Garner, North Carolina

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Garner, North Carolina
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto = A Great Place to Be


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



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


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_name2 = Wake
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ronald S. "Ronnie" Williams
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Hardin Watkins
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 5, 1905
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 13.6
area_total_km2 = 35.2
area_land_sq_mi = 12.8
area_land_km2 = 33.2
area_water_sq_mi = 2.0
area_water_km2 = 0.8
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2008
population_footnotes =
population_total = 25184
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 534.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1,385.1
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 35 |latm = 41 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 78 |longm = 37 |longs = 22 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 132
elevation_ft = 434
elevation_footnotes =
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 27529
area_code = 919
website = http://www.garnernc.gov
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-25480GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0985572GR|3
footnotes =

Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 25,184 in 2008.

Geography

Garner is located at coor dms|35|41|54|N|78|37|22|W|city (35.698243, -78.622865)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²), of which, 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (5.60%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,757 people, 6,950 households, and 4,830 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,385.1 people per square mile (534.8/km²). There were 7,252 housing units at an average density of 565.7/sq mi (218.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.02% White, 27.13% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.75% of the population.

There were 6,950 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,380, and the median income for a family was $58,302. Males had a median income of $37,359 versus $29,805 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,433. About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

Garner got its start with the coming of the railroad through the area beginning in 1847. In that year, after a tie-breaker vote by the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, what is now Garner was chosen as the location of a station of the North Carolina Railroad between Goldsboro and Charlotte. "Garner's Station" was established with the construction of a post office in 1878 and the Town of Garner's Station incorporated in 1883.

Garner is situated in the St. Mary's Township, which got its name from a Church of England parish. It is known that there were settlers in the area before the Revolutionary War. There are documented records of a church south of Garner in the Panther Branch Township as far back as 1756. According to the late Parker Rand, a 3,000 acre (12 km²) tract of land was granted to his forefathers by King George in 1759. Part of this area later was to be the site of a community known as Rand's Mill. Rand's Mill Pond was later renamed Lake Benson. It was enlarged in 1951 and is now used as a reservoir. Garner has continued to grow and prosper since its beginnings. In 1891, the village of Garner's Station had its charter repealed, and in 1905 application was made and granted for its reinstatement as the Town of Garner. The first town officials in 1905 were, J.B. Richardson, mayor; H.D. Rand, J.J. Bagwell, H. Bryan, M.C. Penny, and J.S. Buffaloe, all Aldermen. These gentlemen were appointed to serve one year or until their successors were duly elected and qualified.

There are several legends as to how Garner got its name. One story has it that Thomas Bingham named the town. Bingham is said to have combined a general store with handling the mail. Since Webster's defines “garner" as a "granary," hence figuratively, a "store," he named the town "Garner."

The late Parker Rand believed that Garner was named for a family that lived in the area and later moved to Texas. Others believe the town was named by Henry Fort, a black cabinetmaker and carpenter who owned some land along the railroad after the Civil War. William S. Powell stated that Garner was named for its founder, H.C. Garner. An article in The State also named H.C. Garner as its founder, but not much information has been found about the man.

Garner experienced actual combat in the closing days of the Civil War. Some skirmishes occurred in the area, as witnessed by the carefully preserved bullet holes in New Bethel Church and the “Garner” house, which is said to have been used as a hospital for wounded soldiers.

Times immediately after the close of the war must have been difficult, but by 1878 the little community had succeeded in getting a post office established. This was when the name "Garner's Station" originated. Thomas Bingham was the first postmaster.

An old map dated 1887 shows Garner connected with the city of Raleigh by a road, listed as Holloman's Road. This was a typical country road at the time, unpaved until about 1918. Its importance, aside from its serving as a link between the small Garner community and the State Capitol, lay in the fact that it was a small section of what was to become one of the oldest and longest traveled corridors in North Carolina, the Central Highway.

In 1910, the road became jointly known as Number 10 and US 70 on the maps of the day. Highway 70 was the first paved road to be built in the state and was financed by the first bonds sold by the state to build highways. The Central Highway from the mountains to the sea was started in 1911. The portion of the highway between Garner and Raleigh was paved around 1916 or 1917.

Sam Mitchiner recalls going to World War I by way of the muddy dirt road and returning to find it paved. This section of the highway today is know as Old Garner Road.

Farming was the chief source of income for the early settlers of Garner and nearby areas, with cotton the principal crop. Before the turn of the century, some small businesses were beginning to be developed. The first business in Garner is said to have been a wood shop owned by Henry Fort. Fort was said to have been a fine cabinetmaker and carpenter, making wardrobes, bureaus, and other pieces of wood furniture still being used by some Garner residents today. One of the first grocery stores in town was owned by Thomas Bennett. Other early businesses included a mercantile business owned by H.D. Rand, a drug store operated by George Montague, and several general stores operated by people such as C.H. Dupree, Jr., R. Garner, J.B. Hobby, and J.R. Williams. In addition to general stores and cotton gins in the area, other businesses such as blacksmith, repair shops, barber shops, livery stables, and boarding houses existed. The first bank was established in Garner in 1910. H.D. Rand was president and J.A. Weathers was the cashier. In 1912, telephone service came to Garner. In a short while, there were as many as 10 subscribers. The first switch­board was operated in the home of Vera Jones. The telephone service closed after two years and then returned in 1924. The business and residential life of Garner continued to grow steadily throughout the years, with more rapid growth in recent times. With the increased population and residential growth, Garner has burgeoned in business and service establish­ments, both within the corporation limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the town. Town officials predict the town will continue to grow at a rapid rate.Town of Garner website, Town History]

Education

Wake County public schools: [ [http://www.wcpss.net Wake County Public School System ] ]
*Aversboro Elementary School
*Creech Road Elementary School
*East Garner Elementary School
*Rand Road Elementary School
*Timber Drive Elementary School [ [http://timberdrivees.wcpss.net/ Timber Drive Home Page ] ]
*Vandora Springs Elementary School
*East Garner Middle School
*North Garner Middle School
*Garner High School

Johnston County public schools: [ [http://www.schooldigger.com/go/NC/district/02370/search.aspx Schools in Johnston County Schools. Schooldigger.com ] ]
*Polenta Elementary School
*Cleveland Middle School
*West View Elementary School

Notable people from Garner

*Tony Blaylock - played for Cleveland Browns and inducted into the Winston-Salem State University State Hall of Fame
*Todd Boyette - director of the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*Alan Carroll - Head Women's Coach at Ohio Valley University
*Carl Franks - former Duke University head football coach and current University of South Florida assistant coach
*Arik Hempy - played for the Chicago Cubs, currently with the Boise Hawks
*Mark T. Matthews - former commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio
*Adam Stanley - played for Atlanta Braves, currently with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
*Pat Watkins - former MLB player and inducted into the East Carolina University Hall of Fame
*David West - NCAA Player-of-the-Year at Xavier University and currently plays for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA
*Donald Williams - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Final Four MVP
*Eric Williams - played for Pittsburgh Steelers
*Anthony Barbour - football running back who set the national single-season record for touchdowns on the way to winning the state 4-A Championship. Barbour is still tied for second place all-time with 15 100-yard games in a single season.
*Amanda Watson, 2008 Miss North Carolina
*Lisa Bamford, 1995 Miss North Carolina
*Dana Stephenson, 1994 Miss North Carolina
*Patsy Gail, 1971 Miss North Carolina

Notes

External links

* [http://www.garnernc.gov/ Official website of Garner, NC]
* [http://www.garnerchamber.com/ Garner Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.garnercitizen.com/ The Garner Citizen News & Times]
* [http://www.garnernews.net/ Garner News]
* [http://garnerhs.wcpss.net/ Garner Magnet High School]