Pittsboro, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pittsboro, North Carolina
Town
Hillsboro Street in downtown Pittsboro
Seal
Nickname(s):  Circle City
Location of Pittsboro, North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Chatham
Area
• Total	5.52 sq mi (14.29 km2)
• Land	5.49 sq mi (14.21 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	466 ft (142 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,537
• Density	826.86/sq mi (319.24/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	27228, 27312
Area code(s)	919 / 984
FIPS code	37-52660
GNIS feature ID	2407130

Pittsboro is a town in Chatham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2010 census and 4,537 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Chatham County.

The town was established in the late 18th century, shortly after the American Revolution, as the county seat for the newly formed Chatham County. In the years leading up to the American Civil War, the economy was dominated by small-scale farms that relied heavily on enslaved labor. In the aftermath of the civil war, racial tensions were high, and the town was noted for a number of lynchings and other racial violence in the late 19th century. Industrialization came to the community in the late 19th century, as a number of rivers cross the area providing locations for mills and factories. Economic and population growth would continue into and throughout the 20th century. As industry moved away from the community, it has in the 21st century transitioned into a bedroom community for the nearby cities of the Research Triangle region.

History

Pittsboro was established as a town in 1785. The Chatham County Court House stood on land belonging to Mial Scurlock; however, in 1787, the legislature declared that a town could not be established on Scurlock's land. The town's trustees instead purchased adjacent land belonging to William Petty and laid out the town. That same year, Pittsboro was officially named the county seat. Although Chatham County is named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Pittsboro is named for his son, William Pitt the Younger.

Pittsboro was once considered as a potential site for both the University of North Carolina and the state capitol. The university was eventually sited in Chapel Hill, while the state capitol was located 34 miles (55 km) to the east of Pittsboro, in Raleigh.

Local currency: the PLENTY

Some citizens of Pittsboro have revitalized a local form of currency called the PLENTY. It was created in 2002. In 2009, it was being exchanged at a local bank at the rate of $9 for every $10 of PLENTY. The currency failed to gain traction during both releases.

Chatham County Courthouse fire

On March 25, 2010, the Chatham County Courthouse (pictured above), while undergoing a $415,000 exterior renovation, caught fire. Smoke was first reported in the area around 4:15 p.m.; the fire was dispatched to the Pittsboro Fire Department around 4:45 p.m. By 5 p.m., smoke was reported to be rising from out of the clock tower, which was surrounded by scaffolds. The building was evacuated safely.

The building suffered severe damage to the clock tower and the third floor. It was reported that the fire had destroyed all the computers and records, but that there are offsite copies and the information should be recoverable.

On March 26, 2010, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the clock tower collapsed onto the main building, but the building as whole was only damaged on the second floor, and only had water and smoke damage throughout the rest of the building. Overall 11 fire departments participated in the fire efforts.

Viewed from the west-northwest, the Chatham County Court House in August 2013, having been rebuilt after a fire destroyed the upper floors and clock tower.

The fire marshal's investigation into the fire determined that it was caused by a soldering torch that ignited wood near the soffit. Workers attempted to extinguish the blaze, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. On Wednesday, March 31, 2010, the Chatham County Commissioners voted in favor of rebuilding the courthouse. The courthouse officially reopened on April 20, 2013.

Educational facilities

The town is served by five local schools and a Central Carolina Community College campus:

• Pittsboro Elementary School
• Horton Middle School
• Margaret B. Pollard Middle School
• Northwood High School
• Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), Chatham County Campus
• Seaforth High School

Media outlets

Newspapers

• Chatham Journal

Network television

• WTVD (ABC affiliate)
• WRAL-TV (NBC affiliate)
• WRAZ (TV) (FOX affiliate)
• WNCN (CBS affiliate)

Geography

Pittsboro is located east of the center of Chatham County at 35°43′13″N 79°10′35″W / 35.72028°N 79.17639°W / 35.72028; -79.17639 (35.720332, -79.176393).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km²), of which 4.1 square miles (10.7 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.86%, is water.

U.S. Highways 15 and 501 run concurrently through the center of the town as Hillsboro Street and Sanford Road, leading north 17 miles (27 km) to the center of Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina, and south 17 miles (27 km) to Sanford. U.S. Route 64 bypasses Pittsboro to the north and leads east 34 miles (55 km) to Raleigh and west 16 miles (26 km) to Siler City. U.S. Route 64 Business passes through the town as West Street and East Street, crossing US 15/501 at the traffic circle that surrounds the historic Chatham County Courthouse in the center of town. North Carolina Highway 87 leads northwest from Pittsboro 32 miles (51 km) to Burlington.

Near the geographic center of the state, Pittsboro is 150 miles (240 km) from Wilmington at the coast and the same from Boone in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Jordan Lake is 8 miles (13 km) east, providing recreation, fishing, boating and scenic panoramas. The lake is 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) of surface and provides water for Raleigh and the town of Cary.

Demographics

2020 Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,537 people, 1,841 households, and 1,044 families residing in the town.

2010 Census

The Census of 2010 shows a population of 3,743, 68% growth since 2000. The racial makeup of the town was: 72% White, 19% African American, 4% some other race alone, 2% two or more races. Almost 9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. 54% of the population is female and 46% male.

Economy

Once home to textiles, the largest clothing label mill in the world, and poultry, the town now depends on commuter income, retail stores and a developing business in genetics. Housing developments provide relief from loss of industry as the town adjusts to a new economy.

The water supply is abundant, derived from the Haw River. In the future, Jordan Lake will provide much of the water supply. In 2010, the wastewater allotment was expanded. The town is 15 miles (24 km) and 25 miles (40 km) from major power plants. Major corridor highways, US 15-501 and US 64, a four-lane divided highway, intersect there.

Pittsboro is home to the Chatham County Government, the Chatham County Justice Center, and many non-profit agencies and other social service organizations. Pittsboro is also a Certified Retirement Community.

National Register of Historic Places listings

• A. P. Terry House
• Alston-DeGraffenried House
• Aspen Hall
• Baldwin's Mill
• Chatham County Courthouse
• Hadley House and Grist Mill
• Hall-London House
• Luther Clegg House
• Henry Adolphus London House
• James A. Thomas Farm
• Lewis Freeman House
• London Cottage
• Kelvin
• McClenahan House
• Moore-Manning House
• Patrick St. Lawrence House
• Pittsboro Historic District
• Pittsboro Masonic Lodge
• Pittsboro Presbyterian Church
• Reid House
• Sheriff Stephen Wiley Brewer Farmstead

Notable people

• David Drake (1945-2023), science fiction and fantasy writer
• William Joseph Franks (1830–1880), sailor in the Union Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War
• Anne Taylor Nash (1884–1968), painter
• Tobais Palmer (born 1990), football wide receiver
• Abraham Rencher (1798–1883), governor of New Mexico Territory and congressman
• Charles M. Stedman (1841–1930), the last Civil War veteran to serve in Congress
• Nathan Alexander Stedman (1762–1847), politician, Comptroller of North Carolina
• Ursula Vernon (born 1977), children's author and artist
• James Iredell Waddell (1824–1886), officer in the United States Navy and later in the Confederate States Navy

Miscellaneous

A new community called Assteria is being developed by Storyliving by Disney in Pittsboro.

See also

In Spanish: Pittsboro (Carolina del Norte) para niños