Cramerton, North Carolina

Cramerton is located at an elevation of 620 feet (189 m). Two topographic high points, Berry Mountain, elevation 922 feet (281 m), and Cramer Mountain, approximate elevation 850 feet (259 m), are located in the southwestern part of town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.8 km²), or 7.51%, is water.[4]

Cramerton is bisected by the South Fork Catawba River, which makes a sharp S-curve around the center of town. Just southwest of downtown, Duharts Creek flows into the South Fork Catawba. Duharts Creek is formed by the confluence of Armstrong Branch and New Hope Branch on the western edge of town.[5]

Cramerton town limits include a portion of zip code 28012 that encompass the neighborhood of Lakewood and Stuart W. Cramer High School on the eastern shore of the South Fork River.[6]

The town is located seven miles east of Gastonia and 16 miles west of Charlotte.

Originally named Mayworth, the town was founded in 1906 when J.H. Mayes built a spinning mill along the banks of the South Fork of the Catawba River, just east of Gastonia. In 1910, textile engineer and Thomasville native Stuart Warren Cramer became owner and president of the mill and property. He turned the mill and the surrounding community into a model mill village. In 1922 Cramer changed the name of the mill to Cramerton Mills, and the name of the town to Cramerton. In 1923, Cramer built the Mayflower Weave Mill.

Cramer is credited with designing and equipping "about one-third of the new cotton mills in the South" between 1895 and 1915, and simultaneously acquiring extensive holdings in textile mills. Among Cramer's numerous industrial engineering patents was one for the "Cramer System of Air Conditioning", which included the automatic regulation of temperature and humidity. These early innovations in air conditioning resulted more from the need to remove lint from the air (a persistent problem in the textile mills) than to cool the factory atmosphere. The term "air conditioning" is attributed to Cramer.[7]

In 1946 the mills and homes were sold to Burlington Industries, who in turn sold the homes to residents. The Town of Cramerton incorporated in 1967 and began providing municipal services.[8]

The Mayworth School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[9]

Cramerton operates under the council-manager form of government with a mayor and a five-member town board and a town manager. In 2011, after 50 years of service, the town ended its contract with the Cramerton Volunteer Fire Department. The town then worked to create a new town-managed department that provides fire protection for Cramerton as well as neighboring McAdenville. The new Town of Cramerton Fire Department has been in place since 2012.

Cramerton operates its own police department. Based on a contract signed in 2006 by both the McAdenville and Cramerton town councils, officers of the Cramerton Police Department also handle patrol duties within the McAdenville town limits between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM daily. Cramerton police also assist McAdenville officers with felony criminal investigations.[12]

Cramerton is in South Point Township.

The textile industry has long been central to Cramerton's economy, but globalization has caused many of the local plants to close. Burlington Industries, which had operated the former Cramerton Mills, went bankrupt in 2001. Employers like Eagle Mountain Finishers and Lakewood Dyed Yarns (both subsidiaries of Joan Fabrics Corp.) were closed in 2006 and 2007.[13] Textile companies Brookline Inc. and Wagner Knitting, Inc., have also been affected by the economic downturn. Syncot Fibers and Plastics, Inc., operates a facility in Cramerton specializing in the recycling of nylon.

In the 21st Century, like many nearby communities affected by the exit of many businesses in the textile industry, the town has seen some significant growth and revitalization in the years following the aftermath of the 2007–2008 financial crisis. As a suburb of the greater Gaston and Charlotte area, the town is within commuting distance for workers of businesses within other industries, such as: Financial & Banking Services, Technology, Travel & Tourism, and Retail.

Within Cramerton, especially in the Downtown district, there is a number of companies operating within the Restaurant, Coffeeshop, Retail, and Recreational related industries. The downtown area includes Cramerton's Centennial Park (which includes the Veteran's Memorial) and Goat Island Park (which is accessible by two foot bridges); these help to bring visitors to the area that support the local businesses.

The Gaston Business Association and Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce are the major commerce associations of businesses representing Cramerton and other communities.[14][15]

The primary east–west highway passing through Cramerton is U.S. Route 29/U.S. Route 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard). North Carolina Highway 279 (New Hope Road) forms Cramerton's southwest border.

Freight rail service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway. While Amtrak's passenger train also follows the Norfolk Southern main line, the nearest station is in Charlotte. The Gastonia station is closed.

Charlotte Area Transit System's (CATS) Gastonia Express (Route 85X) offers Monday thru Friday express bus service to/from uptown Charlotte, via the Abbey Plaza Shopping Center Station in Belmont, about 3 miles (5 km) east of Cramerton.[16]

The nearest airport is Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Mecklenburg County, about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) east of Cramerton.

Public education in Cramerton is administered by the Gaston County Schools public school system.

Elementary school-age children in Cramerton attend either New Hope Elementary School (south of Cramerton in unincorporated South Point Township), J.B. Page Elementary School (pre-K to grade 1) or Belmont Central Elementary School (grades 2–5) in Belmont, McAdenville Elementary School in McAdenville, or Gardner Park Elementary School in Gastonia.

Most middle school students attend Cramerton Middle School. Portions of the town are zoned to Holbrook Middle School in Lowell or Belmont Middle School in Belmont.

Current high school-age students attend Stuart W. Cramer High School. While the school is located in Cramerton, it has a Belmont mailing address because it is in zip code 28012, which is split between Cramerton and Belmont.

Private schools in Cramerton include Cramerton Christian Academy, with programs for Pre-K through Grade 12. It is operated by Cramerton Freewill Baptist Church.

The town has a history of golfing as a recreational activity, which was supported by the town's founder Stuart W. Cramer. Historically, the town has had three golfing courses, with the fourth golfing course being built by Cramer on Cramer Mountain. The Cramer Mountain golf course is still in active operation, and is operated by the private member club "Cramer Mountain Club". The Cramer Mountain golf course was designed by renown golfing course architect Dan Maples, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.[17]

Since the town is situated along the South Fork Catawba River, it also has an active recreational culture of waterspouts, such as kayaking and canoeing. The Goat Island Park in Cramerton also features an 18-hole Disc Golf course.[18]

Mayworth School at 236 Eighth Avenue in Cramerton is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[19]

• Stuart W. Cramer (1868–1940), the founder of Cramerton who was an American engineer, inventor, and contractor.
• Perry Fewell, a football coach in the National Football League.
• Rube Melton (1917–1971), a pitcher in Major League Baseball.
• George Tinkham (1870–1956), longtime Congressman known as "the conscience of the House"; resided here.

• Town of Cramerton Website
• Cramerton Police Department Website
• Gaston Business Association
• Montcross Area Chamber
• Cramerton's Legacy of Golf