Eden, North Carolina

Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States, in the state's Piedmont region. Eden is the largest city in Rockingham County and is part of the Greensboro-High Point MSA. The population was 15,527 at the 2010 census. From the late nineteenth century through much of the 20th, the city was a center of textile mills and manufacturing. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper.

Eden, North Carolina
City
Leaksville Commercial District
Nickname(s): 
Tri-City, Land of 2 Rivers
Motto(s): 
"Small Town, Big Outdoors"
Location of Eden within North Carolina
Coordinates: 36°30′23″N 79°44′42″W
Country  United States
State North Carolina
CountyRockingham
incorporatedSeptember 12, 1967
Government
 • TypeCity Council
 • MayorNeville Hall
 • City ManagerJon Mendenhall
Area
 • Total14.36 sq mi (37.18 km2)
 • Land14.20 sq mi (36.77 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2)
Elevation
591 ft (180 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total15,527
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
14,886
 • Density1,048.53/sq mi (404.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
27288-27289
Area code(s)336 Exchanges: 623,627,635
FIPS code37-20080[3]
GNIS feature ID0984623[4]
Websitewww.edennc.us

Geography

Eden is located at 36°30′23″N 79°44′42″W (36.506434, -79.745092).[5] The Smith and the Dan River have their confluence on the south side of Eden. The Dan River flows along Eden's southern border while the Smith River flows from the north bisecting the city on its route to meet the Dan River. The city of Greensboro is 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south, Reidsville is 15 mi (24 km) southeast via NC 14, and Piedmont Triad Airport is 36 mi (58 km), and High Point, 50 mi (80 km), respectively, via US Highway 220 / Future I-73 and NC 68 south. Ridgeway, Virginia is 8 mi (13 km) Northwest of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39 km2), of which, 15.0 square miles (39 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (1.12%) is water.

History
Leaksville (now Eden) station of Danville and Western Railroad, 1912

By the mid-eighteenth century, the territory of present-day Eden was within a 70,000-acre (280 km2) estate owned by William Byrd II, a planter of Virginia and North Carolina. He originally called his estate "The Land of Eden".[6]

During the last years of his life, William Byrd II dreamed of bringing large numbers of Swiss Protestants to the "Land of Eden"; he eventually acquired more than 100,000 acres (400 km2) in Virginia. He envisioned an industrious, self-sufficient colony that would thrive on the abundance of the frontier. Byrd's dream was not to be realized. After years of negotiations, at least one boatload of Swiss did sail for "The Land of Eden" from Europe, but it was shipwrecked in a December gale off the coast of Virginia. None of the few survivors are believed to have reached Eden. Byrd died August 26, 1744. By that time, the "Land of Eden" began to be surrounded by small farms held by a wave of poor Scotch-Irish immigrants, whom Byrd had compared to the "Goths and Vandals."[7]

"Eden" was inherited by William Byrd III, who shared none of his father's dreams of colonization. Young Byrd married Elizabeth Hill Carter in 1748. He sought to dispose of Eden to gain cash to support his grand lifestyle. He was finally successful on November 8, 1755, when he sold 26,000 acres (110 km2) in North Carolina to Simon and Francis Farley, two merchant brothers from the island of Antigua. By this time, yeoman settlement in the area was increasing at a considerable pace. The Farley brothers attempted to create plantations on some of the richest acres, but more frequently, settlers squatted on the land and built homesteads. In 1762 James Parke Farley, son of Francis Farley, went to Williamsburg to attend the College of William and Mary. He married Elizabeth Hill Byrd, daughter of William Byrd III and Elizabeth Hill Carter.

Many later settlers migrating to the Dan River Area knew little of William Byrd. They were familiar with an old Indian village in the area near Town Creek and the Farley holdings. This location became the center of settlement, and the 26,000 acres (110 km2) came to be called the Sauratown tract. In 1775, James Parke Farley and his new bride moved from cosmopolitan Williamsburg, Virginia, to Sauratown.

Farley claimed that Sauratown was his, created new plantations, and attempted to drive off the squatters. He built a home overlooking the Dan River. Farley was also a member of the 3rd Provincial Congress that met at Hillsboro. In 1776, the family left Sauratown. Elizabeth Farley's father's had committed suicide, and she appeared to dislike frontier life. Her husband James was killed during the Revolutionary War, leaving her a widow with four daughters to support. Development of Sauratown was unguided.

Farley's widow married Reverend John Dunbar, who attempted to manage Sauratown but failed. Finally, the Governor became involved in settling the legal interests of the Farley heirs. The 26,000 acres (110 km2), had become a destination for settlement due to its proximity to the Petersburg-Salem road, which crossed the Smith River at an island ford.

In 1795, the town of Leaksville was established on the southwest edge of the Sauratown along the main road. Joseph Cloud resurveyed the tract and divided it into two equal shares in 1798. A year later, Farley's daughters, Maria Farley and Rebecca Parke Farley, sold their shares to Patrick Henry of Virginia, noted as a rebel spokesman during the American Revolutionary War. On his deathbed June 6, 1799, Henry gave the land to two of his sons, Alexander Spottswood Henry and Nathaniel West Henry.

In the century that Sauratown was in existence, many families settled in the "Land of Eden", and their descendants have stayed in the area, including the Brodnax, Dillard, Ruffin, Morehead, Henry, and Winston families. Many Scots also settled in the area, including the Galloway, Scales, Watt, Lenox, Campbell, and Moir families. Other notable residents of the county include General Lighthorse Harry Lee.

20th century to present

Following previous unsuccessful referendums, on September 12, 1967, residents of Leaksville, Draper, Spray, and the unincorporated Meadows Greens Sanitary District voted to consolidate their communities, 2,252 to 1,753 with 60 percent of eligible voters participating. Of these, 784 elected to call the new city Eden, a term surveyor William Byrd II had used to describe the region in the 1700s. The consolidation took immediate effect, and Eden became the largest city in Rockingham County.[8]

  • In 1970, the city had considerable growth.
  • In 2000, city population grew to 15,908.
  • In 2010, the US Census population was 15,527.
  • In 2014, 39,000 thousand tons of coal ash and 27 million gallons of contaminated water spilled into the Dan River near Eden from a coal-fired power plant owned by Duke Energy.[9]

On the third weekend of September; Eden hosts the annual River Fest each year to celebrate Eden's history. The Boone Road Historic District, Bullard-Ray House, Cascade Plantation, Central Leaksville Historic District, Dempsey-Reynolds-Taylor House, First Baptist Church, Dr. Franklin King House-Idlewild, Leaksville Commercial Historic District, Leaksville-Spray Institute, Lower Sauratown Plantation, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Site 31RK1, Spray Industrial Historic District, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Tanyard Shoal Sluice, Three Ledges Shoal Sluice, and Wide Mouth Shoal Sluice are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

Major industry and economy
Eden Mall in 2020

Benjamin Franklin Mebane started the first of his six textile mills in the area in 1893. Marshall Field took over the company in 1912 and named it Fieldcrest. The company made textile products that included bedding: sheets and blankets. It employed more than 3000 people. After taking over Cannon Mills in 1986, the company became known as Fieldcrest Cannon; it later moved its headquarters and 110 employees to Kannapolis, North Carolina. Changes and restructuring were affecting the textile industry throughout the South, as companies moved manufacturing operations to areas with cheaper labor, including offshore.

In 1997 Fieldcrest Cannon was sold to Pillowtex. Pillowtex closed its Eden plants in 2003, laying off the last 495 textile workers.[11][12]

Miller Brewing Company ran a brewery in Eden into the early 21st century. In 2012 it still employed nearly seven hundred people, and produced nine million barrels annually.[13] Miller announced in 2015 that it was shutting down the brewery by September 2016.[14]

In February 2017, it was announced that the European-based German grocery store Lidl had broken ground on a store in Eden. It was expected to open in early 2018.[15] As of April, 2019, the store had not opened.[16]

In 1980 the Eden Mall, an approximately 400,000 square feet shopping center, was constructed. The mall began to decline in the 1990s when its Kmart store closed. More stores began to shut down, culminating in the departure of Peebles in 2008. The mall's physical condition deteriorated over the following years. It was sold in 2013 and subsequently leased out to local businesses.[17]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19603,382—
197015,871369.3%
198015,672−1.3%
199015,238−2.8%
200015,9084.4%
201015,527−2.4%
2019 (est.)14,886[2]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 15,908 people, 6,644 households, and 4,371 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,060.1 people per square mile (409.2/km2). There were 7,368 housing units at an average density of 491.0 per square mile (189.5/km2). The racial composition of the city was: 75.43% White, 22.15% Black or African American, 2.34% Hispanic or Latino American, 0.31% Asian American, 0.21% Native American, 0.06% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 1.03% some other race, and 0.81% two or more races.

There were 6,644 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 79.4 men.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,670, and the median income for a family was $35,259. Males had a median income of $29,443 versus $21,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,275. About 13.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

The city has four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Regional and national awards

Healthcare
See also: list of hospitals in North Carolina
  • UNC Rockingham Health Care: is a non-profit community hospital serves the surrounding cities within the Rockingham County area and the southern area of Virginia.[19]
  • UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center[20]
  • Morehead Wound Healing Center
  • Cone Health Medical Group Heartcare of Eden
  • Morehead Outpatient Rehab
  • Piedmont Surgical Associates
  • UNC Family Medicine at Eden
  • Royalty Health and Wellness Resources
  • Genesis Medical

Government

The City of Eden operates under an Council/Manager form type of government. Elected officials include the mayor, elected at-large, and seven council members.[21] The Mayor and City Council serve for a term of Four years. The Mayor is the presiding officer and does not vote if the vote is tied. The Eden City Council meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday.

On November 12, 2017, Neville Hall took the office of mayor.[22]

Sports

The Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets was a former Minor League Baseball team combined from three separate towns in North Carolina. The team played from 1934 through 1942 in the Bi-State League, winning the championship titles in 1935 and 1942 seasons. It was the Affiliate team for various current and former Major League Baseball teams such as, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Wilkes-Barre Barons. Some Major League Baseball alumni include: Wes Ferrell, Fred Archer, Tal Abernathy, Joe Frazier, Forrest Thompson, among others who played extensively at the minor and major league level.

Parks and recreation

The city contains the following parks:

  • Bridge Street Center
  • Freedom Ball Field Complex
  • Freedom Park
  • John E. Grogan Park
  • Mill Avenue Recreation Center
  • Mill Avenue swimming pool
  • Morgan Road Community Center
  • Peter Hill Park
  • Washington Street Park
  • Spray (Dehart) Community Center
  • Smith River Greenway
  • Skate Park

Transportation

Eden is provided service by Piedmont Triad International Airport located in nearby Greensboro, North Carolina and Shiloh Airport located in Stoneville, North Carolina.[23] Highways serving Eden include US 311, NC 14, NC 87, NC 135, NC 700, and NC 770. The nearest Interstates to Eden are I-73, I-40, I-85, from closest to furthest. Closest major highway to the city is US 220 / Future I-73, which intersects NC 770 in Stoneville, and NC 135 in Madison.

Culture

Festivals and events

Each year in September Eden host its annual Fall Riverfest, which celebrates the city's art, history, and river heritage.[24] It is located in the "old" Leaksville shopping district on Washington Street, the oldest downtown street since 1917.[25] Others include: Charlie Poole Music festival, which features music legends such as, Mike Seeger and the Osbourne brothers.[26] The Eden chamber of commerce created the Eden Business Expo, as a venue for local businesses to present career opportunities, products, and services.[27] Oink and Ale presents a block-style summer fest featuring entertainment, beer, and the city's best BBQ.[28]

Eden Museum

On September 19, 2009 the museum was officially opened. In 2010, the exhibits were completed. The museum is an initiative of the Eden Preservation Society. The museum reflects on the city's history from the consolidation of Leaksville, Spray, and Draper, Triassic period, Saura Indians, William Byrd, Civil War, World Wars, the Korean War and much more.

Smith River Greenway

The Smith River Greenway is a walking trail consisted with the Smith River that is 1.5 miles long extending along the Eden Family YMCA located on Kennedy street and Island ford landing filled with plenty of interesting plants and wildlife found in the trail. From a circumference view the Greenway can cross the smith river on meadow road. Local parking, picnic shelters, and restroom facilities are offered at the trailhead for visiting tourist. The City's next plan for the Greenway is to extend the trail towards the Spray dam.

On BoJack Horseman

Eden was featured in "The Amelia Earhart Story", the season 5 episode of the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman. One of the show's characters, Princess Carolyn, is from Eden and returns to her hometown in seeking an adoption from a local girl.

Education

Rockingham County Schools serves the City of Eden. The Rockingham County School System was Established in 1993.[29][30]

Elementary Schools
  • Central Elementary School[31]
  • Douglas Elementary School[32]
  • Draper Elementary School[33]
  • Leaksville-Spray Elementary[34]

Middle and High Schools

Colleges and Universities

Media

Radio Stations
  • WLOE at 1490 on the AM dial signed-on in 1946. The call letters stand for "Wonderful Land of Eden." The station is also heard at 92.5 FM.
  • WCLW at 1130 broadcasting a Southern gospel format, licensed to Eden.
  • WPTI at 94.5 commercial FM talk and sports radio station serving the entire Piedmont Triad, also licensed to Eden.

Local newspapers

Television stations

WGSR-LD, 19 Independent, Reidsville

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Land of Eden". ncpedia.org. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  7. Booth, Jim. "A Tale of Three Cities: An Architectural History of Home". Blog: New Southern Gentleman. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  8. "Tri-Cities Vote Consolidation; New Municipality Is Named Eden". The Danville Register. September 13, 1967. p. 9.
  9. Fernandez, Jennifer (February 1, 2019). "5 years after Dan River coal ash spill, Duke Energy close to finishing state-mandated cleanup at site". greensboro.com. Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  11. "Fieldcrest Mills architectural plans 1911-1979". North Carolina State University. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  12. Catanoso, Justin (October 24, 2005). "Eden changes its tune for the better". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  13. "Locations". Miller Brewing Company. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  14. "MillerCoors to close Rockingham County plant". September 14, 2015.
  15. Hunt, Gerri (February 8, 2017). "German grocer Lidl breaks ground in Eden". News&Record. Retrieved February 17, 2017 – via Www.greensboro.com.
  16. Grocery Store Locator Lidl. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  17. Davis, Jonelle (October 6, 2013). "For some local malls, it's either reinvent or become irrevelant". News & Record. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. "About us: UNC Rockingham Health Care". www.uncrockingham.org. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  20. "UNC Rockingham Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center – Eden, NC". www.uncrockingham.org. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  21. "City Government". Www.edennc.us. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  22. Melrose, Justyn (November 12, 2017). "Eden elects new mayor, incumbents return to council". greensboro.com. Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  23. Mollerous, Meghann. "Triad travel reminders on years busiest travel day". Retrieved December 3, 2016 – via Www.wfmynews2.com.
  24. "Pottery Festival". Retrieved November 25, 2016 – via Www.edennc.us.
  25. "Riverfest". Retrieved November 26, 2016 – via Www.edennc.us.
  26. "Chalie Poole Music Festival". Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016 – via Www.edennc.us.
  27. "Eden Business Expo". Retrieved November 25, 2016 – via Www.edennc.us.
  28. "Oink and Ale". Retrieved November 25, 2016 – via Www.edennc.us.
  29. "Education". Www.edennc.us. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  30. Barnhardt, Myla (August 31, 2015). "An old schoolhouse in Eden becomes the art studio for show that will be exhibit in NY and paris". Retrieved November 25, 2016 – via Www.journalnow.com.
  31. "Central Elementary". Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Www.rock.k12.nc.us.
  32. "Douglass Elementary". Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Www.rock.k12.nc.us.
  33. "Draper Elementary". Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Www.rock.k12.nc.us.
  34. "Leaksville Spray Elementary". Retrieved January 13, 2017 – via Www.rock.k12.nc.us.
  35. "Eden Daily News". Library of Congress. Retrieved January 21, 2020., OCLC 50399551
  36. "Harlem Bravado: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  37. "Lancelot Bravado: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  38. [email protected], Margaret Moffett. "Here's a look at all the candidates running for local, state and federal offices". greensboro.com. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  39. "Tik Tok Sensation Tabitha Brown Remembers her Triad Roots". Spectrum News. May 24, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  40. Johnson, Danielle (January 8, 2012). "Former NBC 10 Weatherman Herb Clarke Dies". nbcphiladelphia.com. NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  41. Fish, Ann (April 24, 2016). "Ann Fish: Morehead and NFL alum recall 'Panther stadium was electric'". greensboro.com. Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  42. "Dr. Ed Wilson, "Mr. Wake Forest"". zsr.wfu.edu. Wake Forest University. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
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