McAdenville, North Carolina

McAdenville, also known as Christmas Town USA, is a small town in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of Charlotte and located east of Gastonia. The population was 651 at the 2010 census.[5]

McAdenville, North Carolina
Town
Nickname(s): 
Christmas Town USA
Location of McAdenville, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°15′50″N 81°4′45″W
Country United States
State North Carolina
CountyGaston
Government
 • MayorJim Robinette
 • Council WomanCarrie Breyare Bailey
Area
 • Total1.42 sq mi (3.67 km2)
 • Land1.36 sq mi (3.51 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
571 ft (174 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total651
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
673
 • Density496.31/sq mi (191.66/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28101
Area code(s)704
FIPS code37-39880[3]
GNIS feature ID1021377[4]
Websitewww.mcadenville-christmastown.com

History

A Christmas tradition in the town for many years has been the decorating of the entire town in Christmas lights. The event is called Christmas Town USA. The Christmas Town USA contains 375 lit trees and over 200 wreaths attached to city light poles. The lights attract visitors from all over the country and is one of the biggest light shows in the US.[6] Begun in 1956 with the assistance of Pharr Yarns, the largest employer and land owner in the town, many trees and buildings in the town are covered in Christmas lights and some form of decoration. More than 600,000 vehicles visit each year.[7] The lights are entirely maintained by volunteers from the community, and no admission is charged. McAdenville was incorporated in 1881. It was named after Rufus Yancey McAden, president of McAden Mills, the town's textile mill. McAden had served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1862 to 1867, and was Speaker of the House in 1866. He came to Charlotte in 1867 to become president of the two-year-old First National Bank.[8]

The McAdenville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[9]

Geography

McAdenville is located on the South Fork Catawba River at 35°15′50″N 81°4′45″W (35.263893, -81.079282).[10] McAdenville Lake is formed by a dam on the South Fork in central McAdenville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2), or 4.33%, is water.[5] The town lies in the Cramerton Watershed.[11]

The McAdenville Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19001,144—
1910983−14.1%
19201,16218.2%
1930914−21.3%
1940887−3.0%
19501,06019.5%
1960748−29.4%
197095027.0%
1980947−0.3%
1990830−12.4%
2000619−25.4%
20106515.2%
2019 (est.)673[2]3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 619 people, 247 households, and 182 families residing in the town. The population density was 450.1 people per square mile (173.2/km2). There were 282 housing units at an average density of 205.1 per square mile (78.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.80% White, 1.94% African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.97% Asian, and 0.32% from two or more races.

There were 247 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,513, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $30,781 versus $21,481 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,130. About 6.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

McAdenville is governed by a mayor and a five-member town council. Fire protection is provided by the Cramerton Fire Department. McAdenville is in South Point Township.

The town is patrolled by the town of Cramerton police department and Gaston County police department.[13]

Industry

McAdenville is the headquarters of Pharr Yarns. The company has operated a yarn manufacturing plant in the town since 1939. It is the town's largest employer and the 7th-largest employer in Gaston County.[14]

Transportation

The primary east-west highway passing through McAdenville is Interstate 85, with access to the town from Exit 23. Other important highways include U.S. Route 29/U.S. Route 74 (Wilkinson Blvd.) and North Carolina Highway 7 (Main St./Hickory Grove Rd./Riverside Dr./McAdenville Rd.).

Education

Public education in McAdenville is administered by the Gaston County Schools public school system. The only school in McAdenville is McAdenville Elementary School. Some elementary age children from the northern part of McAdenville attend Lowell Elementary School in Lowell.

Most McAdenville students in grades 6-8 attend Holbrook Middle School in Lowell, except for those in a small section of town who attend Belmont Middle School in Belmont.

High school-age students attend Stuart W. Cramer High School in Cramerton.

Notable Person

In 1883, Thomas Edison was hired to build a hydroelectric generator, No. 31 known as a dynamo, to power the lighting in the mill and mill houses.

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. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): McAdenville town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  6. Skarda, E. (2011, November 21). The 9 Most Christmassy Towns in America. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  7. Holiday Light Spectaculars. Retrieved on 2008-07-21 Archived December 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Henry M. McAden House Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Retrieved on 2008-07-13
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. Gaston County Watersheds Archived 2008-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, Gaston County government website. Retrieved on 2008-07-21.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. Cramerton-McAdenville Contract Police Services Archived 2008-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, Cramerton Police Department Website. Retrieved on 2008-07-21.
  14. Gaston County Factbook Archived 2007-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on 2008-07-14.
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