Siler City is a town in Chatham County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town's population was 7,887. The population was estimated to be 8,169 in 2013.
History
The town was the retirement home and burial location of actress Frances Bavier (1902â€"1989), best remembered for her role as Aunt Bea on The Andy Griffith Show, a television sitcom in the 1960s set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Siler City was featured in episode 140 (season 5 episode 13) of The Andy Griffith Show (December 14, 1964) as the place where Andy and Helen were taken by a game warden for fishing without a license.
Most recently, the town served as the backdrop for Paul Cuadros' book, A Home on the Field, a true story about his experience coaching a Hispanic high school soccer team to a state championship in spite of adversity. In recent years, Siler City has become a suburb of Greensboro and the Research Triangle Park.
The Bowen-Jordan Farm, Cadmus N. Bray House, Bray-Paschal House, East Raleigh Street Historic District, Gregson-Hadley House, Former High Point Bending and Chair Company, Hotel Hadley, North Third Avenue Historic District, Siler City City Hall, Siler City Commercial Historic District, Siler City High School, Snipes-Fox House, William Teague House, and Burdett Woody House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Siler City is located in western Chatham County at 35°43′34″N 79°27′47″W (35.726030, -79.462962). U.S. Route 64 passes through the northern part of the town as 11th Street, leading east 16 miles (26 km) to Pittsboro, the Chatham County seat, and west 21 miles (34 km) to Asheboro. U.S. Route 421 bypasses Siler City to the northeast, with access from Exits 168, 171, and 174. US 421 leads northwest 32 miles (51 km) to Greensboro and southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Sanford.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.0 square miles (15.6Â km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06Â km2), or 0.37%, is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,887 people, 2,603 households, and 1,802 families residing in the town. The population density was 507.4/km² (1,314/mi²). There were 2,890 housing units (2,603 of which were occupied) at an average density of 186.0/km² (481.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.0% White, 19.1% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 31.1% some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any nationality comprised 49.8% of the population.
There were 2,603 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were headed by married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.50.
In the town, the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
For the period 2009â€"13, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $30,676, and the median income for a family was $34,838. Male full-time workers had a median income of $27,732 versus $24,877 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,234. About 15.5% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (formerly the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) operates the Chatham Youth Development Center juvenile correctional facility in the Central Carolina Business Park in Siler City. The facility, which opened in 2008, serves both boys and girls.
Education
Siler City is part of the Chatham County Public Schools District, with Jordan-Matthews High School, SAGE Academy, Chatham Middle School, Siler City Elementary School and Virginia Cross Elementary School serving the town. Chatham Charter High School is also located in Siler City, as well as Chatham Charter School.
Airport
Siler City Municipal Airport (5W8) is a single runway airport 3 miles (5Â km) southwest of downtown Siler City. The airport is used both by local residents and as a refueling stop for transiting military and general aviation aircraft.
References
External links
- Town website
- Chatham Economic Development Corporation
- Atlantic & Yadkin Railway
- Explore Siler City
- Siler City Merchants Association