Lowell, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Lowell is a small city in Gaston County
, North Carolina
, United States
and a suburb of both Charlotte
and Gastonia
. The population was 2,662 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land. The South Fork Catawba River borders Lowell on the north and the city is part of the Cramerton Watershed.
, in hopes the city would become a similar textile center. The settlement dates back to 1850, when Woodlawn Mill was built on the South Fork Catawba River. When grading was done for the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway in 1870 and a small depot was built in the community, it was given the name "Wright’s Station", because the nearest resident was William Wright.
of 2000, there were 2,662 people, 1,085 households, and 748 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,011.8 people per square mile (390.8/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 432.2 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.40% White, 6.46% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 1,085 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples
living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,586, and the median income for a family was $39,143. Males had a median income of $30,750 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,809. About 10.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Lowell is in South Point Township.
public school system. The public schools in Lowell are Lowell Elementary School, Kindergarten through Grade 5, and Holbrook Middle School, Grades 6-8.
Most of Lowell is in the attendance district for Lowell Elementary School. Southeastern parts of the city are in the attendance district for McAdenville Elementary School in McAdenville
, and a small area in southwestern Lowell is in the attendance distinct for Gardner Park Elementary School in Gastonia
. All of the city is in the attendance district for Holbrook Middle School.
High School age students attend Ashbrook High School
in Gastonia, except for a small part of southeastern Lowell which is in the attendance district for South Point High School
in Belmont
.
Private schools in Lowell include the elementary school of Gaston Christian School
. New middle school and high school facilities are currently under construction at the Lowell campus. In the meantime, the school has been renting facilities for the middle school and high school programs at the former campus of Sacred Heart College in Belmont since 1994.
. Other important highways include U.S. Route 29
/U.S. Route 74
(Wilkinson Blvd./Franklin Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (McAdenville Rd./3rd St./Main St./1st St./Lowell Rd.).
Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway
. While Amtrak
's passenger train also follows the Norfolk Southern main line, the nearest station is in Gastonia.
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...
and a suburb of both Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
and Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
. The population was 2,662 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Lowell is located at 35°16′2"N 81°6′4"W (35.267346, -81.101210).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 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land. The South Fork Catawba River borders Lowell on the north and the city is part of the Cramerton Watershed.
History
Lowell was incorporated in 1879. It was named after Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, in hopes the city would become a similar textile center. The settlement dates back to 1850, when Woodlawn Mill was built on the South Fork Catawba River. When grading was done for the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway in 1870 and a small depot was built in the community, it was given the name "Wright’s Station", because the nearest resident was William Wright.
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 2,662 people, 1,085 households, and 748 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 1,011.8 people per square mile (390.8/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 432.2 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.40% White, 6.46% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.19% 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 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 1,085 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% 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, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,586, and the median income for a family was $39,143. Males had a median income of $30,750 versus $24,063 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 $15,809. About 10.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Lowell is governed by a mayor and a five-member city council. It is run by a full-time City Administrator. Lowell operates its own Police Department. Fire protection is provided by the Lowell Volunteer Fire Department (Station 17).Lowell is in South Point Township.
Education
Public education in Lowell 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. The public schools in Lowell are Lowell Elementary School, Kindergarten through Grade 5, and Holbrook Middle School, Grades 6-8.
Most of Lowell is in the attendance district for Lowell Elementary School. Southeastern parts of the city are in the attendance district for McAdenville Elementary School in McAdenville
McAdenville, North Carolina
McAdenville, also known as Christmastown USA, is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States and is considered to be a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 619 at the 2000 census....
, and a small area in southwestern Lowell is in the attendance distinct for Gardner Park Elementary School in Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
. All of the city is in the attendance district for Holbrook Middle School.
High School age students attend Ashbrook High School
Ashbrook High School
Ashbrook High School is a public high school in the School District of Gaston County located in Gastonia, North Carolina.-External links:...
in Gastonia, except for a small part of southeastern Lowell which is in the attendance district for South Point High School
South Point High School (North Carolina)
South Point High School is a public high school in the Gaston County Schools public school district located in Belmont, North Carolina.-Administration:...
in Belmont
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
.
Private schools in Lowell include the elementary school of Gaston Christian School
Gaston Christian School
Gaston Christian School is a private Christian school located in Lowell, North Carolina.-History:"GCS" was founded in 1979 by a group of parents who wished to have a non-denominational school. With support of the pastors of Parkwood Baptist Church and First ARP Church, it was opened in 1980 in...
. New middle school and high school facilities are currently under construction at the Lowell campus. In the meantime, the school has been renting facilities for the middle school and high school programs at the former campus of Sacred Heart College in Belmont since 1994.
Transportation
The primary east-west highway passing through Lowell is Interstate 85Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
. Other important highways include U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
/U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...
(Wilkinson Blvd./Franklin Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (McAdenville Rd./3rd St./Main St./1st St./Lowell Rd.).
Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. While 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...
's passenger train also follows the Norfolk Southern main line, the nearest station is in Gastonia.
Points of interest
- George Poston Park is located northwest of Lowell on Lowell-Spencer Mountain Road. This Gaston County-operated park includes a playground, 4 lighted softball/little league fields, 4 lighted soccer fields, and a mountain bike trail.
- The Lowell Teacherage at 503 W. First St. in Lowell is a Designated Gaston County Historic Property. It was built in 1924 to house teachers when the local school was not in session.
Famous residents
- Wilbur HowardWilbur HowardWilbur Leon Howard is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. During a 6-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Houston Astros ....
(born 1949), MLB player for the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. - Whitey LockmanWhitey LockmanCarroll Walter "Whitey" Lockman was a player, coach, manager and front office executive in American Major League Baseball.-Role in miraculous 1951 comeback:...
(born 1926), a retired Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, primarily with the New York GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Lockman also managed the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for 2½ seasons.
External links
- City of Lowell official government website