Greensboro, North Carolina
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| Image:Gboroskyline.jpg | |
| Image:Greensboroflag.gif | Image:Gboroseal.jpg |
| City Flag | City seal |
| City nickname: "Gate City" | |
| Image:NCMap-doton-Greensboro.PNG Location in the U.S. state of North Carolina | |
| County | Guilford |
| Area - Total | 116.6 mi² |
| Population - Total (2000) - Density - Metropolitan | 223,891 2138.3/mi² 667,542 (2004 est.) |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC–-5 |
| Mayor | Keith Holliday |
| City website | |
Greensboro, North Carolina, is a city located in Guilford County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the largest city in the Piedmont Triad region.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 223,891, making it the third most populous city in North Carolina. Its estimated population in 2004 was 231,543.
It is located at the intersection of two interstate highways (I-85 and I-40) in the Piedmont ("foot of the mountains") region in central North Carolina.
In 1808, Greensborough (as it was spelled then) was a planned town to replace Guilford Court House as the county seat. This act moved the county courts to near the geographical center of the county, easily reached by the more of county's citizens
In 2004, the previous Greensboro - Winston-Salem - High Point metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was broken up by the U.S. Census Bureau, resulting in the formation of the Greensboro-High Point MSA and the Winston-Salem MSA. The 2004 Greensboro-High Point MSA estimate was 667,542. The Greensboro - Winston-Salem - High Point combined statistical area, popularly referred to as the Piedmont Triad, had an estimated population of 1,335,217 in 2004. Source: US Bureau of the Census, Released April 2005
The town is home to several universities and colleges. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T), Guilford College, Bennett College, and Greensboro College all call Greensboro home. In addition, the state community college system has several campuses for Guilford Technical Community College. In the fall of 2006, the Elon University School of Law will open in downtown Greensboro.
The city is the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball club of the South Atlantic League. The Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, one of the oldest national PGA Tour golf events, is held in Greensboro every fall at Forest Oaks Country Club.
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History
Image:Nategreen.jpg The city was named for Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the American forces at the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781. The Americans lost that battle but slowed Cornwallis' British forces enough to allow the Americans to prepare to defeat them at the Battle of Yorktown, where the British were forced to surrender on October 19, 1781, after a 20-day siege, thus ending the American Revolution.
In the 1800's, Greensboro was selected by the state government at the request of then Governor Morehead whose estate, blandwood, is located in Greensboro, to become a railroad hub and substantially grew in size. It soon became known as the Gateway City. The railroads transported goods to and from the textile industries, which grew up around Greensboro due to its location. Many of these businesses remained in the city until the 21st century, when many of them went bankrupt, reorganized, and/or merged with other companies. Greensboro remains as a major textile headquarters city with main offices of International Textile Group (Cone, Burlington Industries), Galey & Lord, Unifi, and VF Corporation (Wrangler, Lee, North Face, Vanity Fair). Rail traffic continues as a major North Carolina freight hub and four passenger trains per day (Amtrak)on the main Norfolk Western line between Washington and New Orleans by way of Atlanta.
Greensboro has been known for being on the forefront of racial equality issues, sometimes resulting in nationally known events. During the 19th century, with its large concentration of anti-slavery Quakers near Guilford College (now part of Greensboro), the town was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Railroad helped to smuggle runaway slaves to freedom in the North. In the 1861 Secession Convention Vote, Guilford County voted against secession from the Union by a margin of 2771 to 112, the fourth largest "no" margin in the state.
Image:BlandwoodMansion.jpgThough the city developed slowly, early wealth generated from cotton trade and merchandising led to the construction of several notable buildings. The earliest building, later named Blandwood Mansion and Gardens, built in 1795. Additions to this residence in 1846 designed by A. J. Davis of New York City made the house an influential landmark in the nation as America's earliest Tuscan Villa. Other significant estates followed, including "Dunleith" designed by Samuel Sloan, Bellemeade, and the Bumpass-Troy House (now operated as an inn). Early civic architecture included the Guilford County Courthouse, West Market Street Methodist Church by S. W. Faulk, several buildings designed by Frank A. Weston, and UNCG's Main Building designed by Orlo Epps. During the twentieth century, Greensboro expanded in wealth and population due to profitable textile and tobacco interests. Rapid growth led to construction of grand commercial and civic buildings many of which remain standing today, designed by hometown architects Charles Hartmann, Harry Barton, Ed Loewenstein, and nationally prominent designers such as Walter Gropius, Eduardo Catalano, and George Matsumoto.
On February 1, 1960, four black college students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College sat down at an all-white Woolworths lunch counter, and refused to leave when they were denied service. Hundreds of others soon joined in this first sit-in, which lasted for several months. Such protests quickly spread across the South, ultimately leading to the desegregation of Woolworths and other chains. The original Woolworths counter and stools now sit in the Smithsonian, but a Sit-In Museum is being built in the old Woolworths building where the event actually occurred.
On November 3, 1979, gunfire was exchanged between Communist Workers Party members holding an anti-Ku Klux Klan rally, and a group of KKK and neo-Nazi counter-protesters. Five CWP members were killed and seven were wounded and television footage of the event was shown across the nation. This event is known as the Greensboro massacre. In 2005, Greensboro residents, inspired by post-apartheid South Africa, initiated a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take public testimony and examine the causes and consequences of the massacre. It is the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission convened in the United States.
Geography
Greensboro is located at 36°4'48" North, 79°49'10" West (36.079868, -79.819416)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 283.0 km² (109.2 mi²). 271.2 km² (104.7 mi²) of it is land and 11.8 km² (4.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.16% water.
Greensboro enjoys gently rolling hills and is midway between the mountains of North Carolina and its beaches to the east. A view of the city from its highest building—the Jefferson-Pilot tower—reveals that the town is populated with large numbers of green trees, giving perhaps another dimension to its name. The town is well-situated in terms of travel, with Interstates 40, 85, and the soon-to-be-built I-73 passing through its borders.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 223,891 people, 92,394 households, and 53,958 families residing in the city. The population density was 825.6/km² (2,138.3/mi²). There were 99,305 housing units at an average density of 366.2/km² (948.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.49% White, 37.40% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.08% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 4.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 92,394 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.
The age distribution is 22.3% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,661, and the median income for a family was $50,192. Males had a median income of $34,681 versus $26,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,986. 12.3% of the population and 8.6% of families were below the poverty line. 15.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Famous natives and residents
Image:OHenry.jpg First Lady Dolley Madison and short-story writer William Sydney Porter (a.k.a. O. Henry) were born in Greensboro. One of the luxury hotels in town is named after O. Henry and a statute stands downtown in his honor.
Edward R. Murrow, famed World War II CBS radio broadcaster, one of the pioneers of TV news and a five-time Emmy winning journalist, was born just outside of the city. Nationally acclaimed poet Randall Jarrell lived in Greensboro, where he was a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro until his death in 1965 in Chapel Hill. He is buried near the Guilford College campus. Science fiction/fantasy author Orson Scott Card is a current resident. Rick Dees, a famous radio personality who hosts an internationally syndicated radio show and who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, also grew up in Greensboro. Thomas Berry, born in Greensboro in 1914, and a resident in his retirement, is an internationally noted spokesperson for ecology and care of the earth. His most famous book is The Dream of the Earth. The rotunda at the new Kathleen Clay Edwards Library in the woods is a tribute to Thomas.
Greensboro native George Preddy, was credited with 26.83 enemy air-to-air kills, ranking him as the top P-51 Mustang ace of World War II and sixth on the list of all-time highest scoring American aces. Business interstate highway 85 through Greensboro has been given the street name "Preddy Boulevard" in his honor. His brother was also a high-ranking ace in World War II.
Transportation
Greensboro is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport, which also serves High Point, North Carolina and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Amtrak's Crescent and Carolinian and Piedmont trains connect Greensboro with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans.
Amtrak trains, taxis, local and long distance buses arrive and depart from the Depot located at 236-C East Washington Street, originally constructed during the early 1920's with interior modernization completed 2004.
Structures
The WFMY Tower situated near Greensboro is 583 m high. It is a guyed tower for FM- and TV-broadcasting.
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex was conceived as, and continues to be a multi-building facility to serve the Citizens of Greensboro and the surrounding area through a broad range of activities, including athletic events, cultural arts, concerts, theater, and other entertainment, educational activities, fairs, exhibits, and public and private events of all kinds, such as conventions, convocations, trade and consumer shows. It is both a primary center of activity for the community as well as one of many resources central to community-wide events.
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex has hosted such prestigious events as the ACC Tournament, ECHL and AHL hockey, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The NHL Carolina Hurricanes hockey team called Greensboro home while a new coliseum as being constructed in Raleigh. Since 1959, the Coliseum has featured superstars from Elvis to Usher. It will host the 2010 ACC Basketball Tournaments (men's and women's).
The Complex has undergone several major renovations, the latest in 1994, bringing the maximum arena capacity to its current 23,500.
Media
Citizens Media
Newspapers
The Greensboro News & Record is the main daily newspaper in Greensboro. The free Rhinoceros Times is a local conservative alternative newspaper. Yes Weekly is a fairly new alternative newspaper that is owned by Womack Newspapers and is available free downtown.
Television stations
Greensboro makes up part of the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point television designated market area. These stations are listed by call letters, channel number, network and city of license.
- WFMY-TV, 2, CBS, Greensboro
- WGHP, 8, FOX, High Point
- WXII-TV, 12, NBC, Winston-Salem
- WGPX, 16, Pax, Burlington
- WTWB-TV, 20, WB, Lexington
- WUNL-TV, 26, PBS/UNCTV, Winston-Salem
- WXLV-TV, 45, ABC, Winston-Salem
- WUPN-TV, 48, UPN, Greensboro
- WLXI-TV, 61, TBN, Greensboro
Colleges, Schools and Universities
- Bennett College
- Guilford College
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Greensboro College
- Elon University Law School (under construction)
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Canterbury School
- Greensboro Day School
- American Hebrew Academy
- Grimsley High School
- Page High School
- Dudley High School
- Eastern Guilford High School
- Western Guilford High School
- The Early College at Guilford
- Smith High School
- Northwest Guilford High School
- Southern Guilford High School
- Northeast Guilford High School
- Southeast Guilford High School
- Southwest Guilford High School
See also
New Garden Friends School
External links
City websites
- Official website of Greensboro, NC
- Greensboro101 - Citizens' Media for Greensboro, NC
- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
- Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Action Greensboro
- Greensboro Connects
- Greensboro Online Community Forum
- Greensboro magazine online
- Downtown Greensboro, Incorporated
- Links to Piedmont Region government, press and institutional websites
- South Elm Street Redevelopment
- News & Record, Greensboro's daily newspaper
- Historic Architecture and Preservation in Greensboro
Documentaries
- February One California Newsreel documentary on 1960 sit-in by the Greensboro Four. Accessed on April 2, 2005.
- Online Study guide for February One PDF document. Accessed on April 2, 2005.
- 88 Seconds in Greensboro PBS Frontline transcript. Reported by James Reston, Jr. Directed by William Cran. Original Airdate: January 24, 1983. Accessed on April 2, 2005.
- "Greensboro's Child" Documentary about the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the shadow that it casted on the survivors.
Maps
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