Webster, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Webster is a town in Jackson County
, North Carolina
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 363.
Webster was the first county seat
of Jackson county, until Sylva
took over in 1913.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 486 people, 200 households, and 141 families residing in the town. The population density
was 303.3 people per square mile (117.3/km²). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 141.7/sq mi (54.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.03% White, 2.06% African American, 1.03% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.
There were 200 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 72.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,313, and the median income for a family was $46,042. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $30,278 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,019. About 14.5% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
are within the town. The Lucius Coleman House, the Elisha Calor Hedden House, the Walter E. Moore House, and the old Webster Rock Schoolhouse, built by the Works Progress Administration
in 1936, were all listed in 1990. The Webster Baptist Church, built in 1900, though outside the town limits is still considered in Webster, and the Webster Methodist Church, next to the old School, built around the same time, were listed in 1989.
Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County is a county located in the southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 40,271. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, replacing Webster.-History:...
, 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...
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 363.
Webster was the first county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Jackson county, until Sylva
Sylva, North Carolina
Sylva is an incorporated town located in central Jackson County, in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 2,588. It is the county seat, having taken over from nearby Webster in 1913.-Geography:Sylva...
took over in 1913.
Geography
Webster is located at 35°20′43"N 83°12′48"W (35.345264, -83.213460).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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
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 486 people, 200 households, and 141 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 303.3 people per square mile (117.3/km²). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 141.7/sq mi (54.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.03% White, 2.06% African American, 1.03% Asian, 0.41% 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 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.
There were 200 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 72.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,313, and the median income for a family was $46,042. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $30,278 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 $21,019. About 14.5% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Webster was originally founded in 1851 in order to serve as the county seat of Jackson County. A massive fire and the railroad's failure to come to the town caused the larger and more powerful railroading center of Sylva to take over the county seat designation. The town once had a courthouse and many shops, but none of the buildings that hint at its vibrant past as a thriving county seat town survive except a few Victorian homes. Several buildings on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
are within the town. The Lucius Coleman House, the Elisha Calor Hedden House, the Walter E. Moore House, and the old Webster Rock Schoolhouse, built by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
in 1936, were all listed in 1990. The Webster Baptist Church, built in 1900, though outside the town limits is still considered in Webster, and the Webster Methodist Church, next to the old School, built around the same time, were listed in 1989.