Elkin, North Carolina

Elkin, North Carolina
Town
Location of Elkin, North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Counties	Surry, Wilkes
Government
• Mayor	Lestine Hutchens
Area
• Total	6.3 sq mi (16.4 km2)
• Land	6.3 sq mi (16.2 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation	906 ft (276 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	4,109
• Density	655.6/sq mi (253.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28621
Area code	336
FIPS code	37-20620Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0984711Template:GR
Website	www.elkinnc.org

Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township. The population was 4,109 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Elkin is located at 36°15′28″N 80°51′5″W (36.257709, -80.851296)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.4 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.10%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 4,109 people, 1,690 households, and 1,051 families residing in the town. The population density was 655.6 people per square mile (253.0/km²). There were 1,854 housing units at an average density of 295.8/sq mi (114.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.11% White, 7.23% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.81% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.43% of the population.

There were 1,690 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,698, and the median income for a family was $38,667. Males had a median income of $29,514 versus $22,108 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,123. About 6.3% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

The flowing together of the Yadkin River and the Big Elkin Creek has drawn people to the area of what is now Elkin, since the coming of the Paleo-Indians 10,000 years ago. the Sioux Indians settled along the Yadkin River as early as 500 BC. The first English colonists came in the mid-eighteenth century, Cherokee Indians were also in the area, although the Cherokees had been active in the French and Indian War, they had joined in treaties with the English in 1763, followed by the events of the American revolution.

Alexander Chatham opened a small woolen mill in 1877 that grew to become Elkin’s largest industry for many decades, but as other mills in the area it has dwindled. The Northwestern North Carolina Railroad arrived in 1890; the town was ready to take the opportunities the railroad brought for commercial and industrial expansion. It’s strategic location near the Yadkin River and the Big Elkin Creek and as a stop on the railroad caused prosperity that produced brick stores, many industries, and fine houses.

The beginning of industry with the cotton mill, the civil war involvement, the coming of the railroad, the town’s coping with the depression of the thirties, and the two world wars heavily influenced the town's development.

Elkin had the biggest cruising community on the east coast during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. USA TODAY once featured Elkin and it's cruisers on the front page of the National News Paper. However, a crackdown by local police in the early 1990's completely wiped out the once vibrant Sunday night cruising scene leaving downtown Elkin deserted on Sunday nights.Elkin is awesome.

Education

Elkin is served by the Elkin city school system. It is comprised of an elementary school (Grades 1-6) with a population of approximately 700, a middle school (Grades 7-8) and a high school (Grades 9-12) with approximately 400 students. The high school has had new developments made to the building; the construction completed in the 2006-2007 school year.

Local Businesses

• Elkin is the headquarters of Yadkin Valley Bank and Trust, a publicly traded regional bank (NASDAQ).
• Since 1969, the Northwestern Regional Library System has been headquartered in Elkin. The system serves 13 libraries in Alleghany, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties (Source: Northwestern Regional Library System).
• Brendle's, which was once one of the largest catalog showroom chains in the Southeast, was based in Elkin. The company's last stores closed in 1997. The best schools are over there.

Transport

Highways

Interstate 77 passes along the eastern side of Elkin.

U.S. Highway 21 passes through Elkin.

Airports

The town is served by Elkin Municipal Airport.

Commercial flights are available through Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Local Media

Print

The Tribune, a community newspaper published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, provides coverage of Elkin as well as nearby Jonesville and parts of Wilkes County and Yadkin County. The Winston-Salem Journal and Mount Airy News, larger daily newspapers, also cover Surry County.

Broadcast

WIFM 100.9 FM radio station (wifm.com) broadcasts from 813 N. Bridge Street in Elkin.

Elkin is part of the Piedmont Triad radio and television market, but many broadcasts from the Charlotte market also can be received.

External links

• Official Elkin, NC website
• Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce
• The Tribune
• Elkin City School System
• Elkin Business Development Council