Murfreesboro, North Carolina
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Murfreesboro is a town located in Hertford County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,045.
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History
As the northernmost point of navigation on the Meherrin River, Murfreesboro was the deepest a seagoing vessel out on the Albemarle Sound might penetrate into the large and productive farming area of southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Murfreesboro was designated by Congress in 1790 as an official port of entry, and the customs records indicate a profitable three-cornered trade with New England and the West Indies. The vessels and their cargoes were mostly owned by captains from New England, many of whom put down roots here and impressed their outlook on the new town in ways that have not entirely vanished to this day.
Education
Murfreesboro is home to Riverview Elementary School and Hertford County Middle School, both of which are part of the Hertford County Public School system. Chowan College, a small private Baptist 4-year university (with some graduate programs) is also located there. In addition, the old public school (which housed grades 1 - 12 until 1972) has been remodeled into a museum housing the collections of Brady Jefcoat, a Raleigh native. It includes hundreds of well-preserved ordinary items from the late 19th and early 20th century, including functional phongraphs, radios, washing machines, and agricultural implements, as well as a wide variety of other novelties. Admission is $7.00 per person.
Business
Local restaurants include two chinese restaurants, an old-fashioned grill, and a variety of fast food. A nearby cotton mill supplements the metal fabrication and farm implement manufacturing industries in town. Chowan College (see Education above) is another major employer, as are a Nucor steel mill located 30 minutes away, and a large federal prison located 20 minutes south. The remainder of local business and industry consists of local retail stores.
Entertainment
A different musical group performs on the first Saturday of each month at the auditorium behind the Jefcoat museum, and a public boat landing on the edge of town offers easy access to the Meherrin river (pronounced "mee-HAIR-in"), which in turn flows into the larger Chowan river (pronounced "cha-WAHN") a few miles downstream. Highlights of town entertainment include the annual watermelon festival, the annual pork fest (held on the Jefcoat museum grounds), as well as the 4th of July fireworks celebration. There is also an annual all-night-long Relay For Life fundraiser festival each April. A gift shop and guided tours of the historic downtown are also available.
Geography
Murfreesboro is located at 36°26'28" North, 77°5'49" West (36.440983, -77.096901)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.7 km² (2.2 mi²). 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.82% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,045 people, 919 households, and 574 families residing in the town. The population density is 365.5/km² (946.7/mi²). There are 986 housing units at an average density of 176.2/km² (456.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 60.00% White, 37.56% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 2.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 919 households out of which 23.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% are non-families. 34.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.22 and the average family size is 2.82.
In the town the population is spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $29,716, and the median income for a family is $43,417. Males have a median income of $31,392 versus $21,523 for females. The per capita income for the town is $17,054. 18.6% of the population and 11.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 14.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- http://www.murfreesboronc.com
- http://www.chowan.edu
- http://www.murfreesboronc.com/historic/tour/jefcoat.htm
- http://www.murfreesboronc.com/watermelon/
- http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/summer.trips/interactive/gallery.food.wine/content.5.1.html
