Wendell, North Carolina

Wendell (/wɛnˈdɛl/ wen-DEL)[4] is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. It is a satellite town of Raleigh, the state capital. The population was 5,845 at the 2010 census.[5]

Wendell, North Carolina
Town
Downtown Wendell on the corner of W. Campen St. and N. Main St. on March 24, 2023
Downtown Wendell on the corner of W. Campen St. and N. Main St. on March 24, 2023
Official seal of Wendell, North Carolina
Seal
Official logo of Wendell, North Carolina
Logo
Motto(s): 
"Small Town, Big Charm City Connection"
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Coordinates: 35°46′47″N 78°22′02″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyWake
Incorporated1903
Named forOliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Government
 • MayorVirginia Gray
Area
[1]
 • Total6.96 sq mi (18.03 km2)
 • Land6.95 sq mi (17.99 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
[2]
305 ft (93 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,793
 • Density1,409.88/sq mi (544.35/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27591
Area code919
FIPS code37-71860[3]
GNIS feature ID2406857[2]
Websitehttp://townofwendell.com/

History

Incorporated in 1903, Wendell was settled in the 1850s, when farmers in Granville County were victims of a blight that came to be known as the Granville County Wilt. Their tobacco crops failed, and they chose to move to a new location with more fertile land for their crops.

As settlement increased, a small village took form. The villagers asked the local schoolteacher, M.A. Griffin, to choose a name. Griffin suggested they call it Wendell, in honor of his favorite poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes. However, the townspeople pronounce each syllable with equal emphasis, not as the poet's middle name is said. The Town seal was adopted on April 4, 1963.[6]

The first post office was built in 1891, and has been restored by the Wendell Historical Society. The oldest institution in Wendell is Hephzibah Baptist Church, founded in 1809. The first newspaper was the Wendell Clarion, founded in 1911, which was succeeded by the Gold Leaf Farmer and currently the Eastern Wake News.[7]

Wendell has four buildings and two districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Dr. Thomas H. Avera House, Harmony Plantation, Riley Hill School, Sunnyside, Wendell Boulevard Historic District, and the Wendell Commercial Historic District:.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km2), all land.[8]

Wendell is located in the northeast-central region of North Carolina, where the Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "Fall Line" because it marks the elevation inland at which rapids and small waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. Its central Piedmont location situates Wendell approximately two and a half hours (via car) west of Atlantic Beach, and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Climate

Wendell enjoys a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, fall, and winter. Summers are typically hot with high humidity. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F (10 to 13 $2°C) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (15 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910759—
19201,23963.2%
1930980−20.9%
19401,13215.5%
19501,25310.7%
19601,62029.3%
19701,92919.1%
19802,22215.2%
19902,82227.0%
20004,24750.5%
20105,84537.6%
20209,79367.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2020 census
Wendell racial composition[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 4,925 50.29%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,564 26.18%
Native American 37 0.38%
Asian 224 2.29%
Pacific Islander 8 0.08%
Other/Mixed 493 5.03%
Hispanic or Latino 1,542 15.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,793 people, 2,686 households, and 1,941 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 5,845 people and 2,430 housing units. The population density was 1123.2 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 58.1% White, 30.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.9% Japanese, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.20% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.5% of the population.

As of the 2010 census, there were 2430 housing units, with 40% of units built before 1980. Of the 2010 population, 55% were married. 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 11.6% were persons 65 years or older, 29% were between the ages of 25–44, and 30% were between the ages of 0–19. The median age in 2010 was 35. The average household size was 2.12.

The median family income for a household in the town was $47,908, The per capita income for the town was $26,556. About 17.3% of the population was below the poverty line.

Education

The town is served by five public schools, which are administered by the Wake County Public School System. They include Lake Myra Elementary, Carver Elementary School, Wendell Elementary School, Wendell Middle School and East Wake High School.

The town is home to one institution of higher learning, Southeastern Free Will Baptist College.

Economy

Downtown Wendell houses many businesses; including the Bearded Bee Brewing Company[11] and Daedong-USA, the maker of Kioti tractors.[12]

Transportation

Passenger

Roads
  • The main highway in Wendell is US 64 which allows access to Raleigh and the North Carolina coast.
  • Other highways in the area include US 264, NC 97, and NC 231.

Parks and recreation

The town is served by three recreational parks and facilities. They include Wendell Park, Wendell Community Center, and J. Ashley Wall Town Square.[13]

Notable people

Notable annual town events
  • Harvest Festival: takes place annually in October
  • International Food and Music Festival: held annually in September

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wendell, North Carolina
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "NC Pronunciation Guide". WRAL. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  5. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Wendell town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  6. Pleasants, George S. Building a Town: Wendell, North Carolina. Virginia Beach, VA: Donning, 2003. Print.
  7. About Wendell
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Wendell town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  11. "Bearded Bee Brewing Company". visitraleigh.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  12. Kioti.com
  13. Parks and Recreation
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