Williamston, North Carolina

History

Williamston was founded in 1779 and named after William Williams, a local military commander during the American Revolution.

Williamston was a focus of activity in the Civil Rights Movement. Beginning in June 1963, civil rights activists led by Golden Frinks protested at City Hall for 29 consecutive days.

On August 3, 2023, Martin General Hospital in Williamston announced that it would suspend operations due to Quorum Health, which operated the hospital, filing for bankruptcy. The hospital said that it faced challenges due to a declining population and residents opting to go to other hospitals. The next day, former hospital employees organized a protest after its closure. They said the goal was to get the attention of an elected official in hopes they would rethink the decision of the hospital being shut down. On August 14–15, Governor Roy Cooper visited Williamston to hold roundtable discussions about the lack of access of medical care in rural areas. He used the recent closure of the hospital as an example of why he supported expanding Medicaid across rural areas of North Carolina. On October 5, four clinics in Williamston also closed, further adding to the current healthcare crisis in the town.

Geography

Williamston is in eastern North Carolina, in central Martin County. It is bordered to the north by the Roanoke River, which serves as the Bertie County line.

Major highways include US 13, US 17 and US 64. Tarboro is 30 mi to the west and Plymouth is 20 mi to the east, both by US 64. Washington is 22 mi to the south by US 17, and Windsor is 13 mi to the north via US 17 and 13 combined. Greenville is 35 mi to the southwest via US 13 or 27 mi by local highways.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Williamston has a total area of 4.5 sqmi, all land.

Climate

|Jan record high F = 80 |Feb record high F = 86 |Mar record high F = 89 |Apr record high F = 95 |May record high F = 97 |Jun record high F = 101 |Jul record high F = 101 |Aug record high F = 101 |Sep record high F = 100 |Oct record high F = 97 |Nov record high F = 86 |Dec record high F = 82

|Jan avg record high F = 73.3 |Feb avg record high F = 75.0 |Mar avg record high F = 81.0 |Apr avg record high F = 86.3 |May avg record high F = 90.6 |Jun avg record high F = 94.7 |Jul avg record high F = 95.9 |Aug avg record high F = 94.5 |Sep avg record high F = 90.9 |Oct avg record high F = 86.0 |Nov avg record high F = 79.5 |Dec avg record high F = 74.0 |year avg record high F = 97.4

|Jan avg record low F = 17.1 |Feb avg record low F = 21.6 |Mar avg record low F = 26.7 |Apr avg record low F = 35.0 |May avg record low F = 45.0 |Jun avg record low F = 54.5 |Jul avg record low F = 62.0 |Aug avg record low F = 60.0 |Sep avg record low F = 51.8 |Oct avg record low F = 36.9 |Nov avg record low F = 27.1 |Dec avg record low F = 23.0 |year avg record low F = 15.6

|Jan record low F = -3 |Feb record low F = 8 |Mar record low F = 7 |Apr record low F = 24 |May record low F = 34 |Jun record low F = 45 |Jul record low F = 51 |Aug record low F = 49 |Sep record low F = 40 |Oct record low F = 22 |Nov record low F = 20 |Dec record low F = 4

|access-date = May 1, 2023 |access-date = May 1, 2023

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,248 people, 2,274 households, and 1,388 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,844 people, 2,350 households, and 1,536 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,581.3 /mi2. There were 2,506 housing units at an average density of 678.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 57.50% African American, 40.41% White, 0.29% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 2,350 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.4% were married couples living together, 26.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 65.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,925, and the median income for a family was $32,984. Males had a median income of $28,661 versus $20,337 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,125. 29.0% of the population and 22.8% of families were below the poverty line. 40.5% of those under the age of 18 and 28.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

Williamston has long been a town centered around equine activity. Its logo showcases a horse, and the town houses one of the largest agricultural centers in Eastern North Carolina - the Senator Bob Martin Agricultural Center. Many events including horse shows, rodeos, tractor pulls, and monster truck shows take place in the Agricultural Center. Williamston also draws thousands of people to its annual "Carolina Country Stampede" in September. The two-day festival showcases local food, vendors, business owners, and bands, typically with a well known headlining band to end the festival such as Emerson Drive in 2017.

Education

Williamston is served by Martin County Schools, a public school district that covers the entire county. The schools in the Williamston area include:

• Williamston Primary School, a school serving grades PK-2
• E.J Hayes Elementary School, a school serving grades 3-5
• Riverside Middle School, a school serving grades 6-8
• Martin County High School, a school serving grades 9-12 Williamston is also home to Martin Community College, a public community college noted for having its own equine health program.

Infrastructure

Emergency services

The Williamston Fire Rescue EMS responds to approximately 2,500 fire, rescue, EMS or hazardous materials calls per year, and covers a 122 sqmi area. It has 19 full-time members, and approximately 37 volunteers.

Notable people

• Asa Biggs, U.S. congressman from North Carolina and federal judge
• Tillie Ehringhaus, First Lady of North Carolina
• William E. Ingram Jr., former director of the Army National Guard
• Gaylord Perry, Major League Baseball pitcher and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Jim Perry, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Sarah J. C. Whittlesey, author, poet, hymn writer

References

References

1. "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
2. "P1. Race – Williamston town, North Carolina: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau.
3. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. {{GNIS. 2406889
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
6. "QuickFacts: Williamston town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
7. Federal Writers' Project. (1938). "The Ocean Highway: New Brunswick, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida". Works Progress Administration.
8. Cunningham, David. (2013). "Klansville, U.S.A.: The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights-Era Ku Klux Klan". Oxford University Press.
9. Cunningham, David. (2013). "Klansville, U.S.A.: The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights-Era Ku Klux Klan". Oxford University Press.
10. (August 3, 2023). "Martin General Hospital "suspending operations" and filing for bankruptcy".
11. Martin General Hospital employees and others protest its sudden closure https://www.witn.com/2023/08/05/martin-general-hospital-employees-others-protest-its-sudden-closure/
12. (August 14, 2023). "Gov. Cooper in Williamston discussing hospital closure, Medicaid expansion".
13. (October 5, 2023). "UPDATE: One of five clinics set for closure in Martin County under new ownership; Plymouth clinic aiming to reopen".
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
15. "Explore Census Data".
16. "Martin County Schools NC".
17. (August 10, 2018). "Martin Community College students head back to school with horses".
18. "Fire/Rescue/EMS". Town of Williamston, NC.