High Shoals, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
High Shoals is a town in Gaston County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 729 at the 2000 census.
with the charcoal process. During the War of 1812
, his High Shoals ironworks produced cannon balls for use by the United States Army
. Fulenwider died in 1826 and is buried at High Shoals cemetery. The ironworks he developed remained in operation until 1875.
In the last decade of the 19th Century, the community of High Shoals became totally-owned by High Shoals Mills, a textile company founded by Charlotte, North Carolina
industrialist Daniel A. Tompkins.
Eventually, the mill homes were sold to private owners. High Shoals was incorporated on November 6, 1973, the most-recently incorporated municipality in Gaston County.
at 35°23′49"N 81°12′16"W (35.397043, -81.204313). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.72%) is water.
The South Fork Catawba River flows through High Shoals. Areas northeast of the river are assigned to the Hoyle Creek watershed, while those southwest of the river are in the Beaverdam Creek watershed. Sulfur Branch flows through western High Shoals (including Briarcreek Golf Course) and enters the South Fork at the south end of town.
Most of High Shoals is located in Dallas Township
, except for a western portion of the town which is in Cherryville Township
.
of 2000, there were 729 people, 284 households, and 214 families residing in the town. The population density
was 407.5 people per square mile (157.2/km²). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 176.1 per square mile (67.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.07% White, 9.33% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.14% from other races
, and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 284 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples
living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,906, and the median income for a family was $36,429. Males had a median income of $31,711 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,881. About 15.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
public school system. There had been one elementary school in the town. However, High Shoals Elementary was closed in 1998 for financial reasons and consolidated with Costner Elementary School near Dallas, North Carolina
.
Today, most of High Shoals is within the attendance district for Costner Elementary, except for a section on the eastern edge of town which belongs to the attendance district of Springfield Elementary School (grades K-2) and Kiser Elementary School (grades 3-5), both in Stanley
. All elementary school graduates from High Shoals feed into W.C. Friday Middle School and North Gaston High School, both in Dallas.
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...
, 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 729 at the 2000 census.
History
High Shoals was the location of the High Shoals Iron Works, founded by Swiss-born John Fulenwider in about 1795. Fulenwider developed one of the earliest methods of making pig ironPig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
with the charcoal process. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, his High Shoals ironworks produced cannon balls for use by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Fulenwider died in 1826 and is buried at High Shoals cemetery. The ironworks he developed remained in operation until 1875.
In the last decade of the 19th Century, the community of High Shoals became totally-owned by High Shoals Mills, a textile company founded by Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
industrialist Daniel A. Tompkins.
Eventually, the mill homes were sold to private owners. High Shoals was incorporated on November 6, 1973, the most-recently incorporated municipality in Gaston County.
Geography
High Shoals is located in Dallas TownshipDallas Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Dallas Township is a township in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It includes the incorporated towns of Dallas, High Shoals , and Stanley . It also includes small portions of the City of Gastonia and a small outlying portion of the town of Ranlo...
at 35°23′49"N 81°12′16"W (35.397043, -81.204313). 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 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.72%) is water.
The South Fork Catawba River flows through High Shoals. Areas northeast of the river are assigned to the Hoyle Creek watershed, while those southwest of the river are in the Beaverdam Creek watershed. Sulfur Branch flows through western High Shoals (including Briarcreek Golf Course) and enters the South Fork at the south end of town.
Most of High Shoals is located in Dallas Township
Dallas Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Dallas Township is a township in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It includes the incorporated towns of Dallas, High Shoals , and Stanley . It also includes small portions of the City of Gastonia and a small outlying portion of the town of Ranlo...
, except for a western portion of the town which is in Cherryville Township
Cherryville Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Cherryville Township is a township in northwestern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It includes the incorporated City of Cherryville, the inactive incorporated town of Dellview, the unincorporated area of Tryon, and a portion of the town of High Shoals...
.
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 729 people, 284 households, and 214 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 407.5 people per square mile (157.2/km²). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 176.1 per square mile (67.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.07% White, 9.33% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.14% 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 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 284 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% 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, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,906, and the median income for a family was $36,429. Males had a median income of $31,711 versus $20,833 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 $14,881. About 15.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in High Shoals is administered by the Gaston County SchoolsGaston County Schools
Gaston County Schools is a public school district located in Gaston County, North Carolina. With 32,437 students enrolled in 54 schools as of the 2008/09 academic year, it is the seventh largest public school district in North Carolina.-Schools:...
public school system. There had been one elementary school in the town. However, High Shoals Elementary was closed in 1998 for financial reasons and consolidated with Costner Elementary School near Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...
.
Today, most of High Shoals is within the attendance district for Costner Elementary, except for a section on the eastern edge of town which belongs to the attendance district of Springfield Elementary School (grades K-2) and Kiser Elementary School (grades 3-5), both in Stanley
Stanley, North Carolina
Stanley is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,053 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....
. All elementary school graduates from High Shoals feed into W.C. Friday Middle School and North Gaston High School, both in Dallas.