Woodfin, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Woodfin is a town in Buncombe County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 3,464 in 2008. It is part of the Asheville
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The Town of Woodfin is named in honor of Nicholas Washington Woodfin, a renowned lawyer and statesman of early North Carolina, under whom North Carolina Governor
Vance
clerked as an attorney. Woodfin, North Carolina is the only municipality bearing the name Woodfin in the United States. The town was incorporated in 1971, although the community itself dates back to at least the mid-19th century.
. Much of the remaining early housing stock is characteristic of early 20th century mill villages. Many neighborhoods within the community bear names tied to the industry
, such as "Martel Village" and "Company Bottom." The decline of American industry in the 1970s and 80s brought a decline to the economy of Woodfin as well. The loss of many manufacturing jobs led to a decline in population and property values. Starting in the 1990s however, the town has experienced new residential growth, due primarily to the use of forced annexation. Woodfin's economy today is a mix of large and small scale manufacturing, combined with a variety of residential and commercial districts.
and six Aldermen. The Aldermen serve four year terms with staggered elections of three every two years. The board meets once a month at 6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of the every month, held at the Woodfin Town Hall.
Water services are provided by one of three water systems that serve various parts of Woodfin: Woodfin Water District, Asheville Water Authority, and Weaverville Water Department.
Town services include police, sanitation, street maintenance and construction, planning and zoning, animal control, street lighting, parks and recreation, and administration. Fire Services are provided by one of three Fire Service Districts.
, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.86%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,162 people, 1,394 households, and 769 families residing in the town. The population density
was 905.2 people per square mile (349.8/km²). There were 1,521 housing units at an average density of 435.4 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.66% White, 1.96% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 3.29% from other races
, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.
There were 1,394 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,525, and the median income for a family was $30,909. Males had a median income of $22,351 versus $23,176 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,408. Roughly 14.6% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 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 3,464 in 2008. It is part of the Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Asheville metropolitan area
The Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in western North Carolina...
. The Town of Woodfin is named in honor of Nicholas Washington Woodfin, a renowned lawyer and statesman of early North Carolina, under whom North Carolina Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Vance
Zebulon Baird Vance
Zebulon Baird Vance was a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War, the 37th and 43rd Governor of North Carolina, and U.S. Senator...
clerked as an attorney. Woodfin, North Carolina is the only municipality bearing the name Woodfin in the United States. The town was incorporated in 1971, although the community itself dates back to at least the mid-19th century.
History
The town's history is closely tied to manufacturingManufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
. Much of the remaining early housing stock is characteristic of early 20th century mill villages. Many neighborhoods within the community bear names tied to the industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, such as "Martel Village" and "Company Bottom." The decline of American industry in the 1970s and 80s brought a decline to the economy of Woodfin as well. The loss of many manufacturing jobs led to a decline in population and property values. Starting in the 1990s however, the town has experienced new residential growth, due primarily to the use of forced annexation. Woodfin's economy today is a mix of large and small scale manufacturing, combined with a variety of residential and commercial districts.
Government
The town is governed by a seven member board consisting of a MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and six Aldermen. The Aldermen serve four year terms with staggered elections of three every two years. The board meets once a month at 6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of the every month, held at the Woodfin Town Hall.
Public services and utilities
Sewer services are provided by the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County.Water services are provided by one of three water systems that serve various parts of Woodfin: Woodfin Water District, Asheville Water Authority, and Weaverville Water Department.
Town services include police, sanitation, street maintenance and construction, planning and zoning, animal control, street lighting, parks and recreation, and administration. Fire Services are provided by one of three Fire Service Districts.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.86%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,162 people, 1,394 households, and 769 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 905.2 people per square mile (349.8/km²). There were 1,521 housing units at an average density of 435.4 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.66% White, 1.96% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 3.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.
There were 1,394 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,525, and the median income for a family was $30,909. Males had a median income of $22,351 versus $23,176 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 $17,408. Roughly 14.6% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.