Thomasville, North Carolina

Thomasville, North Carolina
City
Seal
Nickname(s):  T-Ville, T-Vegas, Chair City, Tater Town
Location in Davidson County and the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°52′53″N80°04′51″W / 35.88139°N 80.08083°W / 35.88139; -80.08083
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Davidson, Randolph
Incorporated	1857
Government
•  Mayor	Raleigh F York, Jr
Area [1]
• Total	16.78 sq mi (43.47 km2)
• Land	16.77 sq mi (43.43 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation [2]	827 ft (252 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,183
• Density	1,621.03/sq mi (625.89/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	27360-27361
Area code	336
FIPS code	37-67420 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2405585 [2]
Website	www.thomasville-nc.gov

Thomasville is a city in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 27,183 at the 2020 census. ^[4] The city was once notable for its furniture industry, as were its neighbors High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's oldest festival, "Everybody's Day".

History

John Warwick Thomas was born June 27, 1800, and by age 22 owned 384 acres (155 ha) in the Cedar Lodge area after marrying Mary Lambeth, daughter of Moses Lambeth. By age 30 he was a state representative. In 1848 he became a state senator. He pushed to get a railroad built through Davidson County and even invested money. Knowing the railroad was coming, Thomas built the community's first store in 1852 at present-day West Main and Salem streets, and the community was named "Thomasville" for its founder. In 1855 the North Carolina Railroad was built through Davidson County, reaching Thomasville November 9. On January 8, 1857, Thomasville was incorporated and occupied one square mile, with the railroad dividing the town into north and south sections.

In 1860 Thomasville had 308 people. After the Civil War the town had only 217 residents, but by 1880 the population was 450, reaching 751 by 1890.

Long Bill Whiteheart may have been the first to make furniture; he made split-bottom chairs at home. D.S. Westmoreland also made chairs at home starting in 1866, and his factory on what became Randolph Street went up in 1879 but burned in 1897 and was not rebuilt. The oldest plant still standing as of 1990 was that of Standard Chair, built in 1898. Other furniture companies were Lambeth Furniture, Thompson Chair, and Queen Chair Company.

Cramer Furniture was said^{[ by whom? ]} to be the South's second largest furniture company in 1901. Thomasville Chair, started in 1904, soon became the town's leading furniture manufacturer. By 1916, 2,000 chairs a day were being made citywide.

By 1909 Jewel Cotton Mills and Amazon Cotton Mills gave Thomasville another industry, textiles. Sellers Hosiery Mills of Burlington opened in 1913, and Thomasville Hosiery in 1916. ^[5]

The Abbott's Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Brummell's Inn, Church Street School, Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery, Shadrach Lambeth House, Mitchell House, Randolph Street Historic District, Salem Street Historic District, Smith Clinic, Thomasville Downtown Historic District, and Thomasville Railroad Passenger Depot are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^{[6] [7]}

Big Chair

The Big Chair

Main article: The Big Chair

Thomasville is commonly referred to as the "Chair Town" or "Chair City", in reference to a 30-foot (9.1 m) landmark replica of a Duncan Phyfe armchair that rests in the middle of the city. The original "Big Chair" was constructed in 1922 by the now-defunct Thomasville Furniture Industries (formerly the Thomasville Chair Company) out of lumber and Swiss steer hide to reflect the city's prominent furniture industry. However, this chair was scrapped in 1936 after 15 years of exposure to the weather. In 1951, a larger concrete version of the chair was erected with the collaboration of local businesses and civic organizations and still remains today. The Big Chair gained national attention in 1960 when then presidential candidate Lyndon B. Johnson greeted supporters on the monument during a campaign whistle stop. ^[8] Although larger ones have been built, many Thomasville residents still boast that the Big Chair between the two Main Streets is the "World's Largest Chair".

Geography

Thomasville is located in northeastern Davidson County and is bordered to the east by the city of Trinity in Randolph County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Thomasville has a total area of 16.8 square miles (43.5 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.07%, is water. ^[4]

Climate

Climate data for Thomasville, North Carolina
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	83 (28)	85 (29)	90 (32)	96 (36)	100 (38)	105 (41)	105 (41)	105 (41)	104 (40)	94 (34)	89 (32)	80 (27)	105 (41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	51 (11)	56 (13)	64 (18)	74 (23)	80 (27)	87 (31)	90 (32)	88 (31)	82 (28)	73 (23)	63 (17)	53 (12)	72 (22)
Daily mean °F (°C)	41 (5)	45 (7)	52 (11)	61 (16)	68 (20)	76 (24)	79 (26)	78 (26)	72 (22)	61 (16)	52 (11)	43 (6)	61 (16)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	30 (−1)	33 (1)	39 (4)	48 (9)	56 (13)	65 (18)	68 (20)	68 (20)	61 (16)	49 (9)	41 (5)	33 (1)	49 (10)
Record low °F (°C)	−7 (−22)	−2 (−19)	7 (−14)	22 (−6)	25 (−4)	39 (4)	47 (8)	41 (5)	34 (1)	19 (−7)	10 (−12)	0 (−18)	−7 (−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.69 (94)	3.80 (97)	4.12 (105)	3.90 (99)	3.47 (88)	4.04 (103)	4.52 (115)	4.43 (113)	4.07 (103)	3.36 (85)	3.41 (87)	3.43 (87)	46.24 (1,176)
Source: The Weather Channel [9] [10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	308		—
1870	214		−30.5%
1880	450		110.3%
1890	590		31.1%
1900	751		27.3%
1910	3,877		416.2%
1920	5,676		46.4%
1930	10,090		77.8%
1940	11,041		9.4%
1950	11,154		1.0%
1960	15,190		36.2%
1970	15,230		0.3%
1980	14,144		−7.1%
1990	15,915		12.5%
2000	19,788		24.3%
2010	26,757		35.2%
2020	27,183		1.6%
2022 (est.)	27,399	[11]	0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]

2020 census

Thomasville racial composition ^[13]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	15,461	56.88%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	5,481	20.16%
Native American	124	0.46%
Asian	396	1.46%
Pacific Islander	8	0.03%
Other/Mixed	1,176	4.33%
Hispanic or Latino	4,537	16.69%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,183 people, 11,190 households, and 6,789 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2010, there were 26,757 people, 10,537 households, and 7,013 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,775.2 inhabitants per square mile (685.4/km²). There were 11,870 housing units at an average density of 763.9 per square mile (294.9/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 68.3% White, 19.6% African American, 14.4% Hispanic or Latino American, 1.1% Asian American, 0.01% Native American, 0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 8.1% some other race, and 2.1% two or more races.

There were 10,537 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,253, and the median income for a family was $40,795. Males had a median income of $29,794 versus $20,054 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,045. About 25.2% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.1% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Thomasville's population has grown much faster than the rest of North Carolina and the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that as of 2005 ^[update] Thomasville's population reached 25,872, an annual average growth of over 6% from 2000. North Carolina grew at an average rate of 1.6%, and the United States grew at an average rate of 1%.

Economy

Thomasville has been historically associated with furniture and cabinetry manufacture, as well as for a wholesale and retail furniture market. "Thomasville" is used as a trade designation for artisan furniture made by either Thomasville Furniture Industries or furniture companies that are based in the city. Thomasville Furniture Industries was started here in 1904 as a chair company before becoming a furniture manufacturing company in the 1960s. After the last two plants closed in 2014, the Thomasville Furniture Industries Showroom became the only part of the company still located in Thomasville but it's now closed. The company also operates a plant in Lenoir, North Carolina.

Other companies based in Thomasville include flooring company Mohawk Industries, trucker Old Dominion Freight Line and restaurant chain Cook Out.

Education

East Davidson High School

Although Thomasville is located in Davidson County, it has its own public school system. The Thomasville City Schools system consists of four schools: Thomasville Primary (K–3), Liberty Drive Elementary (4–5), Thomasville Middle School (6–8), Thomasville High School (9–12).

Davidson County Schools has eight schools in the Thomasville area: Brier Creek Elementary (K–5), Fair Grove Elementary (K–5), Hasty Elementary (K–5), Wallburg Elementary School (K–5), Friendship Elementary School (K–5), Pilot Elementary (K–5), E. Lawson Brown Middle School (6–8), Ledford Middle School (6–8), East Davidson High School (9–12), and Ledford High School (9–12).

Local sports

Thomasville Senior High Bulldogs

Thomasville Senior High School Bulldogs won the state 1AA Football Championship from 2004 to 2006, and again in 2008. Also, the Thomasville Senior High School has a marching band, The Scarlet Regiment. In November 2008 the band traveled to Greensboro, NC where they participated in Asymmetrix Ent. National High Stepping Band Competition. The band placed first in the preliminary round beating over twenty bands from Washington DC all the way to Alabama. Overall in the competition they placed fifth.

The Thomasville Bulldogs are well known throughout the state for excelling in athletics, especially football. ^[14]

The 1995 Bulldogs were the first team in the history of NC football to go 16–0. ^[14]

In 2005, The Bulldogs were the first school in the history of NC athletics to win championships in football, women's basketball, and men's basketball and men's soccer in the same year. ^[15]

Championships

Award	Years
Football State Champions	1964, 1988, 1991, 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
Basketball State Champions (Men's)	1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007
Basketball State Champions (Women's)	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Wrestling State Champions	1960, 1961, 1962, 1973, 1991
Soccer State Champions (Men's)	2005

High Point-Thomasville HiToms

Thomasville is also home to the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league sanctioned by the NCAA. The HiToms won the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Petitt Cup, the Coastal Plain League Championship. The HiToms play at Historic Finch Field in Thomasville, which was built in 1935. From 1937 to 1969, Finch Field was the home to many minor league teams. Hall of Famers such as Eddie Mathews once played for the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the original Coastal Plain League.

Media

Print

The Thomasville Times , a bi-weekly community newspaper, covers the city. In addition, three larger daily Triad newspapers cover Thomasville: The Winston-Salem Journal , The High Point Enterprise and The Greensboro News & Record .

Notable people

• Johnny Allen, MLB pitcher ^[16]
• Chad Barefoot, politician ^[17]
• Dan Clodfelter, politician, attorney, and former acting mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina ^[18]
• Akeem Davis-Gaither, NFL linebacker
• Tom Hall, MLB pitcher ^[19]
• Mickey Hawks, rockabilly pianist, best known for his song "Bip Bop Boom"
• Brad Hoover, NFL fullback ^[20]
• Walter Lambeth, U.S. Representative from North Carolina
• W. A. Lambeth, medical professor who was the first athletic director at the University of Virginia
• Victoria Livengood, opera singer
• Norris McDonald, American environmentalist ^[21]
• Wil Myers, MLB player for the San Diego Padres ^[22]
• Bolo Perdue, NFL player ^[23]
• Liston Pope, clergyman ^[24]
• Larry Thomas, NASCAR driver ^[25]
• Brian Vickers, NASCAR racer ^[26]
• Hiram Hamilton Ward, former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• Sam Watford, politician, state senator from Davidson County, former Davidson County Commissioner
• Kariamu Welsh, contemporary dance choreographer, scholar ^[27]

See also

• Thomasville Public Library

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Thomasville
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Thomasville city, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
5. Bob Burchette, "Thomasville: Ready for Fresh Start," Greensboro News & Record , September 23, 1990, Centennial section p. 82.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
7. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/27/12 through 8/31/12. National Park Service. September 7, 2012.
8. "The Big Chair"
9. "Monthly Averages for Thomasville, NC". Weather.com. 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
10. "Thomasville, NC Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com". The Weather Channel. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in North Carolina: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Census.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
14. "U.S. Congressman Howard Coble : 6th District of North Carolina". Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
15. "Scout.com: NCHSAA Men's and Women's Championship Tidbits". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
16. John Weeks, "Johnny Allen", SABR (accessed 2015-05-28).
17. Dunn, Nash. "Youngest state senator holds ties to county". The Dispatch. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
18. "Dan Clodfelter selected as Charlotte's new mayor". WGHP. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
19. "Tom Hall". Baseball Reference . Retrieved December 23, 2015.
20. Duprez, Mike. "Hoover leads Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame 2015 class" . Retrieved December 23, 2015.
21. "Norris McDonald, president of the African American Environmentalist Association, answers questions". April 5, 2005. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
22. "Biography". San Diego Padres . Retrieved April 27, 2016.
23. "Bolo Perdue, DE at NFL.com". NFL . Retrieved December 23, 2015.
24. Powell, William S. (1994). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Vol. 5. University of South Carolina. pp. 124–125.
25. "Larry Thomas" . Retrieved December 23, 2015.
26. "Brian Vickers". NASCAR . Retrieved December 23, 2015.
27. "Kariamu Welsh, Pioneer of African Dance Studies, Dies at 72". New York Times . Retrieved June 25, 2024.

External links

• City of Thomasville official website
• Thomasville Tourism Commission
• Preserve America Community: Thomasville, NC