Mount Airy, North Carolina

History

The region currently known as Mount Airy, North Carolina, was originally settled in the 1750s by predominantly English, Scotch-Irish, and German settlers. The native Cheraw people were known to inhabit the area prior to the arrival of these European settlers. As westward expansion progressed following the French and Indian War, Mount Airy started to develop, serving as a stagecoach stop on the road connecting Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Galax, Virginia. The city derived its name from a plantation in the vicinity.

Officially incorporated in 1885, Mount Airy quickly thrived due to the region's abundant natural resources, specifically granite and tobacco. This led to the establishment of the North Carolina Granite Corporation, the world's largest open-face granite quarry. The locally quarried granite has been used in famous structures, including the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

Mount Airy became a significant hub for the textile and furniture manufacturing industries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Companies such as Spencer's Incorporated and Renfro Corporation established mills in the city. However, the latter half of the 20th century brought economic challenges due to increased global competition and industry automation.

In 1977, Mount Airy established its official seal, representing the industries vital to its local economy: furniture manufacturing, textiles, tobacco, and granite quarrying.

Gaining fame as the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith and the believed inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in the "Andy Griffith Show," Mount Airy capitalized on its connection with the series. It established annual events like Mayberry Days and tourist attractions such as Floyd's Barber Shop and the Andy Griffith Museum.

In recognition of its vibrant community life and civic achievements, Mount Airy was named an All American City in 1994.

The W. F. Carter House, William Carter House, Edgar Harvey Hennis House, William Alfred Moore House, Mount Airy Historic District, North Carolina Granite Corporation Quarry Complex, Renfro Mill, and Trinity Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Mount Airy is located along the Ararat River, about 3 mi south of the Virginia state line. The United States Census Bureau states the city has a total area of 8.4 sqmi, all land. The city is located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 14 mi from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a.

| Jan record high F = 79 | Feb record high F = 82 | Mar record high F = 89 | Apr record high F = 94 | May record high F = 98 | Jun record high F = 103 | Jul record high F = 105 | Aug record high F = 103 | Sep record high F = 101 | Oct record high F = 96 | Nov record high F = 86 | Dec record high F = 80 | year record high F = 105 | Jan avg record high F = 66.7 | Feb avg record high F = 70.2 | Mar avg record high F = 77.8 | Apr avg record high F = 84.4 | May avg record high F = 88.6 | Jun avg record high F = 92.7 | Jul avg record high F = 94.2 | Aug avg record high F = 93 | Sep avg record high F = 90.2 | Oct avg record high F = 84.2 | Nov avg record high F = 75.6 | Dec avg record high F = 68.3 | year avg record high F = 95.3 | Jan avg record low F = 9.6 | Feb avg record low F = 13.6 | Mar avg record low F = 18.5 | Apr avg record low F = 27.3 | May avg record low F = 35.8 | Jun avg record low F = 48.1 | Jul avg record low F = 55.0 | Aug avg record low F = 53.5 | Sep avg record low F = 42.3 | Oct avg record low F = 28.5 | Nov avg record low F = 19.7 | Dec avg record low F = 14.7 | year avg record low F = 7.2 | Jan record low F = −10 | Feb record low F = −3 | Mar record low F = 2 | Apr record low F = 18 | May record low F = 27 | Jun record low F = 35 | Jul record low F = 43 | Aug record low F = 41 | Sep record low F = 32 | Oct record low F = 20 | Nov record low F = 3 | Dec record low F = −1 | year record low F = −10 | access-date = July 1, 2021}} | access-date = July 1, 2021}}

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,676 people, 4,571 households, and 2,530 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,388 people in 4,934 households. The people per square mile was 891.4. There were 5,296 housing units. The Population percent change from 2000 to 2010 was 22.4% up. The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White descent, 8.2% African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 2.2% Persons reporting two or more races, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino. Persons per household was 2.10. Average household income was $35,428. Persons below poverty level was 21.1%. High school graduates were 76.9% and bachelor's degree or higher was 25.9%.

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,484 people, 3,667 households, and 2,130 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,010.8 PD/sqmi. There were 4,129 housing units at an average density of 491.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.34% White descent, 7.99% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.55% Asian American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.87% of the population.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,910, and the median income for a family was $33,412. Males had a median income of $27,299 versus $24,830 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,237. About 17.4% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Mayberry

Actor Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, and the town is considered to have been the basis for Mayberry, the setting of the TV shows The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. The community holds an annual "Mayberry Days" celebration during the last weekend of September; 30,000 attended in 2009, and 90,000 attended for the show's 50th anniversary in 2010. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro estimates the town receives $5 million each year as a result. Surviving members of the cast, along with family members of other cast members, often visit. The 2024 event was slated to have a special appearance by Karen Knotts, Don's daughter.

Several Ford Galaxie police cars, painted to resemble those used on the show, gave rides to guests. A barber shop has been named "Floyd's."

The Andy Griffith Museum, founded in 2009 by Emmett Forrest, attracts 200 visitors a day.

Mayberry Days will continue on September 23–29, 2024.

Autumn Leaves Festival

Held the second weekend in October, the Autumn Leaves Festival attracts over 200,000 people to the city during the festival weekend. Vendors sell food and other items, and there is a stage for musicians.

Bluegrass and old-time music

The home of old-time music legend Tommy Jarrell, bluegrass gospel legends The Easter Brothers, and country singer Donna Fargo, Mount Airy has a long history with regional music. Mount Airy's WPAQ is one of the few Bluegrass and Old-Time music stations still operating and has been airing the live radio show Merry-Go-Round from the Downtown Cinema Theatre since 1948. Weekly bluegrass jam sessions at The Andy Griffith Playhouse and the annual Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention also serve to attract old-time musicians from across the region and the world. The Fiddlers Convention first began in 1972, and is held the first weekend in June at Veterans Memorial Park. The Blue Ridge Music Center with its amphitheater and music museum of old-time music is just a few miles away on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 213, near Galax, Virginia. This area is home to the Round Peak style of old-time music, which started in the Round Peak community, just west of Mount Airy.

Education

Mount Airy has a city-funded school district consisting of four schools.

Mount Airy City Schools

• Mount Airy High School
• Mount Airy Middle School
• Jones Intermediate School
• BH Tharrington Elementary School

Surry County Schools

There are also other schools in Mount Airy that are controlled by the Surry County Schools district.

• North Surry High School
• Gentry Middle School
• Meadowview Magnet Middle School
• Cedar Ridge Elementary School
• Flat Rock Elementary School
• Franklin Elementary School
• White Plains Elementary School

Charter schools

Mount Airy has one k-12 public-funded charter school, Millennium Charter Academy.

Private schools

• White Plains Christian School

Libraries

The Mt. Airy community is also served by a Public Library that won the American Institute of Architects Design Award.

Notable people

• Frank Beamer (born 1946), retired head football coach at Virginia Tech, born in Mount Airy and raised in Fancy Gap, Virginia
• Ron Blackburn (1935–1998), MLB player
• Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), famous "Siamese Twins" conjoined twins who settled in Mount Airy after they retired from show business
• Ben Callahan (1957–2007), MLB player
• Bill Cox (1929–2017), NFL defensive player
• Chubby Dean (1916–1970), MLB player
• Donna Fargo (born 1945), country music singer and songwriter, best known for the song "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA"
• Benton Flippen (1920–2011), old-time fiddler, banjo player, and guitarist
• Emmett Forrest (1927–2013), founder of the Andy Griffith Museum
• Maddie Gardner, (born 1993), local news reporter and internationally recognized cheerleader
• Andy Griffith (1926–2012), American actor, singer, musician, and comedian
• Bill Hayes, television producer
• Caleb V. Haynes (1895–1966), United States Air Force major general
• Jerry Hemmings (born 1948), basketball coach
• Tommy Jarrell (1901–1985), old-time fiddler, banjo player, and singer
• Luke Lambert, NASCAR crew chief
• Betty Lynn (1926–2021), actress
• Mark Daniel Merritt (born 1961), American music composer
• Alex Sink (born 1948), former chief financial officer of Florida, Democratic nominee for governor of Florida in 2010
• Anna Wood (born 1985), actress

Sister city

Mount Airy has one sister city:

• THA Samut Songkhram, Thailand

References

References

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