Granite Falls, North Carolina

Granite Falls is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,722 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Granite Falls, North Carolina
Town
Downtown Granite Falls, as viewed facing southeast on Main Street
Downtown Granite Falls, as viewed facing southeast on Main Street
Official seal of Granite Falls, North Carolina
Seal
Location of Granite Falls, North Carolina
Location of Granite Falls, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°47′49″N 81°25′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyCaldwell
Area
[1]
 • Total4.98 sq mi (12.90 km2)
 • Land4.94 sq mi (12.79 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,099 ft (335 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,965
 • Density1,005.67/sq mi (388.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28630
Area code828
FIPS code37-27420[3]
GNIS feature ID2406601[2]
Websitegranitefallsnc.com

History

The name Granite Falls comes from the waters that splash over the granite boulders spanning Gunpowder Creek. In 1791, pioneer Andrew Baird began operating an iron works beside Gunpowder Creek, and in doing so, became owner of all the land now occupied by the Town of Granite Falls. The community would start to form from that point. Granite Falls was incorporated as a town in 1899. Before its incorporation, Granite Falls went by many other names such as Baird's Forge, Catawba View, Lovelady, and Granite.[5]

Geography

Granite Falls is located near the southern border of Caldwell County. It is bordered to the south by the town of Rhodhiss, to the southwest by Rhodhiss Lake on the Catawba River (Lake Hickory), and to the west by the town of Sawmills. The center of town is located on a ridge between the Catawba River to the west and Gunpowder Creek, a tributary of the Catawba, to the east.

U.S. Route 321 (Hickory Boulevard) is a four-lane highway that passes through the eastern side of town; it leads 6 miles (10 km) southeast to the center of Hickory and 10 miles (16 km) northwest to Lenoir, the Caldwell County seat. US 321 Alternate runs through the center of Granite Falls as North and South Main Street.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.6 km2), of which 5.2 square miles (13.5 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.84%, is water.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900277—
191038137.5%
19201,101189.0%
19302,14795.0%
19401,873−12.8%
19502,28622.1%
19602,64415.7%
19702,388−9.7%
19802,5808.0%
19903,25326.1%
20004,61241.8%
20104,7222.4%
20204,9655.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

2020 census
Granite Falls racial composition[7]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 4,189 84.37%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 164 3.3%
Native American 11 0.22%
Asian 39 0.79%
Pacific Islander 2 0.04%
Other/Mixed 223 4.49%
Hispanic or Latino 337 6.79%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,965 people, 1,799 households, and 1,344 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,612 people, 1,758 households, and 1,211 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,080.4 inhabitants per square mile (417.1/km2). There were 1,849 housing units at an average density of 433.1 per square mile (167.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.06% White, 2.34% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.95% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.07% of the population.

There were 1,758 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,596, and the median income for a family was $47,064. Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $21,374 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,750. About 5.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

92% of larceny calls to police in Granite Falls are related to the local Walmart.[8]

Education

High school

Middle school
  • Granite Falls Middle School

Elementary schools
  • Baton Elementary School
  • Dudley Shoals Elementary School
  • Granite Falls Elementary School
  • Sawmills Elementary School

Alternative school
  • Gateway School (grades 6–12)

Media
  • Kicks 103.3, Kicks 103.3, local radio station
  • WJRI, News Talk 1340 WJRI, local radio station
  • WKGX, AM 1080 WKGX, local radio station
  • WYCV AM 900, local radio station

Notable people

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Granite Falls, North Carolina
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Granite Falls town, North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  5. History - Town of Granite Falls.Town of Granite Falls. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. Census - Table Results. data.census.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  7. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  8. Faherty, Dave. "Walmart has become crime magnet in many North Carolina cities". WSOC. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  9. Verducci, Tom. (Dec 15, 2014). Madison Bumgarner | Vault. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved Feb 12, 2020.
  10. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved July 23, 2018, from http://www.thebaseballcube.com/hs/profile.asp?ID=11961
  11. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 23, 2018, from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillMa26.htm
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