Wadesboro is a town in Anson County,

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

, United States. The population was 5,049 at the 2020 census. The town was originally found in 1783 as New Town but changed by the North Carolina General Assembly to Wadesboro in 1787 to honor Colonel Thomas Wade, a native son, state legislator, and Revolutionary War commander of the Anson County Regiment. It is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Anson County.

History

Originally named Newtown, the town was renamed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1787 to honor of Colonel Thomas Wade after his service with the Anson County Regiment of militia in the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

. In 1900, astronomers determined that Wadesboro would be the best location in North America for viewing a

total solar eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six month ...

. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, then based in Washington, D.C., loaded several railroad cars with scientific equipment and headed to the town. The Boggan-Hammond House and Alexander Little Wing,

United States Post Office The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...

, and Wadesboro Downtown Historic District are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which , or 0.20%, is water. Wadesboro is situated west of Rockingham, north of Cheraw, east of Monroe, and south of Albemarle.

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 5,008 people, 2,022 households, and 1,164 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 5,813 people, 2,303 households, and 1,428 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 921.2 people per square mile (355.8/km²). There were 2,692 housing units at an average density of 426.6 per square mile (164.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 35.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 60.7%

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 ens ...

, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.9% some other race, and 1.3% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 2,303 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.1% were headed by married couples living together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40, and the average family size was 3.09. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males. For the period 2007–11, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $32,550, and the median income for a family was $34,522. Male full-time workers had a median income of $38,385 versus $29,297 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $17,055. About 19.0% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 39.1% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Wadesboro is served by the Anson County School District.

Media

* '' The Anson Record'' Television stations available are from the Charlotte Designated Market Area, which Anson County and Wadesboro are a part of. Additionally, the local cable provider carries one station from Columbia,

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

WIS-TV WIS (channel 10) is a television station in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios on Bull and Gervais Streets ( US 1/US 378) in downtown Columbia ...

Notable people

* Thomas Samuel Ashe, congressman from North Carolina; practiced law in Wadesboro * Hugh Hammond Bennett, founder of the Soil Conservation Service, now Natural Resources Conservation Service, president of the

Association of American Geographers The American Association of Geographers (AAG) is a non-profit scientific and educational society aimed at advancing the understanding, study, and importance of geography and related fields. Its headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. Th ...

* Risden Tyler Bennett, congressman * Tom Brewer, baseball player * John Culpepper, congressman from North Carolina * Edmund Strother Dargan, congressman from Alabama and representative to the

Confederate States Congress The Confederate States Congress was both the provisional and permanent legislative assembly of the Confederate States of America that existed from 1861 to 1865. Its actions were for the most part concerned with measures to establish a new nat ...

during the American Civil War * Thomas F. Davis, fifth Episcopal bishop of South Carolina; deacon at Calvary Church in Wadesboro *

Ed Emory Edward Harrell Emory Sr. (April 14, 1937 – January 4, 2013) was an American football player and coach. He became East Carolina University's 14th head football coach in 1980. In 1983, he guided the East Carolina Pirates football, Pirates to an 8 ...

, football player and coach *

Blind Boy Fuller Blind Boy Fuller (born Fulton Allen, July 10, 1904February 13, 1941) was an American blues guitarist and singer. Fuller was one of the most popular of the recorded Piedmont blues artists, rural African Americans, along with Blind Blake, Josh Whi ...

, musician * John Gaddy, baseball player * Pryor A. Gibson, III, eight-term member of North Carolina General Assembly * John T. Henley, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and

North Carolina Senate The North Carolina Senate is the upper chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, which along with the North Carolina House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the state legislature of North Carolina. The term of office for e ...

Cedrick Holt Cedrick Leterris Holt (born December 30, 1983 in Wadesboro, North Carolina) is a former American football cornerback. He was originally signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at the Univer ...

, football player * Timmy Horne, nose tackle for the Atlanta Falcons * Alvin Paul Kitchin, congressman from North Carolina; practiced law in Wadesboro * Leon Levine, founder of

Family Dollar Family Dollar Stores, Inc. is an American variety store chain. With over 8,000 locations in all states except Alaska and Hawaii, it was the second largest retailer of its type in the United States until it was acquired by Dollar Tree in 2015 and i ...

variety store chain * James A. Lockhart, congressman from North Carolina; lived in Wadesboro * Sylvester "Junkyard Dog" Ritter, professional wrestler * Cornelius Robinson, member of Provisional Confederate Congress * Leonidas D. Robinson, congressman from North Carolina *

Jerome Robinson Jerome Robinson (born February 22, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League. He played college basketball with the Boston College Eagles. He was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in th ...

, baseball player * Will Robinson, basketball player *

Trinton Sturdivant Trinton Sturdivant (born January 18, 1989) is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at the University of Georgia. Plagued with injuries, he ended his football career in 2012. High school career Sturdivant atte ...

, football player *

Hoyt Patrick Taylor Hoyt Patrick Taylor Sr. (June 11, 1890 – April 12, 1964) was the 21st Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina from 1949 to 1953. Early life Taylor was born in Winton, North Carolina on June 11, 1890 to Simeon P. and Kate (Ward) Taylor. Educati ...

, 21st lieutenant governor of North Carolina; former mayor of Wadesboro * Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr., speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives and 26th lieutenant governor of North Carolina * William L. Terry, congressman from Arkansas * Colonel Thomas Wade, Revolutionary War hero and legislator * Gary Porter, former driver of the Carolina Crusher and Grave Digger Monster Truck, ran in the

Monster Jam Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour operated by Feld Entertainment. The series began in 1992, and is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association. Events are primarily held in North America, with some additiona ...

series

In popular culture

Horror film ''

Evil Dead II ''Evil Dead II'' (also known in publicity materials as ''Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn'') is a 1987 American comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi. It is considered both a remake and sequel (or "re-quel") to the 1981 film ''The Evil Dead'', and wa ...

'' was filmed in Wadesboro, and the Huntley House became the production office for the film. Most of ''Evil Dead II'' was filmed in the woods near that farmhouse, or J.R. Faison Junior High School, which is where the interior cabin set was located.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1783 establishments in North Carolina County seats in North Carolina Populated places established in 1783 Towns in Anson County, North Carolina