his service as a colonel in the North Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War, and in particular for his role in the American victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.-Early...
(Cleaveland - Thorkil de Cleveland of Cleveland County York, England in the year 1066) - of the King's Mountain battle - a companion of Colonel Frederick Hambright
Frederick Hambright
Frederick Hambright was a military officer who fought in both the local militia and in the North Carolina Line of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He is best known for his participation in the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780...
(with his son John by his side) during the Revolutionary war. Grover holds as many North Carolina Official Historical Markers as the county seat of Shelby. It was the town of entry by The Marquess, Lord Charles Cornwallis when he invaded North Carolina with his cavalry, artillery and army. The butcher of New Jersey, Major Patrick Ferguson, also camped near parts of present day Grover, prior to battle on King's Mountain, a local mountain range named after the King Family that lived there. In 1887, the Legislature voted to change the name of Grover's County - to the more utilized English word version of, "Cleveland," from its previous version of Cleaveland. President Grover Cleveland had been in office since 1885 (the first Democrat elected after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
).
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. "I must go to dinner," he wrote a friend, "but I wish it was to eat a pickled herring, a Swiss cheese, and a chop at Louis' instead of the French stuff I shall find." He gained advanced publicity and coverage as did the town of Grover. A portion of the original plan encompassed renaming the town after the Presidents first name to attain notice. In June 1886, this predicament would be fixed for Grover. President Cleveland married 21-year-old Frances Folsom; he was the only President ever married in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. This historic event and the ensuing honeymoon took on news attention. The name change of Grover's county took on epic proportions shortly after this event. The town, White House and county historically affected each other in an unpredicted manner. In 1887, Cleaveland County held a referendum and vote to change its name to the more popular spelling of, "Cleveland." The latest, mistaken report of this (verified July, 2008) with a letter delivered by the US Postal Service, from the White House Historical Society to The Inn of the Patriots, 301 Cleveland Avenue, Grover Cleveland, NC 28073. No such town exists in America.
Cleveland Avenue (Route 226) runs through Grover - parallel to Main Street. Many Hambrights (Hambrechts), Hamricks and Herndons lived on Cleveland Avenue. Today, the Shiloh Presbyterian Church (built in 1905) remains next to Doctor Alfred Hambright's (Hambrecht) home that was built after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. A statue was dedicated to Colonel Frederick Hambright (Hambrecht Prussian family) and US Marine Corporal, Clyde Furman Horton on July 1, 2008.
Many other prominent names dominate the makeup of Grover and are listed repeatedly in reference level books of the Cleveland County Library System, families like Herndon, Hambright (Hambrecht), Hamrick, Rountree, Keeter, Graham, Cleaveland, Cleveland, Scruggs and Goforth. Within the history of Grover - it is often confused with President Grover Cleveland versus Benjamin Cleveland and where the names came from. Although, each Cleveland are related - going back to Amos Cleveland, of Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio.
Grover is in the process of restoring itself to a more picturesque town, of a turn-of-the-century look and feel. Its train and spinning engine turntable with history applied for such in a 2010 North Carolina Main Street program. The current Mayor is Mr. John David Ledford. The town historian is Doctor Cobia Goforth.
Geography
Grover is located at 35°10′24"N 81°26′54"W (35.173354, -81.448199).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 town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.94%) is water.
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 698 people, 280 households, and 206 families residing in the town. 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 706.2 people per square mile (272.2/km²). There were 313 housing units at an average density of 316.7 per square mile (122.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.12% White, 7.16% African American, 0.72% Asian, 0.29% from other races
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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 280 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $43,000. Males had a median income of $33,977 versus $25,769 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 town was $16,132. About 13.5% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
See also
- Kings Mountain National Military ParkKings Mountain National Military ParkKings Mountain National Military Park is a National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina, along the North Carolina/South Carolina border...
- American Revolutionary War, Battle of Kings MountainBattle of Kings MountainThe Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
- Crowder's MountainCrowder's MountainCrowders Mountain is one of two main peaks within Crowders Mountain State Park, the other peak being King's Pinnacle. The park is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina between the cities of King's Mountain and Gastonia or about west of Charlotte...
- Kings Mountain State ParkKings Mountain State ParkKings Mountain State Park is a South Carolina state park located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina.This large hilly park includes the Living History Farm, which is representative of a typical early 19th century Piedmont farm...
- Daniel Stowe Botanical GardenDaniel Stowe Botanical GardenDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located on of rolling meadows, woodlands and lakefront property in Belmont, North Carolina. Founded by Daniel J...
- U.S. National Whitewater CenterU.S. National Whitewater CenterThe U.S. National Whitewater Center is a non-profit outdoor recreation and athletic training facility for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking which opened to the public on November 4th, 2006....
- The Schiele Museum of Natural History
- The Presidential Culinary Museum and Library
- The American Revolutionary War Living History Center (ARWLHC) and Experience
- Parker HannifinParker HannifinParker Hannifin Corporation , originally Parker Appliance Company, usually referred to as just Parker, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio , is the global leader in motion and control technologies. The company was founded in 1918, and has been publicly traded on the NYSE since December 9, 1964...
- Indian Motorcycle CompanyIndian (motorcycle)Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
Major Transportation Routes
-
.svg.png)
I-85Interstate 85 in South CarolinaIn the U.S. state of South Carolina, Interstate 85 runs northeast-southwest through Greenville and Spartanburg. It follows the general corridor of U.S. Route 29...
--Exits SC 106 & NC 2 serve the town. There is an SC Welcome Center at milemarker SC 103 and NC 3. Grover straddles the state line. -
US 29--2 and 4 lanes. Runs through the downtown area and serves next to the CSX railroad tracks and alongside Main Street.
Schools:
There is one public elementary school, Grover Elementary, located in the town. Numerous, public, middle and high schools are located nearby in Kings Mountain, NC. Kings Mountain High School is the largest in the region and listed in America's Top 100 High Schools.