Kinston, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County
since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
region.
Kinston is home of the N.C. Global TransPark
(GTP), a combined airport and industrial complex developed by the state in Lenoir County; Grainger Stadium
, home to the Kinston Indians
minor league baseball team through 2011; Caswell Center, a campus providing support services and boarding for mentally handicapped; and Lenoir Memorial Hospital
. Kinstons' Bill Fay Park is home to the Annual Allen Pearson Foundation Softball Tournament held each year annually during the first weekend in October. Annual festivities in Kinston include the Sand in the Streets concert series held at Pearson Park, the popular train rides, nature center, and planetarium located at Neuseway Park, and the Festival on the Neuse.
In 2009, it was announced that Kinston is a recipient of the prestigious All-America City Award
. This marks the second time in twenty years the city has won the title, the last time being in 1988.
settlement, the area was inhabited by the Neusiok Indians. Preceding the historic tribe, indigenous peoples
of a variety of cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years. Before the English colonists established the city, they called the area Atkins Bank, referring to a bluff once owned by Robert Atkins
just above the Neuse River
. Atkins Bank was the site of farms, a tobacco
warehouse, and a Church of England
mission
.
Kinston was created by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly
in December of 1762 as Kingston, in honor of King George III who had just recently ascended to the throne. The bill to incorporate it was introduced by Richard Caswell
, who made his home there and later served as the first Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780. After victory in the American Revolution
, the citizens renamed the city Kinston in 1784 to show the population's disavowal of royalty. In 1833, Kinston briefly became Caswell, in honor of governor Richard Caswell
, but the name was reverted to Kinston the following year.
Commissioners appointed to design the town began to accept "subscriptions" for numbered lots. To keep a lot, subscribers were required to build brick homes of specific dimensions within three years or lose their rights to the property. The town was laid out with border streets named East, North, and South, with the western border the Neuse River
. The two principal roads within these borders were named for King George and Queen Charlotte. They remain King and Queen Street to this day. Other streets were named in honor of Governor Dobbs (later renamed Independent Street) and the commissioners.
In December of 1791, an act was passed in the General Assembly to abolish Dobbs County and form Lenoir
and Glasgow counties. At that time, Kinston was designated the county seat for Lenoir County.
Throughout this period, Kinston was an unincorporated town. It finally became incorporated through an act of the legislature in January 1849. Following incorporation, the population grew rapidly. In 1850, the population was estimated at 455 people, and just ten years later, it had more than doubled to over one thousand.
, Camp Campbell and Camp Johnston were established near the city as training camps, and a bakery on Queen Street was converted to produce hardtack
in large quantities. There was also a factory for the production of shoes for the military located in Kinston. The Battle of Kinston
took place in and around the city on December 14, 1862.
The Battle of Wyse Fork
aka 'Battle of Southwest Creek' (March 7–10, 1865) also occurred very near the city. It was at this later battle that the Confederate Ram Neuse
was scuttled to avoid capture by Union troops. Remnants of the ship have been salvaged, and are on display at Richard Caswell Park on West Vernon Ave. A climate-controlled museum is currently under construction on downtown Queen Street, with plans to move the hulk there to prevent further deterioration of the original ship's remains. A full-scale replica vessel (Ram Neuse II) has been constructed near the original's resting place (known as the "Cat's Hole") beside the bank of the Neuse River on Heritage St. in Kinston. Union Army
forces occupied the city following the battle.
United States troops were assigned to the area through the Reconstruction period.
During the late nineteenth century, there was expansion into new areas of industry, most notably the production of horse-drawn carriages. Kinston also became a major tobacco
and cotton
trading center. By the start of the twentieth century, more than five million pounds of tobacco were being sold annually in Kinston's warehouses. Along with the growth in population and industry was a growth in property values. Some parcels increased in value more than fivefold within a twenty-year period.
and cotton mills, as North Carolina businessmen invested in processing their own crops. Professional sports was introduced in the form of a minor league baseball
team. Later growth would come in the form of a Du Pont plant for the manufacture of polyester
fibers, and manufacturing plants for pharmaceuticals. Growth finally slowed following the 1960s, with the shift in textile production overseas. Efforts to reinvigorate the economy through various means have had limited success.
Kinston was heavily impacted by flooding in 1996 and 1999. Hurricane Fran
struck the North Carolina coast on September 5, 1996 and brought 16 inches (406 mm) of rain to the area., causing the Neuse River
to flood portions of the city. On September 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd
struck the area, bringing 17 inches (430 mm) of rain. It caused what locals have called "The Flood of the Century."
of 2000, there were 23,688 people, 9,829 households, and 6,074 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,415.7 people per square mile (546.7/km²). There were 11,229 housing units at an average density of 671.1 per square mile (259.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.27% White, 62.64% African American. In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,630, and the median income for a family was $35,867. Males had a median income of $28,688 versus $21,442 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,779. About 19.7% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
, Kinston is predominately Christian
Protestant with large concentrations of Baptists, Methodists, and various other evangelical
groups. Episcopalians
, Presbyterians, and Disciples of Christ also constitute a significant portion of the population.
The Roman Catholic community in Kinston has seen steady growth over the years with the migration of hispanic
workers to the area. Catholic migrants have also come from the northeastern United States
who work for the North Carolina
Global TransPark
and in nearby Greenville, North Carolina
.
For many years, Kinston had a sizeable Jewish community. As with most Jewish communities in the rural South
, it has seen a steady decline. Temple Israel (Kinston, North Carolina)
, Kinston's only synagogue
, currently supports around 20 families.
, Pink Hill
, as well as locations in Greene
and Jones Counties
.
The CSS Neuse
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, and Caswell Memorial house the remains of the hull of the Confederate ironclad. A video detailing the history of the CSS Neuse is available for viewing at the Caswell Memorial. The Lenoir County Confederate Memorial, the Caswell family cemetery, and the Lenoir County Korean
and Vietnam War
Memorial are located at the site. There is also a Civil War Trails marker.
The Cultural Heritage Museum (CHM) was organized in the winter of 2000 on South Queen Street as a new economic development catalyst for Kinston, Lenoir County and eastern North Carolina. The heritage tourism
project was created to recognize the contributions of African Americans in numerous fields. It pays tribute to the more than 200,000 black
soldiers and 7,000 white officers of the United States Colored Troops
who fought with the Union
forces in the American Civil War. It also honors black military veterans from all wars, Carl Long
and the Negro Baseball League
players, local heroes, and Africa
and Black History
in general. The CHM intends to generate jobs and promote economic expansion opportunities.
Kinston is also home to notable restaurants and a successful craft brewery. Kings BBQ is located on Highway 70 East near Lenoir Community College and has been a popular stop among locals and for people traveling to the beach for decades. The Chef and the Farmer restaurant is unlike any restaurant in North Carolina, unbelievably fresh food and atmosphere. It's like being in New York City or Chicago, except you're in Kinston. The Barn steakhouse, formerly the Beef Barn, and The Baron and the Beef are both fine dining establishments, featuring locally sourced produce and meats on their menus and supporting sustainable agriculture. Also a proponent of sustainable practices and local ingredients, Mother Earth Brewing
was founded in Kinston in the summer of 2008.
Since 1882, The Kinston Free Press
has been published in Kinston.
minor league baseball team as well as youth and college level baseball tournaments. The town has hosted professional baseball since 1908, and among the many alumni is Rick Ferrell
who has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
, and Manny Ramirez
.
The Kinston Drag Strip
hosts a variety of motor sports events throughout the year. Kinston has three golf courses: the Kinston Country Club, Falling Creek Golf Course, and Bill Fay Park Par 3 Golf Course. Barnet Park is home to Kinston Disc Golf. Fairfield Park has the Sprayground. The "Galaxy of Sports" is a recreational facility including a bowling alley, skating rink
, and a health club.
In 1956, Kinston was the site of a rare, perfect game of billiards
, as Willie Mosconi
sank 150 balls in a row in one inning against Jimmy Moore.
Lenoir County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of 2005, there were 57,961 people, 23,862 households, and 16,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 149.2 people per square mile . There were 27,940 housing units at an average density of 68 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 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County
Lenoir County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of 2005, there were 57,961 people, 23,862 households, and 16,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 149.2 people per square mile . There were 27,940 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
Inner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
region.
Kinston is home of the N.C. Global TransPark
Global TransPark
The North Carolina Global TransPark is a 2,500 acre, multi-modal industrial/airport site in Eastern North Carolina. As an agency of the State of North Carolina, the GTP is considered a key engine for driving the economic of Eastern North Carolina. The park offers access to multi-modal...
(GTP), a combined airport and industrial complex developed by the state in Lenoir County; Grainger Stadium
Grainger Stadium
Grainger Stadium is a sports venue located in Kinston, North Carolina. The Kinston Indians of the Carolina League, and all the professional Kinston baseball teams since 1949, played their home games there.-History and naming:...
, home to the Kinston Indians
Kinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
minor league baseball team through 2011; Caswell Center, a campus providing support services and boarding for mentally handicapped; and Lenoir Memorial Hospital
Lenoir Memorial Hospital
Lenoir Memorial Hospital is a non-profit hospital located in Kinston, North Carolina. The hospital is licensed for 261 beds and serves the residents of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The hospital is staffed with over 100 physicians....
. Kinstons' Bill Fay Park is home to the Annual Allen Pearson Foundation Softball Tournament held each year annually during the first weekend in October. Annual festivities in Kinston include the Sand in the Streets concert series held at Pearson Park, the popular train rides, nature center, and planetarium located at Neuseway Park, and the Festival on the Neuse.
In 2009, it was announced that Kinston is a recipient of the prestigious All-America City Award
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
. This marks the second time in twenty years the city has won the title, the last time being in 1988.
Early history
At the time of EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
settlement, the area was inhabited by the Neusiok Indians. Preceding the historic tribe, indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
of a variety of cultures had lived in the area for thousands of years. Before the English colonists established the city, they called the area Atkins Bank, referring to a bluff once owned by Robert Atkins
Robert Atkins
Robert Atkins may refer to:* Robert Atkins , American physician noted for the Atkins diet* Robert Atkins , British film and theatre actor...
just above the Neuse River
Neuse River
The Neuse River is a river rising in the Piedmont of North Carolina and emptying into Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately , making it the longest river entirely contained in North Carolina. The Trent River joins it at New Bern. Its drainage basin, measuring in area,...
. Atkins Bank was the site of farms, a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
warehouse, and a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
.
Kinston was created by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
in December of 1762 as Kingston, in honor of King George III who had just recently ascended to the throne. The bill to incorporate it was introduced by Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
, who made his home there and later served as the first Governor of the State of North Carolina from 1776 to 1780. After victory in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the citizens renamed the city Kinston in 1784 to show the population's disavowal of royalty. In 1833, Kinston briefly became Caswell, in honor of governor Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
, but the name was reverted to Kinston the following year.
Commissioners appointed to design the town began to accept "subscriptions" for numbered lots. To keep a lot, subscribers were required to build brick homes of specific dimensions within three years or lose their rights to the property. The town was laid out with border streets named East, North, and South, with the western border the Neuse River
Neuse River
The Neuse River is a river rising in the Piedmont of North Carolina and emptying into Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately , making it the longest river entirely contained in North Carolina. The Trent River joins it at New Bern. Its drainage basin, measuring in area,...
. The two principal roads within these borders were named for King George and Queen Charlotte. They remain King and Queen Street to this day. Other streets were named in honor of Governor Dobbs (later renamed Independent Street) and the commissioners.
In December of 1791, an act was passed in the General Assembly to abolish Dobbs County and form Lenoir
Lenoir County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of 2005, there were 57,961 people, 23,862 households, and 16,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 149.2 people per square mile . There were 27,940 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
and Glasgow counties. At that time, Kinston was designated the county seat for Lenoir County.
Throughout this period, Kinston was an unincorporated town. It finally became incorporated through an act of the legislature in January 1849. Following incorporation, the population grew rapidly. In 1850, the population was estimated at 455 people, and just ten years later, it had more than doubled to over one thousand.
Civil War
During the onset of the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
, Camp Campbell and Camp Johnston were established near the city as training camps, and a bakery on Queen Street was converted to produce hardtack
Hardtack
Hardtack is a simple type of cracker or biscuit, made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Inexpensive and long-lasting, it was and is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages and military campaigns. The name derives from the British sailor slang...
in large quantities. There was also a factory for the production of shoes for the military located in Kinston. The Battle of Kinston
Battle of Kinston
The Battle of Kinston was fought on December 14, 1862, in Lenoir County, North Carolina, near the town of Kinston, as part of the Goldsboro Expedition of the American Civil War....
took place in and around the city on December 14, 1862.
The Battle of Wyse Fork
Battle of Wyse Fork
The Battle of Wyse Fork was a battle fought in the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War, resulting in a Union Army victory.-Background:...
aka 'Battle of Southwest Creek' (March 7–10, 1865) also occurred very near the city. It was at this later battle that the Confederate Ram Neuse
CSS Neuse
The CSS Neuse was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. The remains of the ship can now be seen at an exhibit in Kinston, North Carolina as the CSS Neuse State Historic Site and Governor Caswell Memorial...
was scuttled to avoid capture by Union troops. Remnants of the ship have been salvaged, and are on display at Richard Caswell Park on West Vernon Ave. A climate-controlled museum is currently under construction on downtown Queen Street, with plans to move the hulk there to prevent further deterioration of the original ship's remains. A full-scale replica vessel (Ram Neuse II) has been constructed near the original's resting place (known as the "Cat's Hole") beside the bank of the Neuse River on Heritage St. in Kinston. Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
forces occupied the city following the battle.
United States troops were assigned to the area through the Reconstruction period.
Post-Reconstruction
Despite the hardships of war and Reconstruction, the population of the city continued to grow. By 1870, the population had increased to eleven hundred people and grew to more than seventeen hundred within a decade.During the late nineteenth century, there was expansion into new areas of industry, most notably the production of horse-drawn carriages. Kinston also became a major tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
trading center. By the start of the twentieth century, more than five million pounds of tobacco were being sold annually in Kinston's warehouses. Along with the growth in population and industry was a growth in property values. Some parcels increased in value more than fivefold within a twenty-year period.
20th Century
New industries were founded, including lumberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and cotton mills, as North Carolina businessmen invested in processing their own crops. Professional sports was introduced in the form of a minor league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. Later growth would come in the form of a Du Pont plant for the manufacture of polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
fibers, and manufacturing plants for pharmaceuticals. Growth finally slowed following the 1960s, with the shift in textile production overseas. Efforts to reinvigorate the economy through various means have had limited success.
Kinston was heavily impacted by flooding in 1996 and 1999. Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina at Category 3 strength. Throughout the eastern United States, early statistics on Fran reported 27 deaths and $3.2 billion in damage...
struck the North Carolina coast on September 5, 1996 and brought 16 inches (406 mm) of rain to the area., causing the Neuse River
Neuse River
The Neuse River is a river rising in the Piedmont of North Carolina and emptying into Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately , making it the longest river entirely contained in North Carolina. The Trent River joins it at New Bern. Its drainage basin, measuring in area,...
to flood portions of the city. On September 16, 1999, Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
struck the area, bringing 17 inches (430 mm) of rain. It caused what locals have called "The Flood of the Century."
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 23,688 people, 9,829 households, and 6,074 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 1,415.7 people per square mile (546.7/km²). There were 11,229 housing units at an average density of 671.1 per square mile (259.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.27% White, 62.64% African American. In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,630, and the median income for a family was $35,867. Males had a median income of $28,688 versus $21,442 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 $17,779. About 19.7% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
As with most of 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...
, Kinston is predominately Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Protestant with large concentrations of Baptists, Methodists, and various other evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
groups. Episcopalians
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, Presbyterians, and Disciples of Christ also constitute a significant portion of the population.
The Roman Catholic community in Kinston has seen steady growth over the years with the migration of hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
workers to the area. Catholic migrants have also come from the northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who work for the 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...
Global TransPark
Global TransPark
The North Carolina Global TransPark is a 2,500 acre, multi-modal industrial/airport site in Eastern North Carolina. As an agency of the State of North Carolina, the GTP is considered a key engine for driving the economic of Eastern North Carolina. The park offers access to multi-modal...
and in nearby Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
.
For many years, Kinston had a sizeable Jewish community. As with most Jewish communities in the rural South
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
, it has seen a steady decline. Temple Israel (Kinston, North Carolina)
Temple Israel (Kinston, North Carolina)
Temple Israel is a synagogue located in Kinston, North Carolina. Established by Eastern European Jews in 1903, it is one of the oldest synagogues in North Carolina...
, Kinston's only synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, currently supports around 20 families.
High schools
- Kinston High School
- Lenoir County Early College
- North Lenoir High School
- South Lenoir High School
Elementary schools
- Banks Elementary School-
- Northwest Elementary School
- Moss Hill Elementary School
- Southeast Elementary School
- Southwood Elementary School
- Northeast Elementary School
- LaGrange Elementary School
- Pink Hill Elementary School
Culture
The Neuse Regional Library system is headquartered in Kinston and operates braches in Kinston, LaGrangeLa Grange, North Carolina
La Grange is a town in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population is estimated to be 2,757 in 2008...
, Pink Hill
Pink Hill, North Carolina
Pink Hill is a town in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was estimated to be 538 in 2006. The town was incorporated in 1915.-Geography:Pink Hill is located at ....
, as well as locations in Greene
Greene County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,974 people, 6,696 households, and 4,955 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 7,368 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and Jones Counties
Jones County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,381 people, 4,061 households, and 2,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile . There were 4,679 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
.
The CSS Neuse
CSS Neuse
The CSS Neuse was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. The remains of the ship can now be seen at an exhibit in Kinston, North Carolina as the CSS Neuse State Historic Site and Governor Caswell Memorial...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and Caswell Memorial house the remains of the hull of the Confederate ironclad. A video detailing the history of the CSS Neuse is available for viewing at the Caswell Memorial. The Lenoir County Confederate Memorial, the Caswell family cemetery, and the Lenoir County Korean
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
Memorial are located at the site. There is also a Civil War Trails marker.
The Cultural Heritage Museum (CHM) was organized in the winter of 2000 on South Queen Street as a new economic development catalyst for Kinston, Lenoir County and eastern North Carolina. The heritage tourism
Heritage tourism
Cultural heritage tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring...
project was created to recognize the contributions of African Americans in numerous fields. It pays tribute to the more than 200,000 black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
soldiers and 7,000 white officers of the United States Colored Troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
who fought with the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
forces in the American Civil War. It also honors black military veterans from all wars, Carl Long
Carl Long (baseball)
Carl Long is a former outfielder in Negro league and minor league baseball who, along with Frank Washington, broke the color barrier in the Carolina League city of Kinston, North Carolina. Long made his debut for the Kinston Eagles on April 17, 1956. During the year, he hit .291 with 18 home runs...
and the Negro Baseball League
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
players, local heroes, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Black History
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
in general. The CHM intends to generate jobs and promote economic expansion opportunities.
Kinston is also home to notable restaurants and a successful craft brewery. Kings BBQ is located on Highway 70 East near Lenoir Community College and has been a popular stop among locals and for people traveling to the beach for decades. The Chef and the Farmer restaurant is unlike any restaurant in North Carolina, unbelievably fresh food and atmosphere. It's like being in New York City or Chicago, except you're in Kinston. The Barn steakhouse, formerly the Beef Barn, and The Baron and the Beef are both fine dining establishments, featuring locally sourced produce and meats on their menus and supporting sustainable agriculture. Also a proponent of sustainable practices and local ingredients, Mother Earth Brewing
Mother Earth Brewing
'Mother Earth Brewing is a craft beer brewery located in Kinston, North Carolina. The brewery was founded in late 2008 by owners Stephen Hill and Trent Mooring and began production in 2009.-Beers:...
was founded in Kinston in the summer of 2008.
Since 1882, The Kinston Free Press
Kinston Free Press
The Free Press is an award winning daily newspaper based in Kinston, North Carolina. It has served the city of Kinston and Lenoir County, North Carolina since 1882...
has been published in Kinston.
Sports
Granger Stadium is home to the Kinston IndiansKinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
minor league baseball team as well as youth and college level baseball tournaments. The town has hosted professional baseball since 1908, and among the many alumni is Rick Ferrell
Rick Ferrell
Richard Benjamin Ferrell was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout and executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. Ferrell was regarded as one of the best catchers in baseball during the...
who has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
, and Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
.
The Kinston Drag Strip
Dragstrip
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile tracks...
hosts a variety of motor sports events throughout the year. Kinston has three golf courses: the Kinston Country Club, Falling Creek Golf Course, and Bill Fay Park Par 3 Golf Course. Barnet Park is home to Kinston Disc Golf. Fairfield Park has the Sprayground. The "Galaxy of Sports" is a recreational facility including a bowling alley, skating rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
, and a health club.
In 1956, Kinston was the site of a rare, perfect game of billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
, as Willie Mosconi
Willie Mosconi
William Joseph Mosconi , best known as Willie Mosconi, was an American professional pool player from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Between the years of 1941 and 1957, he won the World Straight Pool Championship an unmatched fifteen times. For most of the 20th century, his name was essentially...
sank 150 balls in a row in one inning against Jimmy Moore.
Parks and recreation
The city contains the following parks:- Neuseway Nature Park, Campground and Meeting Facility
- Pearson Park
- Bill Fay Memorial Park - Par 3 Golf Course
- Emma Webb Park
- Fairfield Park - Sprayground
- Holloway Park
- Lovit Hines Park
- Southeast Park
- Barnet Park - Kinston Disc Golf
Passenger
- Air: Kinston is served by the Kinston Regional JetportKinston Regional JetportKinston Regional Jetport , also known as Stallings Field, is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Kinston, a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, USA. The airport has a single runway that is one of the longest in the southeastern United States. It...
. Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
is the closest major airport with service to more than 45 domestic and international destinations. - I-95Interstate 95 in North CarolinaInterstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
is the closest Interstate Highway to Kinston. - Kinston is not served directly by passenger trains. The closest AmtrakAmtrakThe 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...
station is located in WilsonWilson, North CarolinaWilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
. - Bus: Kinston is served by GreyhoundGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
.
Roads
- The main highway in Kinston is US 70U.S. Route 70U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
, which offers access to the North Carolina coast and I-95Interstate 95 in North CarolinaInterstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
. - Other highways that serve Kinston include US 258U.S. Route 258U.S. Route 258 is a spur of US 58 in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. The U.S. Highway runs from US 17 Business and North Carolina Highway 24 Business in Jacksonville, North Carolina north to Virginia State Route 143 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia...
, NC 11, NC 58, and NC 55.
Notable people born in Kinston
- Larry BeckLarry BeckLarry Beck is an American professional golfer from Kinston, North Carolina.At age 17, he won the 1957 U.S. Junior Amateur, beating Jack Nicklaus 4 and 3 in the third round of match play. As a professional, he competed in the 1964 U.S...
, professional golfer - Maxwell BectonMaxwell BectonMaxwell W. Becton co-founded Becton Dickinson in 1897 with Fairleigh S. Dickinson.-Biography:Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Becton moved to Rutherford, New Jersey, where his company was based, and died there in his home in 1951.Becton is interred at Hillside Cemetery in Lyndhurst, New...
, manufacturer - Jocelyn BrownJocelyn BrownJocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
, singer - James Tim BrymnJames Tim BrymnJames "Tim" Brymn, born in Kinston, North Carolina on October 5, 1881 and died in New York City on October 3, 1946, was a jazz musician in the early 1900s from Kinston, North Carolina....
, jazz musician - Reggie BullockReggie BullockReggie Bullock is an American college basketball player for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from Kinston, NC. He attended Kinston High School...
,Basketball Player at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Dwight ClarkDwight ClarkDwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...
, retired NFL player - Richard CrayRichard CrayRichard Cray is an American actor and singer.Richard began singing when he was nine years old. Possessing a true boy soprano voice, he was in great demand appearing in more than twenty plays, concerts and musicals before the age of twelve, including a co-star role as "Patrick Dennis" with Broadway...
, singer - Tony DawsonTony DawsonFor the British actor see Anthony Dawson.Tony Dawson is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'7" and 210 lb. small forward, he played college basketball at Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University. He played a handful of NBA games during the 1990s...
, NBA player - Chris HatcherChris HatcherChris Hatcher is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Murray State University, a position he has held since the 2010 season. Previsouly, Hatcher served as the head coach at Valdosta State University from 2000 to 2006 and at Georgia Southern University...
, MLB Pitcher - Donna Horton White, 1976 U.S. Women's Amateur champion, LPGA professional
- Malcolm HowardMalcolm Jones HowardMalcolm Jones Howard is a United States federal judge.Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Howard received a B.S. from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1962 and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1970. He was in the United States Army Major from 1962 to 1972. He was a...
, federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaThe United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is the United States District Court that serves the eastern 44 counties in North Carolina. Appeals from the Eastern District of North Carolina are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The... - Sherry Jones, author
- Cedric "Cornbread" MaxwellCedric MaxwellCedric Bryan Maxwell is a retired American professional basketball player now in radio broadcasting. Nicknamed "Cornbread", he played 11 seasons in the NBA, and played a key role in two championships with the Boston Celtics.-College career:Maxwell was a star forward/center for the Charlotte 49ers...
, retired NBA Player - Richard McCoy, Jr.Richard McCoy, Jr.Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr. was an American aircraft hijacker.McCoy hijacked a United Airlines passenger jet for ransom in 1972. Due to a similar modus operandi, law enforcement officials named McCoy as a suspect for the still-unidentified "D. B...
, hijacker - Mitchell's Christian SingersMitchell's Christian SingersMitchell's Christian Singers were an American gospel music group who recorded prolifically between 1934 and 1940.-Musical career:Formed in the early 1930s in Kinston, North Carolina, the group initially featured William Brown , Julius Davis , Louis "Panella" David and Lewis Herring , all former...
, gospel group - Susan OwensSusan OwensSusan Owens is an Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court. On November 7, 2000, she was elected the seventh woman to serve on the court. She joined the court after serving nineteen years as District Court Judge in Western Clallam County, where she was the county's senior elected official...
, Washington State Supreme Court Justice - George ParkerGeorge ParkerGeorge Parker may refer to:*Sir George Parker, 2nd Baronet , English politician, MP* George C. Parker , American fraudster* George Parker , South African cricketer...
, educator President of The Washington Teachers' Union in D.C - Maceo ParkerMaceo ParkerMaceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
, musician - Melvin ParkerMelvin ParkerMelvin Parker is a drummer, brother of saxophonist Maceo Parker and was an important member of James Brown's band. Parker's drumming style was a major ingredient in James Brown's funk music innovations in the late 1960s...
, drummer - Marion A. ParrottMarion A. ParrottMarion Arendell Parrott was an American lawyer.-Early years and wartime activities:Marion Arendell Parrott was the second son of William Thomas and Jeanette Johnson Parrott from Kinston, North Carolina, and a first cousin to George Parrott...
, lawyer, activist - Jaime PresslyJaime PresslyJaime Elizabeth Pressly is an American actress and model. She is best known for playing Joy Turner on the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl, for which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards, winning one, as well as a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award...
, actress, model - Barbara RoyBarbara RoyBarbara Roy was born in Kinston, North Carolina and is a dance music singer. She scored several big hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart during the 1970s as the lead vocalist for Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, then went on to have more success as a solo artist.In 1986, Roy hit number...
, singer - Christa SaulsChrista SaulsChrista Sauls is an American model and actress.Sauls started her television career in the mid-90s with roles in Step by Step and Baywatch Nights. In 1997 she appeared in the Conan series and had a lead role in the second season of Acapulco H.E.A.T.. In the late 90s, she had appearances in L.A...
, actress, model - Charles ShacklefordCharles ShacklefordCharles Edward Shackleford is an American former professional basketball player.Shackleford played collegiate basketball at North Carolina State University for 3 seasons . He was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA Draft...
, retired NBA player - J. Carlyle SittersonJ. Carlyle SittersonJoseph Carlyle "Lyle" Sitterson was an American educator who served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from February 16, 1966 to January 31, 1972....
, educator - Frank SneppFrank SneppFrank Warren Snepp is a journalist and former chief analyst of North Vietnamese strategy for the Central Intelligence Agency in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Five out of eight years in the CIA, he worked as interrogator, agent debriefer, and chief CIA strategy analyst in the US Embassy, Saigon...
, journalist - Jerry StackhouseJerry StackhouseJerry Darnell Stackhouse is an American professional basketball player who plays both shooting guard and small forward. He most recently played for the Miami Heat. He is now an NBA TV analyst but remains as an eligible free agent....
, NBA player on the Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... - George SuggsGeorge SuggsGeorge Franklin Suggs was a major league baseball pitcher....
, MLB pitcher - Tyrone WillinghamTyrone WillinghamLionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
, college football coach