Mount Airy is a city in

Surry County, North Carolina Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,359. Its county seat is Dobson, and its largest city is Mount Airy. Surry county comprises the Mount Airy, NC Micropolitan St ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 10,611.

History

Mount Airy was settled in the 1750s as a

stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

stop on the road between Winston-Salem, North Carolina and

Galax, Virginia Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,720. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Galax with neighboring Carroll County for statisti ...

. It was named for a nearby plantation. Mount Airy was incorporated in 1885. The city's official seal was established in 1977, which depicts major industries that are home to Mount Airy including: furniture, textiles, and the granite quarry. In 1994, Mount Airy was named an All American City. The

W. F. Carter House W. F. Carter House, also known as the Carter House, is a historic home located at Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina. It was built about 1908, and is a two-story, Classical Revival style frame dwelling. It features a central two-story Ioni ...

, William Carter House, Edgar Harvey Hennis House, William Alfred Moore House, Mount Airy Historic District, North Carolina Granite Corporation Quarry Complex, Renfro Mill, and Trinity Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Mount Airy is located at (36.5006, −80.6093), along the Ararat River, about 5 km (3 mi) south of the Virginia state line. The United States Census Bureau states the city has a total area of , all land. The city is located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 14 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(''Cfa'') and the

hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...

is 7a.

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 of ...

, there were 10,676 people, 4,571 households, and 2,530 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,388 people in 4,934 households. The people per square mile was 891.4. There were 5,296 housing units. The Population percent change from 2000 to 2010 was 22.4% up. The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White descent, 8.2% African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 2.2% Persons reporting two or more races, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino. Persons per household was 2.10. Average household income was $35,428. Persons below poverty level was 21.1%. High school graduates were 76.9% and bachelor's degree or higher was 25.9%. As of the census of 2000, there were 8,484 people, 3,667 households, and 2,130 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,010.8 people per square mile (390.4/km²). There were 4,129 housing units at an average density of 491.9 per square mile (190.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.34% White descent, 7.99% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.55%

Asian American Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry (including naturalized Americans who are immigrants from specific regions in Asia and descendants of such immigrants). Although this term had historically been used for all the indigenous people ...

, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.87% of the population. There were 3,667 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,910, and the median income for a family was $33,412. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $24,830 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,237. About 17.4% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.

Mayberry

Actor Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, and the town is considered to have been the basis for

Mayberry Mayberry, North Carolina, is a fictional community that was the setting for two popular American television sitcoms, ''The Andy Griffith Show'' (1960–1968) and ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1968–1971); Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reuni ...

, the setting of the TV shows '' The Andy Griffith Show'' and '' Mayberry R.F.D.''. The community holds an annual "Mayberry Days" celebration during the last weekend of September; 30,000 attended in 2009, and 90,000 attended for the show's 50th anniversary in 2010. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro estimates the town receives $5 million each year as a result. Surviving members of the cast, along with family members of other cast members, often visit. The 2012 event was slated to have Karen Knotts (Don's daughter) and George Lindsey Jr. (eponymous son of the actor who portrayed Goober). Several

Ford Galaxie The Ford Galaxie is a full-sized car that was built in the United States by Ford for model years 1959 through to 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford's full-size range from 1958 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the e ...

police car A police car (also called a police cruiser, police interceptor, patrol car, area car, cop car, prowl car, squad car, radio car, or radio motor patrol) is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols a ...

s, painted to resemble those used on the show, give rides to guests. A barber shop has been named " Floyd's." The

Andy Griffith Museum The Andy Griffith Museum is a museum dedicated to the life and career of American actor, television producer, and singer Andy Griffith. The museum, which houses the world's largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, is located in Griffith' ...

, founded in 2009 by

Emmett Forrest William Emmett Forrest, Jr. (September 3, 1927 – January 12, 2013) was an American pop culture collector, museum founder, and longtime friend of actor Andy Griffith. Forrest was an extensive collector of memorabilia spanning Griffith's career. He ...

, attracts 200 visitors a day. The 2,500-square-feet museum, located half a mile from Griffith's childhood home, houses the world's largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia. Mayberry Days will continue on September 19-25, 2022

The Autumn Leaves Festival

Held the second weekend in October, the Autumn Leaves Festival attracts over 200,000 people to the city during the festival weekend. Vendors sell food and other items, and there is a stage for musicians.

Bluegrass and old-time music

The home of old-time music legend

Tommy Jarrell Thomas Jefferson Jarrell (March 1, 1901 – January 28, 1985) was an American fiddler, banjo player, and singer from the Mount Airy region of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains. Biography He was born in Surry County, North Carolina, United ...

, bluegrass gospel legends The Easter Brothers,

country singer Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, old ...

Donna Fargo, Mount Airy has a long history with regional music. Mount Airy's

WPAQ WPAQ is an Americana, and Bluegrass-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Mount Airy, North Carolina, serving the Piedmont of North Carolina and the Southside and Southwestern sections of Virginia. WPAQ is owned and operated by WPAQ Radi ...

is one of the few Bluegrass and Old-Time music stations still operating and has been airing the live radio show Merry-Go-Round from the Downtown Cinema Theatre since 1948. Weekly bluegrass

jam session A jam session is a relatively informal musical event, process, or activity where musicians, typically instrumentalists, play improvised solos and vamp over tunes, drones, songs, and chord progressions. To "jam" is to improvise music without exte ...

s at The Andy Griffith Playhouse and the annual Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention also serve to attract old-time musicians from across the region and the world. The Fiddlers Convention first began in 1972, and is held the first weekend in June at Veterans Memorial Park. The

Blue Ridge Music Center The Blue Ridge Music Center is a music venue, museum, and visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Virginia. The center celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge Mountains through concerts, exhibits, and programs. The site is ...

with its amphitheater and music museum of old-time music is just a few miles away on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 213, near

. This area is home to the Round Peak style of old-time music, which started in the Round Peak community, just west of Mount Airy.

Chang and Eng Bunker

Mount Airy was the residence of Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), conjoined twins joined by a band of cartilage at the chest (xiphopagus). They are buried at White Plains Baptist Church about 2 miles from Mt Airy Main street. Many of their descendants still live in the Mount Airy area.

Education

The Mt. Airy Public Library serves the community. The library won the American Institute of Architects Design Award. Mount Airy has a city-funded school district consisting of four schools.

Mount Airy City Schools

* Mount Airy High School *Mount Airy Middle School *Jones Intermediate School *Tharrington Primary School

Surry County Schools

There are also other schools in Mount Airy that are controlled by the Surry County Schools district. *North Surry High School *Gentry Middle School *Meadowview Magnet Middle School *Cedar Ridge Elementary School *Flat Rock Elementary School *Franklin Elementary School *White Plains Elementary School

Charter schools

Mount Airy has one k-12 public-funded charter school,
Millennium Charter Academy

Private schools

*White Plains Christian School

Notable people

* Frank Beamer (born 1946), head football coach Virginia Tech, born in Mount Airy, raised in Fancy Gap, Virginia *

Ron Blackburn Ronald Hamilton Blackburn (April 23, 1935 – April 29, 1998) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1958 and 1959 seasons. Career Nicknamed "Blackie", he batted and threw right handed. ...

(1935–1998), Major League Baseball player * Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), famous "Siamese Twins" conjoined twins of showman

P.T. Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum (; July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871–2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He was ...

who settled in Mount Airy after they retired from show business *

Ben Callahan Benjamin Franklin Callahan (May 19, 1957 – January 9, 2007) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 31st round of the 1980 amateur draft, then traded to the Oakland Athletics on June 15, ...

(1957–2007), Major League Baseball player * Bill Cox (1929–2017),

NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...

defensive player * Chubby Dean (1916–1970), Major League Baseball player * Donna Fargo (born 1945), country music singer and songwriter, best known for the song "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" *

Benton Flippen James Benton Flippen (July 18, 1920 – June 28, 2011) was an old-time fiddler from Mount Airy, North Carolina. He was one of the last surviving members of a generation of performers born in the early 20th century playing in the Round P ...

(1920–2011), old-time fiddler, banjo player, and guitarist *

(1927–2013), founder of the

Maddie Gardner Mary Maddison "Maddie" Gardner (born July 13, 1993) is an American news reporter and internationally recognized former Allstar Cheerleader. She was the point (center) flyer for the Senior Large All Girl Level 5 competitive cheerleading team Sen ...

, (born 1993), local news reporter and internationally recognized cheerleader * Andy Griffith (1926–2012), American actor * Bill Hayes, television producer *

Caleb V. Haynes Caleb Vance Haynes (March 15, 1895 – April 5, 1966) was a United States Air Force (USAF) major general. The grandson of Chang Bunker, a famous Siamese Twin, he served in the Air Force as an organizer, able to create air units from scratch. ...

(1895–1966), United States Air Force major general *

Jerry Hemmings Jerry D. Hemmings (born February 17, 1948) is a former American basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He coached the Brandon University men's basketball team to four CIAU National Championships. Hemmings is a member of the Man ...

(born 1948), basketball coach * Mildred "Bonnie" Hines,(1955-2022), Rev. Dr. Hines Elected 98th Bishop in A.M.E. Zion Church; First/sole Female Bishop born in Surry Cty, NC) *

(1901–1985), old-time fiddler, banjo player, and singer * Luke Lambert, NASCAR crew chief *

Betty Lynn Elizabeth Ann Theresa Lynn (August 29, 1926 – October 16, 2021) was an American actress. She played Thelma Lou, Deputy Barney Fife's girlfriend, on ''The Andy Griffith Show''. During the 1940s and 1950s, she appeared in many films, including ...

(1926-2021), actress *

Mark Daniel Merritt Mark Daniel Merritt (born 1961 in New London, CT) (ASCAP) is an American composer and arranger with published choral works mostly for church choirs. Merritt's commissions, include a commission in 2007 partially funded by the Kentucky Arts Council, t ...

(born 1961), American music composer * Alex Sink, former chief financial officer of Florida, Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 2010 * Anna Wood (born 1985), actress

Sister city

Mount Airy has one sister city: *

Samut Songkhram Samut Songkhram ( th, สมุทรสงครามPronunciation) is the capital of Samut Songkhram Province. Etymology The word "samut" originates from the Sanskrit word "samudra" meaning "ocean", and the word "songkhram" from the Sanskrit ...

, ThailandJoyce, Tom. (Jul 21, 2019)
Siamese Twins unite sister cities
''The Mount Airy News''. Retrieved Jul 22, 2020.