Goldston, North Carolina

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Goldston, North Carolina
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Goldston, North Carolina


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Chatham
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.0
area_land_km2 = 2.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.8
area_land_sq_mi = 0.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 319
population_density_km2 = 155.9
population_density_sq_mi = 403.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 128
elevation_ft = 420
latd = 35 |latm = 35 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 79 |longm = 19 |longs = 47 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 27252
area_code = 919
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-26920GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0985783GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Goldston is a town in Chatham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 319 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Goldston is located at coor dms|35|35|33|N|79|19|47|W|city (35.592478, -79.329615)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all of it land.

Historic Features

The downtown business district is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is, also, home to several historic homes. The town is named for the Goldston family who founded the town.

Business and Industry

The town has always been a predominately rural town and most of the business and industry over the years has been centered around the area's agricultural heritage, mainly the poultry industry. The towns location near the railroad line has helped to keep industry going in the area, although in recent years the town has seen a decline in industry.

Railroad

Goldston is located on a spur of the Norfolk Southern Railway that runs between Greensboro and Sanford. The railroad was historically been important to the growth of the town. The rail line was once part of the now defunct Southern Railway and prior to that the Atlantic & Yadkin Railway and until a few years ago many older Southern marked freight gondolas could be found parked on a side track downtown and at the nearby old Pomona Clay pit. The Goldston area (actually Gulf) is also an interconnection point for the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway. Most of the rail traffic that comes through town is local freight traffic going back and forth from Sanford to Greensboro or freight going to AC&W. Most of this freight is composed of grain hopper cars going to local poultry feed mills. Norfolk Southern Right of Way Maintenance equipment and cars are also frequently parked on the side trackage in Goldston.
* [http://southern-railway.railfan.net/ay/explore.htm Atlantic & Yadkin Railway]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 319 people, 128 households, and 93 families residing in the town. The population density was 403.8 people per square mile (155.9/km²). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 179.8/sq mi (69.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.91% White, 6.58% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.63% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.

There were 128 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.4% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,485. About 8.9% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

Miscellaneous

* Although technically a town by incorporation standards, the town has no official town employed police force. All law enforcement is handled by the Chatham County Sheriff's Office who operates a substation in the town.
*It is said that Charlie Daniels lived near Goldston as a child. Many locals claim that much of his musical knowledge was inspired and taught by citizens of Goldston.

References

Eyewitness. Charlie Daniels used to shop for his guitars at Buchanan's Music Store in Sanford, NC when he lived in the Goldston area. Buchanan's was only about 10 miles south of Goldston on US421. A Bojangles now occupies this stores location but the store relocated about 1 mile west-south-west out Lee Avenue and is now managed by Maestro David Overton.

External links