Jamestown is a town in
Guilford County
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population is 541,299, making it the third-most populous county in North Carolina. The county seat, and largest municipality, is Greensboro. S ...
,
North Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of the nearby cities of
Greensboro and
High Point. The population was 3,382 at the
2010 census.
Geography
Jamestown is located in southwestern Guilford County at (35.998221, -79.935733).
It is bordered to the west by the city of High Point. Downtown Greensboro is to the northeast.
Transportation
Interstate 74 bypasses the town, giving the town access to
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
,
Asheboro
Asheboro is a city in and the county seat of Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 25,012 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greensboro–High Point metropolitan area of the Piedmont Triad and is home of the s ...
, and
Rockingham. Lexington Road, Greensboro Road, and Main Street all connect the town to Greensboro and High Point. The Jamestown Parkway is a
limited-access highway
A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, limited access freeway, and partial controlled access highway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which ...
that effectively bypasses Greensboro Road and Main Street, also serving as one of the main routes connecting Greensboro to High Point. The route is mainly four-lanes while having at-grade intersections and grade-separations, though with only one street crossing over the parkway.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.
The
Deep River, a tributary of the
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The river is formed at the confluence of the Haw River and the Deep River (North Caro ...
, flows through the southern part of the town.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, there were 3,668 people, 1,812 households, and 1,219 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the
census of 2000, there were 3,088 people, 1,229 households, and 924 families residing in the town. The
population density was 1,159.0 people per square mile (448.2/km
2). There were 1,293 housing units at an average density of 485.3 per square mile (187.7/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 86.79%
White, 7.97%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of enslav ...
, 0.19%
Native American, 2.40%
Asian, 0.74% from
other races, and 0.91% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 2.04% of the population.
There were 1,229 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were
married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% 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 2.90.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $107,331, and the median income for a family was $77,549. Males had a median income of $58,889 versus $35,771 for females. The
per capita income for the town was $29,689. About 4.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
The Keyauwee
As early as 1701, the
Keyauwee people
A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of propert ...
were living in a village in this region. They enjoyed the area's mild climate, abundant natural resources, and the fertile hunting grounds along the Deep and
Uwharrie rivers.
Part of a loose confederacy of 20 or more tribes, it is believed that by the 1760s, the Keyauwee had moved south, close to the boundary between the two
Carolinas
The Carolinas are the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina, considered collectively. They are bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, and Georgia to the southwest. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east.
Combining Nort ...
, where they were likely absorbed by the
Catawba tribe
The Catawba, also known as Issa, Essa or Iswä but most commonly ''Iswa'' (Catawba: '' Ye Iswąˀ'' – "people of the river"), are a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans, known as the Catawba Indian Nation. Their current lands ar ...
.
Quaker settlement
By the late 18th century, European settlers came to Jamestown. Many were
Quaker families who moved to the area from
Pennsylvania in search of productive farmland. Among the original settlers was James Mendenhall, who established a farmstead near present-day Jamestown in 1762. Though Mendenhall moved to
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
in 1775, his son George remained, and by 1816, he founded the village of Jamestown in honor of his father.
The Mendenhall family, who owned and operated the area's first
grist and lumber mills, also owned much of the town's original land. Today, High Point City Lake is situated where the original family farmhouse and land was located.
In 1781, during the
Revolutionary War, British General
Cornwallis' army camped near the settlement and commandeered provisions from local farms and mills prior to his engagement with
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene (June 19, 1786, sometimes misspelled Nathaniel) was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. He emerged from the war with a reputation as General George Washington's most talented and dependabl ...
's troops at New Garden, in modern-day Greensboro.
19th century
By 1800, Jamestown was a bustling settlement of 150 residents with its own post office, inn and
Freemasons' lodge. Around this same time, gold was discovered near Jamestown, and several
mines profited until the
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California fro ...
frenzy shut down local efforts.
In 1811, James Mendenhall's son Richard, a local
tanner, built the Mendenhall Plantation homestead, a highlight of any tour of Jamestown today.
In addition to farming and related industries, Jamestown was home to a gun factory, which manufactured a sturdy and accurate
muzzle-loading gun
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (i.e., from the forward, open end of the gun's barrel). This is distinct from the modern (higher tech and harder to make) design ...
known as the "Jamestown Rifle", the mainstay of Jamestown's industry through the latter half of the 19th century and a highly prized collectible among gun enthusiasts today.
During the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policie ...
, Jamestown's Quakers, who opposed war and violence, attempted to remain neutral. However, the
Confederacy demanded that those who were able to make shoes, uniforms, or weapons continue to do so or pay heavy taxes. Records indicate that Confederate President
Jefferson Davis and his entourage passed through Jamestown during their hasty retreat to the south after the Civil War ended.
Prior to the war, Jamestown was a known "stop" along the
Underground Railroad, which helped fugitive slaves reach freedom in the North. According to local historical records, many Quaker homes in this area had a
trap door leading to the basement to help slaves escape. Further, according to records, the Mendenhall and Beard families were instrumental in assisting in emancipation efforts.
Built in 1856, the railroad bisects Jamestown, and still provides a vital link for freight and some passengers between the port cities to the east and interior destinations.
20th century
By April 1947, the
North Carolina General Assembly granted Jamestown
incorporation. Several months after incorporation, Jamestown adopted
zoning districts and began construction of a municipal water and sewer system.
T. C. Ragsdale Sr. served as the town's first mayor, and Charles P. Turner was the first
town manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a "Mayor–council government" council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief exec ...
.
In the 1950s, with a population of approximately 750, the town boasted such improvements as street lighting, water and sewer service, and a fire department.
During the 1960s, Jamestown grew quickly. Several residential neighborhoods sprang from old farmland. An
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
board was formed and a liquor store was constructed, enabling the town to pay off debt incurred for water and sewer lines as well as fund the building of Town Hall in 1967 and the Jamestown Park and Golf Course in 1974.
The
Former Jamestown High School,
Gardner House,
Jamestown Historic District,
McCulloch's Gold Mill,
Richard Mendenhall Plantation Buildings,
Oakdale Cotton Mill Village, and
Ragsdale Farm are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Education
In 1907 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law providing for the creation and maintenance of public high schools in each county. Jamestown Public School, a
union school
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** '' ...
, was built and became the "best equipped school" in Guilford County, with
dormitories
A dormitory (originated from the Latin word ''dormitorium'', often abbreviated to dorm) is a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as boarding school, high school, college or university s ...
for boarding students. In 1914 the school was destroyed by fire, but a new building was completed the next year. This building now stands in the heart of Jamestown and houses the Jamestown Public Library.
The school grew steadily, and a new high school complex in Jamestown was opened in September 1959. The new high school was named for Lucy Coffin Ragsdale because of her dedication and interest to public school education in Jamestown. The first principal of
Ragsdale High School
Lucy Ragsdale High School, commonly known as Ragsdale High, is a public high school in Jamestown, North Carolina. Opened in 1959, Ragsdale is one of 26 high schools in Guilford County Schools. The areas that are zoned to Ragsdale's district includ ...
was T.G. Madison, followed by Steve Dalton. Kathryn Rogers was the third principal in the history of the school. Ragsdale is one of 26 high schools in Guilford County Schools. The areas that are zoned to Ragsdale's district include areas of northeastern High Point, southeast Jamestown, and the Adams Farm/Sedgefield area of Greensboro. The school's current principal is Jim Gibson.
Millis Road Elementary School opened in the fall of 1961. The first enrollment included 360 students, 12 teachers, a part-time librarian, and one principal. The intent of it being built was to relieve overcrowding in the Jamestown district. Even though the school originally had a capacity for 560 students, it at one time served a student body of 792. When the neighboring Pilot Elementary opened in the fall of 1996, the student body decreased to 330. Current enrollment is 515 students.
A variety of organizational patterns have been tried at the school, beginning with first through sixth grade, later third through fifth grade and the present pre-K through fifth grade. Millis Road students are participating in seminars led by teachers and specialists using Paidela techniques and methods. Millis Road is located in District 5 of the Guilford County School System.
To compensate for the town's growth, Jamestown has since built two more elementary schools and one more middle school. A community college,
Guilford Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College (Guilford Tech, "G-Tech", or GTCC) is a public community college in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina. It is the fourth largest institution in the North Carolina Community College System and the largest in ...
, provides local adults with a higher education.
Notable people
*
Mark Dixon, former
NFL offensive lineman
*
Mary Mendenhall Hobbs
Mary Mendenhall Hobbs (August 30, 1852 – July 20, 1930), was an American Quaker advocate for women's education, temperance, and suffrage, based in North Carolina. Her campaigning to improve women's education supported the founding of the Univers ...
, advocate for women's education, temperance, and suffrage
*
Pat McCrory
Patrick Lloyd McCrory (born October 17, 1956) is an American businessman, politician and radio host who served as the 74th governor of North Carolina from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 53rd Mayor of ...
, served as the 74th
Governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
from 2013 to 2017
*
Siri Mullinix
Siri Lynn Mullinix (born May 22, 1978) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper. As keeper for the 2000 U.S. women's Olympic soccer team, she recorded two shutouts helping the team win the silver medal. In 2010, Mullinix was inducted into the No ...
, keeper for the
2000 U.S. women's Olympic soccer team
*
Paul Martin Newby
Paul Martin Newby (born May 5, 1955) is an American judge, who was first elected to a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2004. He was elected Chief Justice in 2020.
Early life and education
Newby was born in Asheboro, North Carolina. H ...
,
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina is the state of North Carolina's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists ...
justice
*
Larry Ogunjobi
Olumide Larry Ogunjobi (born June 3, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Charlotte, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third ro ...
, NFL
defensive tackle
*
Rayveness
Gina-Raye Carter (born 1972), known professionally as Rayveness, is an American pornographic and mainstream film actress. She is an inductee of both the AVN Hall of Fame and the XRCO Hall of Fame.
Career
Rayveness's first appearance in a porn ...
, pornographic actress
*
Kasey Redfern
Kasey Redfern (born September 26, 1991) is a former American football punter. He played college football at Wofford College. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
College career
Redfern attended and pla ...
, former NFL
punter
*
Clyde Simms
Clyde Simms (born August 21, 1982) is an American former soccer player. He played in Major League Soccer from 2005 to 2013. He also represented the United States at international level.
Career
College
Born in Jamestown, North Carolina, and att ...
, former
MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
player
*
Pep Young
Lemuel Floyd Young (August 29, 1907 – January 14, 1962) was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of ten years in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–40), Cincinnati Reds (1941) and St. Louis Cardinals (1941 ...
, former
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification system, Jamestown has a
Humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Climate Summary for Jamestown, North Carolina
/ref>
See also
* Jamestown News
References
External links
*
Jamestown Public Library
{{authority control
Towns in Guilford County, North Carolina
Towns in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1762
Populated places on the Underground Railroad