High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city in
North Carolina,
United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 85,839. (Estimates now place the city population at around 100,000.
High Point is known for its
furniture,
textiles, and
bus manufacturing. It is generally regarded as the "Furniture Capital of the World" and "North Carolina's International City" due to the bi-annual furniture market that attracts almost 80,000 exhibitors and buyers from around the world. The area code is 336.
It is home to the only
Bentley dealership in all neighboring states.
Most of the city is located in
Guilford County, with portions spilling into neighboring
Randolph,
Davidson and
Forsyth counties.
|
1920s Postcard from High Point |
Among the first Europeans to settle Guilford County were
Quakers and
German immigrants. High Point was located at the highest point of the 1856 North Carolina Railroad between
Charlotte and
Goldsboro where it intersected the 1852 Great Western Plank Road. Its central location and transportation allowed for the delivery of raw materials like cotton and lumber and processed goods in and out of the city and contributed to its early growth. It was
incorporated in 1859. Before it became a major manufacturing center, the most important industries were tobacco, woodworking and textiles. The first of many High Point furniture factories was opened in 1889 [
1].
High Point's conception is not solely linked to manufacturing; it is also tied to religious freedom beginning as early as the mid-eighteenth century as a refuge for Pennsylvania Quakers who came to the region in search of affordable land, good climate, and an opportunity to create a principled and ordered community. Members of the Society of Friends held beliefs that many considered heresy in the late eighteenth century. Central to these core convictions were values of community and equality that led to the development of specialized trades and early educational systems that were the foundations for the future growth of the region.
Since its incorporation, High Point has been an ambitious city. Whether rallying around
Union carpetbaggers in the 1870s and textile barons in the 1910s, or planning public parks in the 1930s, the city has always been forward looking in its prospects. City historians such as J. J. Farriss, Stephen C. Clark, Frank Sizemore, and Holt McPherson have proudly documented the city's past as if writing a user's guide for building a model city. Memorialized in numerous successful businesses and family fortunes, this ambition also is recorded in the city's architecture.
|
Queen Anne Ecker House of 1908 in High Point |
Reflecting the city's growth and influence is an architectural inventory increasingly representative of High Point's civic pride and cultural sophistication. Since early settlement, hotels and merchant-houses presented fashionable façades to visitors and discerning shoppers. Later, wealthy industrialists had ambitious houses and churches erected in popular styles that illustrated the growing town's sense of style. Finally, civic projects such as schools and public works were built in increasingly popular and modern designs in a way that spoke to High Point's progressive spirit and quickening pace. By the middle of the twentieth century, High Point had assembled an impressive collection of architecture representing nearly every popular style since the city was founded, some designed by nationally recognized architects and planners.
Within the twenty-first century, increasing influence has been found in the city's institutions of higher education. Established in 1924,
High Point University is a liberal arts institution with approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 52 countries and 36 states at campuses in High Point and
Winston-Salem. It is ranked by
U.S. News and World Report 12th among comprehensive universities in the South and in the top 100 nationally. The university offers 45 undergraduate majors and five graduate-degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the
NCAA, Division I and the
Big South Conference.
High Point is the only city in North Carolina that exists within four counties:
Davidson,
Forsyth,
Guilford, and
Randolph. It also stands within two major watersheds: The Yadkin-Pee Dee and the
Cape Fear. Parts of the city rise above 1000 feet, making it among the highest cities in North Carolina's
Piedmont.
High Point is located at .
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 131.3
km² (50.7
mi²). 127.0 km² (49.0 mi²) of it is land and 4.2 km² (1.6 mi²) of it (3.24%) is water.
The climate in High Point is temperate, with four seasons. Summers tend to be hot and sometimes humid, with the dewpoints rising to the upper 60s and low 70s during July and August. Fall and spring are mild. Winters are cold, but only a few days every winter does the temperature drop below -5° C. Rainfall patterns are generally spread evenly throughout the year, with between six and nine wet days per month. Snowfall is unpredictable, with some winters experiencing little and others characterised by occasional snowstorms. January lows average -3° C (28° F) and highs average 7° C (48° F). July lows average 19° C (67° F) and highs average 30° C (88° F) although during heat waves, summer highs can cross 35° C (95° F). The lowest temperature ever officially recorded for the city was -22° C (-7° F), and the highest temperature ever recorded was 40° C (104° F). High Point has a
humid continental climate, though being located between the mountains and the ocean it experiences less temperature fluctuation than inland areas.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | | Avg high °F | 48 | 51 | 60 | 70 | 78 | 84 | 88 | 86 | 80 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 69 |
|---|
| Avg low temperature °F | 28 | 30 | 37 | 46 | 55 | 63 | 67 | 66 | 59 | 47 | 37 | 30 | 47 |
|---|
| Rainfall in. | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 42.3 |
|---|
| ''Source: Weatherbase |
As of the
census of 2000, there were 85,839 people, 33,519 households, and 22,524 families residing in the city. The
population density was 675.7/km² (1,750.1/mi²). There were 35,952 housing units at an average density of 283.0/km² (733.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.56%
White, 31.77%
African American, 0.46%
Native American, 3.35%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 2.27% from
other races, and 1.57% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 4.89% of the population.
There were 33,519 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were
married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,137, and the median income for a family was $48,057. Males had a median income of $33,411 versus $25,293 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $21,303. About 10.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Once synonymous with furniture, hosiery, and Hatteras yachts, High Point has diversified its economy as a center for distribution and logistics, customer service and banking, manufacturing, photography, and pharmaceuticals. The city has also benefited from the nearby
Dell manufacturing plant in Forsyth County, and will likely see growth due to the planned
FedEx air freight hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.
In 2005, High Point adopted "North Carolina's International Cityâ„¢ " as its official slogan.City Manager Strib Boynton also unveiled an appropriate logo, that is being used by mostmunicipal departments. High Point had been using that slogan unofficially for several years.
The City considers itself "North Carolina's International Cityâ„¢" since:
*Approximately 70 internationally-owned companies have facilities in High Point.
*Many more foreign-based companies show their products here twice each year atHigh Point's International Home Furnishings Market.
*The International Home Furnishings Market brings to town approximately 14,000foreign guests each year. Those visitors represent more than 110 countries.
The
International Home Furnishing Market remains the centerpice to High Point's economy. The massive trade show is the largest, most well-known, and most important furnishings industry trade show in the world.
*Approximately 12 million square feet of showroom space is used by 2300 exhibitors,in 188 separate buildings.
*An average of 150,000 persons attend Market each year: manufacturers, exhibitors,retail buyers, sales representatives, interior designers, architects, exhibitor supportpersonnel, suppliers, and news media.
*Approximately 14,000 foreign visitors, from 110 countries, attend Market annually.High Point's Market â€" held every six months â€" is also the state's largest economic event.According to a 2004 study by Dr. Andrew Brod of the University of North Carolina atGreensboro:
*13,000 jobs are attributed to Market's existence.
*Market pumps approximately $1.14 billion into the city, region, and stateeconomies annually.The International Home Furnishings Market Authority has taken the leadership role inimproving and expanding Market as a world-class show. The Authority was formed in2001 due to the efforts of the City of High Point and its business leaders to create asponsor for the 97-year-old Market.
International Home Furnishings Market Authority |
High Point's 1908 Passenger Depot |
High Point is served by
Piedmont Triad International Airport, which also serves
Greensboro and
Winston-Salem.
Amtrak's
Crescent and
Carolinian and Piedmont trains connect High Point with the cities of
New York,
Philadelphia,
Baltimore,
Washington,
Richmond,
Raleigh,
Charlotte,
Atlanta,
Birmingham and
New Orleans. The recently refurbished historic Amtrak station is situated at 100 West High Street.
Interstate 85 runs through southern High Point, southeast of the original interstate roadway, which is now designated Business 85. High Point is going to have
Interstate 74 east of center city in the future. Construction on the project is scheduled to start after 2012. Part of Interstate 74 is already built, and is signed US 311.
The
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation(PART) also operates in High Point. It is a service that shuttles people inbetween most of the cities in the northwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. High Point also provides public transportation. The main service for public transportation in High Point is
hitran, the local bus service
|
High Point University, Roberts Hall |
Private schools for the education of children were established in and around High Point as early as the early nineteenth century by
Quakers. The New York Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends, a network of Quakers from that state, started a school in Asheboro in the 1880s for African American students. The school relocated to High Point in 1891 on land east of town on Washington Street. The institution was named the High Point Normal and Industrial School (later William Penn High School), and was administered by the Quakers until 1897. In that year, black educator Alfred J. Griffin accepted the position of principal and led the establishment into a long period of growth.
The High Point public school system was founded in 1897 with the approval of a $10,000 bond, in part to finance the purchase of J. Elwood Cox's family home on South Main Street for use as the first school building. Twelve school commissioners were appointed to administer the 350-student system of five grades. Growth of the city's institutions reflected improved primary educational facilities. A school building campaign coupled with additional grades and improved classes resulted in four additional schools for white students: Elm Street School (1905), Park Street School (1910), Fairview School (1910), and Grimes Street School (1911). Many other schools were all born in the 1920s during a period of rapid growth.
This building spree culminated in 1927 with the opening of High Point High School. Among the many high styled school complexes in the state, few surpass High Point's grand 1927 high school. The campus joined the talents of two designers;
Greensboro architect Harry Barton and
Charlotte landscape architect Earl S. Draper. The prominent building was matched in 1931 with the addition of Ferndale Middle School just to the east, designed to incorporate details from the high school so that it maintained a campus theme. Both shared athletic facilities on a large tract of land between downtown and Emerywood. An additional high school named after T. Wingate Andrews was established in the 1960s.
Several private school are found in High Point, including High Point Christian Academy (Baptist), High Point Friends School (Quaker), Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic), Wesleyan Christian Academy (Methodist), and Westchester Academy(Nonsectarian).
In 1921, the
Chamber of Commerce made the establishment of a college in High Point a high priority and initiated a High Point College Campaign. The campaign solicited funds in order to attract the attention of the North Carolina Methodist Protestants, who had desired for decades to found a college. High Point succeeded in attracting the college over rivals Greensboro and
Burlington with a gift of sixty acres and $100,000 in pledges from leading citizens. High Point College opened in 1924 (changed to
High Point University in 1991) with three buildings at various stages of development. Many of the numerous civic organizations founded in the 1920s pledged funds, including the
Rotary,
Kiwanis,
Civitan, and the
American Business Club. The architectural design of the High Point College campus was in keeping with traditional and historical architectural initiatives found at many private colleges and universities across the state in the 1920s. The administration building (Roberts Hall), male and female dormitories (McCulloch Hall and Women's Hall, respectively), and a central heating plant were all erected between 1922 and 1924 according to designs by
Washington, D.C., architect R. E. Mitchell with assistance by High Point architect Herbert Hunter. Today, High Point University is a four-year, coeducational, liberal arts university related to the
United Methodist Church. It offers 50 majors in a traditional day format. It also offers non-traditional Evening Programs, and the Graduate Studies offers four Master's degrees and six programs.
Newspapers
The High Point Enterprise, established in 1885, is the sole daily newspaper published in High Point. City news coverage is also served by the Greensboro News and Record, the Business Journal of the Triad, the
Winston-Salem Journal, and the Jamestown News.
Television stations
High Point 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
*
Fantasia Barrino, from
American Idol Season 3
*Robert Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, B&C Associates, Inc. Director, aaiPharma, Inc., AutoNation, Inc., Duke Energy Corporation, Sonoco Products Company, and Wachovia.
*
Luke Appling,
Chicago White Sox inducted into
Baseball Hall of Fame 1964
*James Cain, Ambassador to Denmark
*
John Coltrane, celebrated saxophonist, was born in Hamlet, NC and moved to High Point shortly after birth, where he remained through high school.
*Anthony Dean Griffey, soloist tenor with opera companies and symphony orchestras in major cities worldwide.
*Dave Phillips, North Carolina Commerce Secretary from 1993 to 1997
*Phil Phillips, United States Ambassador to Barbados in the
George W. Bush administration
*Maxwell Thurman, U. S. Army General, developed the "Be All That You Can Be … Because We Need You, In Today's Army" campaign.
*Capus Waynick, United States Ambassador to Nicaragua and Colombia in the
Truman administration
*
Adam Lazzara, lead singer of
Taking Back Sunday*
Jim Paschal,
NASCAR driver
*
Bill Davis, owner of
Bill Davis Racing of
NASCAR*
Kyle Petty,
NASCAR Driver
*
Piedmont Triad*
I-85 Corridor*
High Point University*
Official website of High Point, NC*
High Point Chamber of Commerce*
High Point Furniture*
High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau
