Laurel Park, North Carolina

Last updated

Laurel Park, North Carolina
NCMap-doton-LaurelPark.PNG
Location of Laurel Park, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°18′42″N82°30′14″W / 35.31167°N 82.50389°W / 35.31167; -82.50389
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Henderson
Incorporated1925 [1]
Government
  TypeCouncil-Manager
  MayorJ. Carey O’Cain
Area
[2]
  Total2.82 sq mi (7.31 km2)
  Land2.80 sq mi (7.25 km2)
  Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
[3]
2,763 ft (842 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total2,250
  Density803.28/sq mi (310.15/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28739
Area code 828
FIPS code 37-37160 [4]
GNIS feature ID2405992 [3]
Website www.laurelpark.org

Laurel Park is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,250 at the 2020 census. [5] It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The town of Laurel Park was settled on what had been Cherokee land in the late 1800s. [6] Summer cottages and camps were construction in the areas surrounding Echo Mountain. By 1903, a rail line had been built up Fifth Avenue in Hendersonville to bring day-trippers and summer visitors to Rainbow Lake to enjoy swimming, boating, dancing, camping, and gambling at the Laurel Park Casino. Visitors to the casino included famous boxer Jack Dempsey. Later, another rail line and a canal connected Rainbow Lake with Laurel Lake (Rhododendron Lake), and a counter-balanced railway took sightseers from Crystal Spring (near Rainbow Lake) to an observation tower for views of downtown Hendersonville and near and distant mountains. In 1925, the town was formally incorporated. [7] That same year, Commodore J. Perry Stolz, builder of the popular and expensive Miami Fleetwood Hotel in Florida, arrived in Hendersonville with plans to repeat his success at the top of Jump Off Mountain near Jump-Off Rock. This 15-story hotel, also to be called the Fleetwood, would have a brick exterior trimmed with marble, all the modern conveniences, and a radio station at the top. A new concrete road (named Laurel Park Highway) was built up the mountain to the hotel site; this was used for transporting construction materials. Less than a year later, financial problems led to a halt in construction. Despite numerous attempts to complete the hotel, the 13th floor was the last floor completed, and the hotel was razed in 1939 by a salvage company.

After the stock market crash, the town slowly transitioned from a summer recreational resort to a more residential community.

The Singletary-Reese-Robinson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. [8]

Government

The town of Laurel Park is organized under the Council-Manager form of government, consisting of a mayor elected to a four-year term, as well as four commissioners elected to staggered four-year terms. The Mayor is J. Carey O’Cain, first elected in 2011 after serving on the city commission. [9]

In recent years, the town has been one of the areas of Henderson County trending the most to the Democratic Party. In 2016, [10] the town gave 50% of its votes to Donald Trump, while in the 2020 Presidential Election it gave 55% of its votes to Joe Biden, a swing of 15%, one of the largest swings to the Democrats in Henderson County. [11]

Geography

Laurel Park is located in central Henderson County on the eastern slopes of Jump off Mountain. It is bordered to the east by the city of Hendersonville, the county seat. To the south is the unincorporated community of Valley Hill, and to the west is the community of Horse Shoe.

U.S. Route 64 passes through the northern part of the town, in the valley of Shaw Creek. Route 64 leads east into Hendersonville and west 7 miles (11 km) to Etowah.

The town government maintains three parks: Jump Off Rock Park, Rhododendron Lake Nature Park, and Little Laurel Green Park. Additionally, several hiking trails run around the town. [12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2), of which 0.023 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.78%, are water. [5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930 127
1940 17134.6%
1950 30276.6%
1960 42139.4%
1970 58138.0%
1980 76431.5%
1990 1,32273.0%
2000 1,83538.8%
2010 2,18018.8%
2020 2,2503.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

2020 census

Laurel Park racial composition [14]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)2,11293.87%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)150.67%
Native American 10.04%
Asian 130.58%
Pacific Islander 30.13%
Other/Mixed 542.4%
Hispanic or Latino 522.31%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,250 people, 1,153 households, and 768 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census [4] of 2000, there were 1,835 people, 930 households, and 606 families residing in the town. The population density was 683.8 inhabitants per square mile (264.0/km2). There were 1,115 housing units at an average density of 415.5 per square mile (160.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.47% White, 0.49% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 930 households, out of which 13.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.42.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.7% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 40.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,813, and the median income for a family was $59,118. Males had a median income of $49,853 versus $29,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,749. About 2.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,784. The county seat is Wilson. The county comprises the Wilson, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included within the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transylvania County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Transylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census the population is 32,986. Its county seat is Brevard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polk County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,328. Its county seat is Columbus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,193. Its county seat is Marshall. Madison County is part of the Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 116,281. Its county seat is Hendersonville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waynesville, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Waynesville is the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina. It is the largest town in North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balfour, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States

Balfour is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,187 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barker Heights, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States

Barker Heights is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,254 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Flat Rock, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States

East Flat Rock is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,995 at the 2010 census, up from 4,151 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Etowah, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA

Etowah is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,944 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina</span> Village in North Carolina, United States

Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,114 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fletcher, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Fletcher is a town in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,187 at the 2010 census, and was estimated to be 8,333 in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hendersonville, North Carolina</span> City in North Carolina, United States

Hendersonville is a city in and the county seat of Henderson County, North Carolina, United States, located 22 miles (35 km) south of Asheville. Like the county, the city is named for 19th-century North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Leonard Henderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Home, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States

Mountain Home is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,622 at the 2010 census, up from 2,169 in 2000. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valley Hill, North Carolina</span> Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States

Valley Hill is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,070 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Marshall is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 872 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Madison County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson, North Carolina</span> City in North Carolina, United States

Henderson is a city and the county seat of Vance County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,060 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hendersonville, Tennessee</span> City in Tennessee, United States

Hendersonville is the most populous city in Sumner County, Tennessee, on Old Hickory Lake. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 61,753.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highlands, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County, in the Highlands and Cashiers Townships, respectively. The permanent population was 1,014 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asheville metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan area in North Carolina, United States

The Asheville metropolitan area is a metropolitan area centered on the principal city of Asheville, North Carolina. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area used by the United States Census Bureau and other entities, as comprising the four counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison. The area's population was 424,858 according to the 2010 census, and 469,454 according to the 2020 census.

References

  1. "North Carolina Gazetteer" . Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Laurel Park, North Carolina
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Laurel Park town, North Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  6. "History - Laurel Park, NC". Laurelpark.org. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  7. "Our Community - Laurel Park, NC". Laurelpark.org. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  8. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/13/10 through 9/17/10. National Park Service. September 24, 2010.
  9. "Town Council - Laurel Park, NC". Laurelpark.org. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  10. "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Presidential Election - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  11. Park, Alice (February 2, 2021). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election Results: Trump vs. Biden - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  12. "Parks - Laurel Park, NC". Laurelpark.org. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2021.