Stokes County, North Carolina
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Stokes County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population is 44,711. Its county seat is Danbury6.
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History
The county was formed in 1789 from Surry County. It was named for John Stokes, an American Revolutionary War captain severely wounded when British Colonel Banastre Tarleton's cavalry practically destroyed Buford's Virginia regiment at Waxhaw, South Carolina in 1780. After the war, Captain Stokes was appointed a judge of the United States district court for Western North Carolina.
In 1849 the southern half of Stokes County became Forsyth County.
Hanging Rock State Park was formed primarily from blocks of land donated in 1936 and contained 6,921 acres in 2005. Many of the facilities in the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1935 and 1942.
Law and government
Stokes County is a member of the regional Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,181 km² (456 mi²). 1,170 km² (452 mi²) of it is land and 10 km² (4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.89% water. The county lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the terrain is varied, with altitudes of 800 to more than 2,500 feet above sea level. The Dan River runs through the county.
Townships
The county is divided into nine townships: Beaver Island, Big Creek, Danbury, Meadows, Peters Creek, Quaker Gap, Sauratown, Snow Creek, and Yadkin.
Adjacent Counties
- Patrick County, Virginia - north
- Henry County, Virginia - north-northeast
- Rockingham County, North Carolina - east
- Forsyth County, North Carolina - south
- Surry County, North Carolina - west
Wine region
Parts of Stokes County are in the Yadkin Valley wine region.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 44,711 people, 17,579 households, and 13,043 families residing in the county. The population density is 38/km² (99/mi²). There are 19,262 housing units at an average density of 16/km² (43/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 93.43% White, 4.66% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 1.87% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 17,579 households out of which 33.80% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% are married couples living together, 9.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% are non-families. 22.80% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.51 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the county the population is spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $38,808, and the median income for a family is $44,615. Males have a median income of $30,824 versus $24,319 for females. The per capita income for the county in 2003 was $23,581. 9.10% of the population and 6.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.00% of those under the age of 18 and 15.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
External links
- Stokes County government official website (http://www.co.stokes.nc.us)
- Stokes County recreation (http://stokescounty.org/stokesrecreation.htm)
