Jefferson, North Carolina

Jefferson, North Carolina
Aerial view of Jefferson
Aerial view of Jefferson
Official seal of Jefferson, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Coordinates: 36°25′15″N 81°28′06″W / 36.42083°N 81.46833°W / 36.42083; -81.46833
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyAshe
Foundedas Jeffersonton (1799)
as Jefferson (1799)
Named forThomas Jefferson
Government
 • MayorPeter Eller (R)
Area
 • Total2.12 sq mi (5.48 km2)
 • Land2.11 sq mi (5.47 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation2,907 ft (886 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,622
 • Density767.63/sq mi (296.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
28640
Area code336
FIPS code37-34440[3]
GNIS feature ID2405910[2]
Websitewww.townofjefferson.org

Jefferson is a town in and the county seat of Ashe County, North Carolina, United States.[4] The population was 1,622 at the 2020 U.S. census.[5]

History[edit]

The North Carolina General Assembly created a special commission in 1799 to found a county seat for Ashe County. The commission purchased 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land to form the town of Jeffersonton, later named Jefferson. It is one of the first towns in the nation to bear the name of Thomas Jefferson, who was the vice president of the United States in 1799.[6]

The Ashe County Courthouse and Poe Fish Weir are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Geography[edit]

Jefferson is located in the Appalachian Mountains.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), of which 0.0039 square miles (0.01 km2), or 0.20%, is water.[5] The New River, which is part of the Ohio River watershed and one of the oldest and most scenic rivers in the eastern United States, flows through the town.

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Jefferson, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)
77
(25)
85
(29)
88
(31)
91
(33)
95
(35)
97
(36)
98
(37)
95
(35)
88
(31)
79
(26)
83
(28)
98
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 43.3
(6.3)
46.6
(8.1)
53.5
(11.9)
63.1
(17.3)
71.2
(21.8)
78.0
(25.6)
81.0
(27.2)
80.2
(26.8)
75.2
(24.0)
65.5
(18.6)
55.4
(13.0)
47.0
(8.3)
63.3
(17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3)
35.3
(1.8)
41.4
(5.2)
49.7
(9.8)
58.2
(14.6)
65.7
(18.7)
69.5
(20.8)
68.4
(20.2)
62.7
(17.1)
52.0
(11.1)
42.0
(5.6)
35.7
(2.1)
51.1
(10.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.9
(−5.6)
24.0
(−4.4)
29.2
(−1.6)
36.3
(2.4)
45.3
(7.4)
53.4
(11.9)
58.0
(14.4)
56.6
(13.7)
50.3
(10.2)
38.5
(3.6)
28.5
(−1.9)
24.5
(−4.2)
38.9
(3.8)
Record low °F (°C) −15
(−26)
−13
(−25)
2
(−17)
7
(−14)
22
(−6)
24
(−4)
36
(2)
33
(1)
26
(−3)
14
(−10)
−5
(−21)
−20
(−29)
−20
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.91
(99)
3.28
(83)
4.06
(103)
4.78
(121)
5.34
(136)
4.44
(113)
4.79
(122)
4.65
(118)
4.35
(110)
3.71
(94)
3.61
(92)
4.03
(102)
50.95
(1,294)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.3
(11)
3.3
(8.4)
2.9
(7.4)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.51)
3.7
(9.4)
14.4
(37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.4 7.2 8.1 7.4 9.7 9.5 10.3 8.9 7.4 5.9 5.9 8.0 95.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.3 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.9 4.3
Source: NOAA[8][9]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860128
1880196
1890413110.7%
1900230−44.3%
1910184−20.0%
19201966.5%
193026635.7%
194030414.3%
195035918.1%
1960814126.7%
197094315.8%
19801,08615.2%
19901,30019.7%
20001,4229.4%
20101,61113.3%
20201,6220.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census[edit]

Jefferson racial composition[11]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 1,416 87.3%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 18 1.11%
Native American 8 0.49%
Asian 13 0.8%
Other/Mixed 47 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino 120 7.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,622 people, 615 households, and 340 families residing in the town.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,422 people, 582 households, and 334 families living in the town. The population density was 738.2 inhabitants per square mile (285.0/km2). There were 617 housing units, at an average density of 320.3 per square mile (123.7/km2). The racial makeup was 95.43% White, 1.41% African American, 0.35% Asian, 2.53% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.73% of the population.

There were 582 households, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.6% were non-families. Of all households, 39.5% were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.66.

The median age was 51 years, with 14.3% of the population under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 34.7% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 73.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.7 males.

The median household income was $22,847, and the median family income was $34,554. Males had a median income of $26,500 versus $18,929 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,505. About 11.6% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Jefferson, North Carolina
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Jefferson town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  6. ^ "History of Ashe County by Ashe County Government". Archived from the original on October 9, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "Station: Jefferson 2 E, NC". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-20.

External links[edit]