Sawmills, North Carolina
Sawmills is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 5,240.[5] It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named after the lumber industry that used to be prevalent in the area.
Sawmills, North Carolina | |
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Motto(s): "Biggest Little Town in the Foothills" | |
Location of Sawmills, North Carolina | |
Coordinates: 35°49′7″N 81°28′48″W | |
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
County | Caldwell |
Area | |
• Total | 6.62 sq mi (17.16 km2) |
• Land | 6.62 sq mi (17.14 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
Elevation | 1,247 ft (380 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 5,240 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 5,189 |
• Density | 784.07/sq mi (302.75/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
FIPS code | 37-59540[3] |
GNIS feature ID | 1027457[4] |
Website | townofsawmills |
History
The community of Sawmills began in the late 1800s. The name "Sawmills" comes from the sawmills that were setup in the area due to the timber industry. The railroad system that ran through Caldwell County is one of the main reasons for the sawmills to locate in what would become the community of Sawmills. Sawmills was incorporated as a town in 1988. The battle between Granite Falls and Hudson for potential business property is what led the Sawmills community to vote for incorporation, as residents of Sawmills wanted to form their own town.[6]
Geography
Sawmills is located in southern Caldwell County, bordered by Hudson to the north and Granite Falls to the east. Lake Rhodhiss borders the town on the south. Sawmills Veterans Park is located on Lake Rhodiss, providing recreational facilities, activities and trails.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sawmills has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km2), of which 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), or 0.09%, is water.[5]
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1990 | 4,088 | — | |
2000 | 4,921 | 20.4% | |
2010 | 5,240 | 6.5% | |
2019 (est.) | 5,189 | [2] | −1.0% |
U.S. Decennial Census[7] |
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,921 people, 1,942 households, and 1,448 families residing in the town. The population density was 787.4 people per square mile (304.0/km2). There were 2,045 housing units at an average density of 327.2 per square mile (126.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.55% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 1,942 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,391, and the median income for a family was $41,579. Males had a median income of $27,933 versus $20,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,597. About 4.3% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sawmills town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- Town History. Town of Sawmills. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.