Country United States County Rockingham Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) Elevation 180 m Local time Saturday 2:25 AM | State North Carolina incorporated 1967 ZIP codes 27288-27289 Population 15,488 (2013) | |
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Weather 1°C, Wind W at 5 km/h, 48% Humidity Area 39.37 km² (38.85 km² Land / 52 ha Water) | ||
Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina in the U.S state of North Carolina. The population was 15,527 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper. Several small historic downtown areas have opened up, such as the "Olde Leaksville" shopping district, in an effort to bring tourists to the city. The phone Area code is area code 336. Eden is the largest city in Rockingham County, North Carolina and is a secondary city of the Piedmont Triad over the 10,000 population. Eden is part of the Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
- Map of Eden NC 27288 USA
- Geography
- History
- 19th Century to present
- Major industry and Economy
- Demographics
- Regional and national awards
- Healthcare
- Government
- Sports
- Parks and Recreation
- Transportation
- Highways
- Festivals and Events
- Eden Museum
- Smith River Greenway
- Education
- Elementary Schools
- Middle and High Schools
- Private Schools
- Nearby Colleges and Universitys
- Radio Stations
- Local newspapers
- Television stations
- Notable people
- Other notables
- References
Map of Eden, NC 27288, USA
Geography
Eden is located at 36°30′23″N 79°44′42″W (36.506434, -79.745092). 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 km) Southwest and Reidsville is 11 miles (18 km) Southeast 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
Eden was a 70,000-acre (280 km2) estate owned by William Byrd II, a planter of Virginia and North Carolina. The estate was originally called "The Land of Eden".
During the last years of his life, William Byrd II dreamed of bringing large numbers of Swiss Protestants to the "Land of Eden", which eventually included over 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, and none of the few survivors are believed to have reached Eden. Byrd died August 26, 1744, as the "Land of Eden" began to be surrounded by the settlement of Scotch-Irish, whom Byrd had compared to the "Goths and Vandals."
"Eden" descended to 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 two merchant brothers from the island of Antigua, Simon and Francis Farley. By this time, settlement 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 and soon 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 the 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 the Sauratown, partly as a result of Elizabeth Farley's father's suicide and perhaps also of her dislike of frontier life. James Parke Farley was killed during the Revolutionary War, leaving his wife and four daughters to fend for themselves, and Sauratown was unmanaged. 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), became a magnet for settlement due to its proximity to the Petersburg-Salem road that 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, the man who delivered the "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech. Henry, on his deathbed June 6, 1799, gave the land to two of his sons, Alexander Spottswood Henry and Nathaniel West Henry. In the century that Sauratown was in existence many still prominent families settled in the "Land of Eden", 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 residents of the county have included General Lighthorse Harry Lee. On the third weekend of September; Eden hosts The River Fest each year to celebrate Eden's history.
19th Century to present
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.
Major industry and Economy
Benjamin Franklin Mebane started the first of his six 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 sheets and blankets, and grew to employ more than 3000 people in the area. After taking over Cannon Mills in 1986, the company became Fieldcrest Cannon and later moved its headquarters and 110 employees to Kannapolis, North Carolina. Fieldcrest Cannon was sold to Pillowtex in 1997. Pillowtex closed its Eden plants in 2003, laying off the last 495 workers. Miller Brewing Company once ran a brewery in Eden. It employs nearly seven hundred people, producing nine million barrels annually. Miller announced it will be shutting down the brewery by September 2016. Other businesses and industries located in the City of Eden include: H&R Block, Bojangles', Biscuitville, Cookout, Santana's restaurant, Wells Fargo, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Wal-Mart, Food Lion LLC, Novant Health, Gildan Activewear, Mabe Trucking company inc, and Fleetmaster Express Trucking. On February 8, 2017 it was announced Eden will build and operate the European based grocery store Lidl worth $750,000 which is expected to open in early 2018.
Demographics
As of the census 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.
Eden boasts an average of eight churches per square mile.
Eden has four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Regional and national awards
All-America City Award - 2011
Healthcare
Government
The City of Eden operates under an Council/Manager form type of government that includes a Mayor and seven council members. The Mayor and City Council serve for a term of Four years. The Mayor is the presiding officer and do not vote if the vote is tied. The Eden City Council meets every 4th Tuesday each month.
Sports
The Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets was a former Minor League Baseball team combined of three separate Towns from 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, 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.
Parks and Recreation
The city contains the following parks:
Transportation
Air: Eden is provided by Piedmont Triad International Airport located in Nearby Greensboro, North Carolina and Shiloh Airport located in Stoneville, North Carolina.
Highways
U.S primary: 29, 220, 311, 158. State Primary: 14, 87, 770, 135, 700. Nearest interstate interchange: 1-85 and 1-40.
Festivals and Events
Each year in September Eden host it's annual Fall Riverfest which celebrates the city's art, history, and river heritage. It's located on the "old" Leaksville shopping district on Washington street the oldest downtown street since 1917. Others include: Charlie poole Music festival that features music legends such as, mike seeger and the Osbourne brothers. The Eden chamber of commerce created the Eden business Expo offers owners of local businesses to present career opportunities, products, and services. Oink and ale presents a block style summer filled with Entertainment, beer, and the city's best BBQ.
Eden Museum
On September 19, 2009 the museum had its ribbon cutting at the time while the city's permanent displays was unveiled. 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 era, Saura Indians, William Byrd, civil war, 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, picinc 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.
Education
Rockingham County Schools serves the City of Eden. The Rockingham County School System was Established in 1993.