Burnsville, North Carolina

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

imagesize =
image_caption = The Yancey County Courthouse in Burnsville


image_

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


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Yancey
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.1
area_land_km2 = 4.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_sq_mi = 1.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1623
population_density_km2 = 396.9
population_density_sq_mi = 1028.0

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 860
elevation_ft = 2822
latd = 35 |latm = 55 |lats = 7 |latNS = N
longd = 82 |longm = 17 |longs = 51 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 28714
area_code = 828
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-09140GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1009845GR|3
website = http://townofburnsville.org/
footnotes =

Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.GR|6

Geography

Burnsville is located at coor dms|35|55|7|N|82|17|51|W|city (35.918542, -82.297549).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,623 people, 748 households, and 412 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,028.0 people per square mile (396.6/km²). There were 845 housing units at an average density of 535.2/sq mi (206.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.50% White, 1.91% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.88% of the population.

There were 748 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the town the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 75.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,653, and the median income for a family was $34,712. Males had a median income of $30,227 versus $25,234 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,894. About 15.3% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

The town was founded on March 6, 1834 and named after Captain Otway Burns, a naval hero of the War of 1812. In 1909 a statue of Captain Burns was given to the town by his grandson, Walter Francis Burns, Sr. and was set on a granite pedestal in the center of the town square. It has an inscription which reads, in part, "He Guarded Well Our Seas, Let Our Mountains Honor Him."

One of the oldest buildings is the Nu-Wray Inn, built in 1833 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [http://www.hpo.dcr.state.nc.us/nrlist.htm] The Parkway Playhouse, the oldest continually operating summer stock theater company is located in Burnsville, and was started in 1947 by W.R. Taylor (a professor of drama from the Woman's College of North Carolina-now the University of North Carolina-Greensboro) and a group of dedicated community leaders.

In 2006, the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair observed its 60th anniversary. This event, which attracts thousands of unique artists and tourists is held during the first weekend of August.

Sights

Nu-Wray Inn- used as a hotel since its construction

Parkway Playhouse- oldest operating community theater in North Carolina, founded in 1947

John Wesley McElroy House- circa 1830s house now in use as a museum

Mt. Mitchell- Highest mountain east of the Mississippi River.

References

* [http://www.communitylink.com/us/nc/yancey/profile/history.htm Community History]
* [http://www.yanceychamber.com/history.php Yancey County Chamber of Commerce History Page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/marcwhitsonmusic Local Artist Paying Dues In Nashville, TN]

External links

* [http://townofburnsville.org/ Official website]