Alleghany County, North Carolina

Alleghany County (/ælɪˈɡeɪniː/[1]) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,155.[2] Its county seat is Sparta.[3]

Alleghany County
U.S. county
Alleghany County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°29′N 81°08′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1859
Named forAlleghany Mountains
SeatSparta
Largest townSparta
Area
 • Total237 sq mi (610 km2)
 • Land235 sq mi (610 km2)
 • Water1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
11,137
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.alleghanycounty-nc.gov
Piney Creek Methodist Church Piney Creek, NC

History

The county was formed in 1859 from the eastern part of Ashe County, North Carolina. It was named for the Allegheny Mountains. Numerous boundary adjustments have been made since it was established, but none have resulted in new counties.

Geography and climate

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 235 square miles (610 km2), of which 235 square miles (610 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-smallest county in North Carolina by total area with just over 235 square miles, ranking 97 out of 100 total counties in the state.[5]

Alleghany County is located in northwestern North Carolina, and its northern border is with the State of Virginia. The county is located entirely within the Appalachian Mountains region of western North Carolina. Most of the county is located atop a rolling plateau that ranges from 2,500 feet (760 m) to 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level. The southern border of the county drops abruptly nearly 1,500 feet (460 m) to the Foothills region of North Carolina. The plateau is crossed by numerous hills and mountains. The highest point in the county is Peach Bottom Mountain - Catherine Knob at 4,175 feet (1,273 m) above sea level.[6] The major rivers of Alleghany County are the New River, and the Little River; the latter flows through the town of Sparta, the county seat.

Isolated by mountainous terrain from the remainder of North Carolina to the east, Alleghany County was described in the 19th and early 20th centuries as one of the Lost Provinces of North Carolina.[7]

Due to its elevation, Alleghany County enjoys slightly cooler summers than the lowland areas to the east and south, with temperatures seldom rising over 90 °F (32 °C). In the winter, however, temperatures can frequently be colder than would be expected in a southern state. Daytime highs can fall into the teens or lower, and snowfall can be extremely heavy at times. According to USClimateData.com, the average temperature is 52.85 °F (11.58 °C).

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Law and government

Alleghany County is a member of the regional High Country Council of Governments.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 71.8% 3,814 24.6% 1,306 3.7% 195
2012 66.9% 3,390 31.2% 1,583 1.9% 94
2008 59.4% 3,124 38.4% 2,021 2.2% 118
2004 59.7% 2,883 39.8% 1,922 0.5% 22
2000 58.7% 2,531 39.8% 1,715 1.6% 67
1996 45.7% 1,936 42.5% 1,801 11.8% 498
1992 39.2% 1,853 48.0% 2,271 12.8% 606
1988 51.0% 2,174 48.9% 2,087 0.1% 3
1984 56.1% 2,589 43.6% 2,013 0.3% 15
1980 46.3% 1,995 51.0% 2,198 2.7% 117
1976 37.4% 1,532 62.3% 2,550 0.3% 14
1972 61.3% 2,158 37.0% 1,304 1.7% 59
1968 45.8% 1,695 29.8% 1,102 24.4% 904
1964 39.9% 1,573 60.1% 2,368
1960 48.3% 1,978 51.7% 2,121
1956 50.4% 1,699 49.6% 1,670
1952 49.7% 1,789 50.3% 1,809
1948 42.4% 1,374 51.4% 1,667 6.2% 200
1944 45.2% 1,495 54.8% 1,810
1940 38.4% 1,217 61.6% 1,952
1936 39.0% 1,498 61.0% 2,345
1932 29.2% 810 70.3% 1,951 0.5% 15
1928 49.2% 1,368 50.8% 1,414
1924 42.8% 1,234 57.0% 1,643 0.2% 6
1920 46.0% 1,201 54.0% 1,409
1916 44.6% 641 55.4% 796
1912 18.6% 208 58.4% 652 22.9% 256

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18603,590—
18703,6912.8%
18805,48648.6%
18906,52318.9%
19007,75918.9%
19107,745−0.2%
19207,403−4.4%
19307,186−2.9%
19408,34116.1%
19508,155−2.2%
19607,734−5.2%
19708,1345.2%
19809,58717.9%
19909,5900.0%
200010,67711.3%
201011,1554.5%
2019 (est.)11,137[9]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 10,677 people, 4,593 households, and 3,169 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18/km2). There were 6,412 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.69% White, 1.23% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,593 households, out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,244, and the median income for a family was $38,473. Males had a median income of $25,462 versus $18,851 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,691. About 11.30% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 25.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Map of Alleghany County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Town

Townships

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Alleghany County.[15]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
only incorporated community † Sparta Town 1,770

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Talk Like A Tarheel Archived 2013-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, from the North Carolina Collection website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2013-01-29.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2001. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  5. "NACo – Find a county". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  6. "NC DEQ: NC Geological Survey". www.geology.enr.state.nc.us. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  7. Tabler, Dave (August 30, 2016). "The Lost Provinces". Appalachian History. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  8. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-02-13.

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