Ayden, North Carolina

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

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

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


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Pitt
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Stephen W. Tripp
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.0
area_land_km2 = 6.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.3
area_land_sq_mi = 2.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 4622
population_density_km2 = 770.1
population_density_sq_mi = 1994.5

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 20
elevation_ft = 66
latd = 35 |latm = 28 |lats = 16 |latNS = N
longd = 77 |longm = 25 |longs = 15 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 28513
area_code = 252
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-02840GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1018886GR|3
website = [http://www.ayden.com/ www.ayden.com]
footnotes =

Ayden is a town in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,622 at the 2000 census and the 2007 estimated population was 4,827. [ [http://www.ayden.com/ayden-nc-economic-development.asp Ayden.com - Town Of Ayden, North Carolina - Economic Development ] ] The town is a part of the Greenville Metropolitan Area of North Carolina's Inner Banks region.

Geography

Ayden is located at coor dms|35|28|16|N|77|25|15|W|city (35.470973, -77.420740)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.

History

In 1891, William Henry Harris asked the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to build a train depot on a portion of his farm in order to create a village. A forty acre parcel of land was divided into residential lots surrounding the depot in "Harristown", with Harris owning every other lot. Within the next several years, lots were sold and homes built. Businesses began to open up to support the new residents, and on February 3, 1891, the town was incorporated as "Ayden." Within a few years, the Carolina Christian College and the Free Will Baptist Seminary were established. By 1919, Ayden had full-time electricity supplied by the Ayden municipal light plant. In 1922, the Mutual Building and Loan Association of Ayden was organized to help families obtain mortgages to build homes in Ayden. After experiencing tough times during the Great Depression, and after the Second World War, the town began to grow. To accommodate the growth, commercial, cultural, religious, and other establishments were opened within and around Ayden. The community is still growing today thanks to the continued development of Greenville as an industrial and economic center for eastern North Carolina. [ [http://www.ayden.com/ayden-nc-history.asp Ayden.com - Town Of Ayden, North Carolina - History ] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,622 people, 1,936 households, and 1,217 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,994.5 people per square mile (769.2/km²). There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 892.0/sq mi (344.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 47.64% White, 49.52% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.

There were 1,936 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 78.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,004, and the median income for a family was $34,808. Males had a median income of $30,991 versus $22,305 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,505. About 21.0% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 34.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Education in Ayden is administered by the Pitt County Public School System. The three schools located in Ayden include Ayden Elementary School, Ayden Middle School and Ayden-Grifton High School.

Higher education is provided by Pitt Community College, located between Ayden and Greenville. East Carolina University is located in downtown Greenville.

Local Events

The Ayden Collard Festival is held the week immediately following Labor Day in September. The annual event started in 1975 and includes a Collard Queen contest, sporting events, rides, live music, food, and a parade. [ [http://www.aydencollardfestival.com/ AydenCollardFestival.com - Ayden Collard Festival, Ayden, NC, Eastern North Carolina ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.ayden.com/ Official Ayden, NC website]
* [http://www.aydencollardfestival.com/ Ayden Collard Festival]