Garner, North Carolina | |
---|---|
![]() Downtown Garner Water Tower over East Main Street | |
Motto: "A Great Place to Be" | |
![]() Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina. | |
Coordinates: 35°41′34″N78°36′53″W / 35.69278°N 78.61472°W | |
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
County | Wake |
Incorporated | 1905 |
Government | |
• Type | Council–Manager |
• Mayor | Buddy Gupton [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 18.32 sq mi (47.44 km2) |
• Land | 18.27 sq mi (47.32 km2) |
• Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 31,159 |
• Density | 1,705.38/sq mi (658.44/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 27529 |
Area code | 919 |
FIPS code | 37-25480 [4] |
GNIS feature ID | 2406547 [3] |
Website | www |
Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 31,159 as of the 2020 census. A suburb of Raleigh, the city limits are entirely within Wake County, though portions of unincorporated Wake County, as well as the Cleveland community in northern Johnston County, have Garner mailing addresses. It is part of the Research Triangle region of North Carolina and serves as a bedroom community for the region.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.8 square miles (38.3 km2), of which 14.7 square miles (38.2 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.34%, is water. [5]
Garner is located entirely within Wake County. [6] There are unincorporated areas of Wake County and Johnston County that have Garner postal addresses, including a portion of the unincorporated, but densely populated, Cleveland Community.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 284 | — | |
1920 | 376 | 32.4% | |
1930 | 476 | 26.6% | |
1940 | 768 | 61.3% | |
1950 | 1,180 | 53.6% | |
1960 | 3,451 | 192.5% | |
1970 | 4,923 | 42.7% | |
1980 | 10,073 | 104.6% | |
1990 | 14,967 | 48.6% | |
2000 | 17,757 | 18.6% | |
2010 | 25,745 | 45.0% | |
2020 | 31,159 | 21.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 15,905 | 51.04% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 9,163 | 29.41% |
Native American | 132 | 0.42% |
Asian | 681 | 2.19% |
Pacific Islander | 17 | 0.05% |
Other/Mixed | 1,468 | 4.71% |
Hispanic or Latino | 3,793 | 12.17% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 31,159 people, 11,642 households, and 7,637 families residing in the town.
As of the census [4] of 2000, there were 17,757 people, 6,950 households, and 4,830 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,385.1 inhabitants per square mile (534.8/km2). There were 7,252 housing units at an average density of 565.7 per square mile (218.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 67.02% White, 27.13% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.75% of the population.
There were 6,950 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,380, and the median income for a family was $58,302. Males had a median income of $37,359 versus $29,805 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,433. About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Land near the town of Garner was first settled around 1751. In the 1850s, the North Carolina Railroad was built, and before the 1870s, a wood-and-water stop was established in present-day downtown Garner. The community of Garner's Station received a post office in 1878 and was incorporated in 1883, but the community had its charter repealed in 1891.
In 1905, the charter was reinstated as the Town of Garner. The first mayor was J.B. Richardson, and the first aldermen were H.D. Rand, J.J. Bagwell, H. Bryan, M.C. Penny, and J.S. Buffaloe.
In 1912, the telephone came to Garner. The town is off of US 70, which in 1917 became the first paved highway to be built in North Carolina. [9] An explosion and partial roof collapse of a ConAgra Foods plant on June 9, 2009, killed four and injured some 40 workers. [10] [11]
The Downtown Garner Historic District, Edenwood, and Meadowbrook Country Club are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [12]
Garner currently operates under a council–manager government whereby the Town Council is the publicly elected legislative body of the town, and appoints a Town Manager to manage the administrative operations of the town. The Town Council consists of the Mayor and five Town Council Members, one of whom serves as Mayor "Pro Tempore." The composition of the Garner City Council, as of 2024, are as follows: [1]
Town Manager: Jodi Miller since May 2024 to present
As of 2019, the Garner Police Department has 68 sworn police officers and 10 professional staff personnel (including full-time and part-time staff) to provide law enforcement services to a town roughly 16 square miles in area with a permanent residential population of over 31,000 citizens. [13] The Department is divided into two bureaus—the Operations Bureau and the Administration Bureau.
Lorie Smith, a captain in the Garner Police Department since 2017, and interim chief since the October 1, 2022, retirement of Joe Binns, was officially promoted to the position of Garner police chief. Smith was formally sworn in on December 21, 2021.
Garner's library service began in 1928 and was formed by the Garner's Women's Club, which operated and staffed the library with volunteer workers [14]
Today, Garner's public library is the Southeast Regional Library, which is a regional facility operated by Wake County Public Libraries. [15] The library offers Wake County Public Library's child and adult services, which include storytimes, adult craft programs, computer use, and other free activities for the community. [16] In 2020, as part of Wake County Public Library's Fine Free program, Southeast Regional Library has stopped collecting fines for books that are returned late. [17]
In June 2020, Southeast Regional Library began offering Wake County's Books on the Go program, a contactless book retrieval service that allows patrons to request and receive books from the library while it is closed due to COVID-19 [18]
According to Garner's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [19] the top employers in the town were:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Wake County Public School System | 1,280 |
2 | Pepsi Bottling Ventures | 400 |
3 | Walmart | 350 |
4 | Lowe's Home Improvement | 335 |
5 | Sigma Electric Mfg Corp | 300 |
6 | Target | 290 |
7 | Hamlin Company | 250 |
8 | Food Lion | 220 |
9 | Ameri Gas | 198 |
10 | Town of Garner | 170 |
In 2020, Amazon began operations at a new Fulfillment Center in Garner and is expected to hire 3,000 full time employees. [20]
Several major roads and highways serve Garner:
Garner is served by the GoRaleigh bus routes 7 and 40x, both serving the shopping centers around Garner Station. [21] [22] In October 2019, GoRaleigh bus route 20 replaced the rush-hour-only service of GoTriangle bus route 102 with all-day service. [23] Route 20 connects Downtown Garner with Downtown Raleigh as well as the shopping centers at White Oak, Timber Crossing, and Forest Hills, the Garner Town Hall, the Southeast Regional Library, and the Garner Police Station. [24] GoRaleigh maintains medium-range plans to develop a Bus Rapid Transit line connecting Garner to Raleigh and surrounding areas. [25]
Addition service is provided to seniors and those with disabilities through GoWake Access. This service provides door-to-door service to eligible residents that may have difficulties using traditional public transportation. [26]
Amtrak passes through Garner but does not have a scheduled stop; the nearest station is Raleigh Union Station.
The nearest commercial airport with regular passenger service is Raleigh-Durham International Airport. General aviation services can also be found at the Triple W Airport in Fuquay-Varina or the Raleigh East Airport in Knightdale.
The following schools serve students in and around Garner. Most, but not all, are located within the town limits of Garner. With few exceptions, school districts in North Carolina are organized at the county level, and students are often assigned to schools without regard to which municipality they live in.
Wake County public schools: [27]
Johnston County public schools: [28]
The original campus of the Governor Morehead School, a state-operated school for blind white students and blind and deaf black students, was in Garner. [29] In 1923 white blind students were moved to Raleigh. [30] The desegregation plan in the 1960s called for all deaf students to be moved to North Carolina School for the Deaf and Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, [29] while blind students were moved to Raleigh. [30]
Raleigh is the capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeast, the 41st-most populous city in the U.S., and the largest city of the Research Triangle metro area. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city. The city covers a land area of 148.54 square miles (384.7 km2). The U.S. Census Bureau counted the city's population as 467,665 at the 2020 census. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It is ranked as a sufficiency-level world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the now-lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County.
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,129,410, making it North Carolina's most populous county. From July 2005 to July 2006, Wake County was the 9th-fastest growing county in the United States, with Cary and Raleigh being the 8th- and 15th-fastest growing communities, respectively.
Johnston County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 215,999. Its county seat is Smithfield.
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,573. Its county seat is Louisburg. Franklin County is included in the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.
Durham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 324,833, making it the sixth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Durham, which is the only incorporated municipality predominantly in the county, though very small portions of cities and towns mostly in neighboring counties also extend into Durham County. The central and southern parts of Durham County are highly urban, consisting of the city as well as several unincorporated suburbs. Southeastern Durham County is dominated by the Research Triangle Park, most of which is in Durham County. The northern third of Durham County is rural in nature. Durham County is the core of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 2,368,947 in 2023.
Creedmoor is a city in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,124 at the 2010 census.
Angier is a town in the Black River Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,350 at the 2010 census and estimated as of 2018 to be 5,253. Angier is a part of the greater Raleigh–Durham–Cary Combined Statistical Area (CSA) as defined by the United States Census Bureau.
| official_name = Benson, North Carolina | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Main Street in Benson.JPG | image_caption = Downtown Benson | image_flag = | image_seal = | motto = "The Center of Attention" | image_map = NCMap-doton-Benson.PNG | mapsize = 250x200px | map_caption = Location of Benson, North Carolina | coordinates = 35°23′10″N78°32′37″W | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = North Carolina | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Johnston | established_title = | established_date = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Vacant
Jerry Medlin died on November 13, 2024 | leader_title1 = Town Manager | leader_name1 = Kimberly Pickett | unit_pref = Imperial | area_total_km2 = 7.28 | area_total_sq_mi = 2.81 | area_land_km2 = 7.26 | area_land_sq_mi = 2.81 | area_water_km2 = 0.01 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = 236 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 3967 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_density_km2 = 546.07 | population_density_sq_mi = 1414.26 | timezone = Eastern (EST) | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 27504 | area_code = 919 and 984 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 37-05040 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2405242 | website = www
Clayton is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States, and is considered a satellite town of Raleigh. As of 2020, Clayton's population was 26,307, up from 16,116 at the 2010 census. By 2024 the town's estimated population was 30,621. Much of that growth can be attributed to the town's proximity to the Research Triangle area and access to major highways such as I-40 and US 70.
Selma is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2010, the population was 6,073, and as of 2018 the estimated population was 6,913. Selma is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area. The area has a population over 1.7 million residents, though the town of Selma is able to maintain its rural character. The Everitt P. Stevens House, located in Selma, was the site of the last Grand Review of the Confederate Army held on April 6, 1865, after its defeat at the Battle of Bentonville.
Smithfield is a town in and the county seat of Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,966, and in 2019 the estimated population was 12,985. Smithfield is home to the Ava Gardner Museum, Wild Bill's Western Town named Shadowhawk, and is situated along the Neuse River, where visitors enjoy the annual Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival, walks along the Buffalo Creek Greenway, and the historic downtown district. The town is located near North Carolina's Research Triangle and is about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of downtown Raleigh. The Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area has a population over 2 million residents.
Wilson's Mills is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. In 2010, the population was 2,277, up from 1,291 in 2000. As of 2018, the estimated population was 2,689.
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. At its southern border, Apex encompasses the community of Friendship. In 1994, the downtown area was designated a historic district, and the Apex train depot, built in 1867, is designated a Wake County landmark. The depot location marks the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad, hence the town's name. The town motto is "The Peak of Good Living".
Fuquay-Varina is a town in southern Wake County, North Carolina, United States, lying south of Holly Springs and southwest of Garner, and north of the Harnett County town of Angier and west of the unincorporated community of Willow Springs. The population was 17,937 at the 2010 census, and estimated at 36,736 as of July 2021. The hyphenated name attests to the town's history as two separate towns. Fuquay Springs and Varina merged in 1963 to create the modern town. Economically, the town initially grew due to tobacco trade and agriculture, but has seen recent population growth and real estate development due to its proximity to Research Triangle Park.
Holly Springs is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 41,239, a 67% increase from 2010.
Knightdale is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Knightdale has a population of 19,435, up from 11,401 in 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the town's population to be 17,843, as of July 1, 2019. Knightdale's population grew 10.4% from 2010 to 2013, making it the second fastest-growing community in the Research Triangle region for that time period.
Rolesville is a town in northeastern Wake County, North Carolina, United States, a suburb of the capital city of Raleigh. It is the second oldest town in Wake County. The population was 9,475 at the 2020 census.
Wake Forest is a town in Wake and Franklin counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it lies just north of the state capital, Raleigh. At the 2020 census, the population was 47,601, up from 30,117 in 2010. It is part of the Raleigh metropolitan area. Wake Forest was the original home of Wake Forest University for 122 years before it moved to Winston-Salem in 1956.
Wendell is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. It is a satellite town of Raleigh, the state capital. The population was 5,845 at the 2010 census.
The Research Triangle, or simply The Triangle, are both common nicknames for a metropolitan area in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Anchored by the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, the region is home to three major research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively. The "Triangle" name originated in the 1950s with the creation of Research Triangle Park located between the three anchor cities, which is the largest research park in the United States and home to numerous high tech companies.