Sanford, North Carolina

Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 28,518 at the 2010 census.[6] It is the county seat of Lee County.[7]

Sanford, North Carolina
City
The Lee County Courthouse in Sanford
Nickname(s): 
Brick City
Location of Sanford, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°28′52.8″N 79°10′39.2″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyLee
Government
 • MayorChet Mann[1]
 • City managerHal Hegwer
Area
 • Total29.32 sq mi (75.93 km2)
 • Land29.06 sq mi (75.27 km2)
 • Water0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation
365 ft (108 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total28,094
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
30,085
 • Density1,035.24/sq mi (399.71/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code(s)919
FIPS code37-59280[4]
GNIS feature ID1022497[5]
Websitewww.sanfordnc.net

Geography

Sanford is located at the center of Lee County at 35°28′33″N 79°10′32″W (35.475881, −79.175463).[8] It is 42 miles (68 km) southwest of Raleigh, the state capital, 57 miles (92 km) southeast of Greensboro, and 36 miles (58 km) northwest of Fayetteville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.3 square miles (75.9 km2), of which 29.1 square miles (75.3 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km2), or 0.88%, are water.[9] Little Buffalo Creek, a tributary of the Deep River, flows northward through the center of the city. Big Buffalo Creek flows through the west side of the city, and the entire city is part of the Cape Fear River watershed.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880236—
189036755.5%
19001,044184.5%
19102,282118.6%
19202,97730.5%
19304,25342.9%
19404,96016.6%
195010,013101.9%
196012,25322.4%
197011,716−4.4%
198014,77326.1%
199014,475−2.0%
200023,22060.4%
201028,09421.0%
Est. 201930,085[3]7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[4] of 2009, there were 29,922 people, which was a 28.9% increase from 2000. The population density was 1243 people per square mile (372.5/km2). There were 9,223 housing units at an average density of 383.2 per square mile (147.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.87% White, 29.19% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 11.93% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.03% of the population.

There were 8,550 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 people and the average family size was 3.15 people.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,804, and the median income for a family was $39,447. Males had a median income of $30,527 versus $23,393 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,038. About 14.8% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Sanford operates under a council-manager government. The city council consists of the mayor and seven council members, each with a four-year term. Five of the council seats are ward (district) representatives, and two seats are citywide representatives elected at-large.

Business and industry

Because Sanford sits where white beach sand from the coast meets the Piedmont clay, the city has the right ingredients to be a large producer of clay bricks. In 1959, Sanford produced 10% of the bricks in the United States and was named "Brick Capital of the USA".[11] Today large brick production continues via manufacturers such as General Shale and Lee Brick & Tile.

Sanford also produces textiles, and has since seen the influx of the biotech industry with the Wyeth Vaccines, aka Pfizer, facility becoming the area's largest employer in 2006.[12]

Situated nearly equidistant from the Greensboro, Raleigh/Durham/RTP, and Fayetteville metro areas, Sanford is well positioned to provide manufacturing, services, and housing throughout the region for business and industry.

Other large employers are:

  • 3M
  • Air System Components, Inc.
  • Alotech Inc.
  • Broadway Hardware
  • Caterpillar Inc.
  • Central Carolina Hospital
  • Coty, Inc., a cosmetics and perfume manufacturer
  • Edelbrock LLC
  • Frontier Spinning Mills
  • GKN
  • Homes by Vanderbuilt
  • Magneti Marelli
  • Moen
  • Moore's Machine Company
  • Pentair Aquatics
  • Pfizer
  • Pilgrim's Corp
  • Precision Castparts Corporation
  • Re/Max Real Estate Service, residential and commercial sales
  • Static Control Components, manufacturer of anti-static equipment and component parts for remanufactured laser printer toner cartridges
  • Tyson Foods

Media

Newspapers

The city's newspaper of record is The Sanford Herald, which has published continuously since 1930. The newspaper is owned by Paxton Media Group, based in Paducah, Kentucky. The Herald is a five-day-a-week morning newspaper and is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations and of the North Carolina Press Association.

"The Rant"[13] was founded in 2008 by former journalists with experience at several print publications, including The Sanford Herald. Initially a radio show, it became an online news site in 2014. In 2019, it began publishing a monthly print edition.

Radio stations
  • WFJA Classic Hits and Oldies 105.5 FM - classic hits and oldies
  • WWGP 1050 AM Today's Best Country – country, The Swap Shop and local news
  • W204AV 88.7 – Christian
  • WDCC 90.5 – variety (owned by Central Carolina Community College)
  • WLHC 103.1 – pop standards
  • WDSG 107.9 – beach, oldies, and gospel
  • WXKL 1290 – gospel

Schools

The Lee County campus of Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) is located in Sanford. CCCC awards degrees, diplomas and certifications in a variety of programs and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Carolina State Board of Education, and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Sanford is home to three high schools: Lee County High School, Lee Early College on CCCC's campus, and Southern Lee High School. Lee County High School, home of the yellow jackets, is also locally known as Lee Senior. Southern Lee High School, home of the Cavaliers, opened its doors during the 2005–2006 school year. Lee Early College also opened for the first time during the 2005–2006 school year. In the program, students attend classes at the Lee County campus of Central Carolina Community College, and within a 4 to 5 year time frame earn not only a high school diploma, but an associate degree as well. Attending Lee Early College requires an application process.

There are three middle schools: West Lee Middle School, East Lee Middle School and SanLee Middle School. SanLee Middle School first opened its doors for the 2008–2009 school year. An alternative school, Bragg Street Academy, serves students in grades 6 through 12.

The Lee county school system has six traditional elementary schools: B.T. Bullock Elementary, Broadway Elementary, Deep River Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, J. Glenn Edwards Elementary, and J.R. Ingram, Jr. Elementary. Lee County is also home to an optional year round elementary school: Tramway Elementary.

Sanford is also home to a private Montessori school, Griffin Academy, which provides education from pre-school through fifth grade.[14] Also within the county are two private Christian schools, serving preschool through 12th grade: Grace Christian and Lee Christian as well as a charter school, Provisions Academy. Warren Williams Child Development Center serves pre-kindergarten students, and Floyd L. Knight the Children's Center serves severe and profoundly handicapped students.

Located in the neighboring town of Southern Pines, and offering bus service from Sanford, is the O'Neal School.[15] It provides education from Pre-K3 through 12th grade. There are other school also not only 2 of them

History
Steele Street in downtown Sanford

Sanford was named for C.O. Sanford, a railroad civil engineer instrumental in the building of the rail lines through the area that formed the foundation of what became the city of Sanford.

Sanford is located in Lee County, North Carolina, which was formed from parts of the surrounding three counties in 1907. On creation of the new county, Sanford and Jonesboro were the major towns in the area. Rather than decide which would be the county seat, the decision was to place the county's new courthouse directly between the two towns. For decades, Lee County was the only county in the United States to have a courthouse with an RFD address. In the late 20th century Sanford had grown to such an extent that it eventually merged with Jonesboro. The town of Jonesboro became Jonesboro Heights, and the name of Sanford was kept for the town.

The general Sanford area played key roles in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, specifically regarding sites like the House in the Horseshoe and Endor Iron Furnace. Over the following decades, the Sanford area became an important source of coal, brownstone, and brick. In particular brownstone and subsequent brick production made Sanford a key provider of these building materials for areas throughout the United States.[16]

For seven seasons, 1941–42 and 1946–50, Sanford fielded a professional minor league baseball team. In 1941–42, the Sanford Spinners played in the Class D Bi-State League. After the war, a new Spinners team was a member of the Class D Tobacco State League from 1946 to 1950. Home games were played at Temple Park. Led by manager Zeb Harrington, the Spinners won the regular season pennant three times.[17]

On April 16, 2011 a large tornado ripped through Sanford, demolishing a Lowe's hardware store and a warehouse, and destroying multiple homes and buildings before moving into Wake County.

On October 21, 2014, Sanford established a formal sister city relationship with Yixing, China, under the representation of Sanford Mayor Chet Mann.[18]

The Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Cemeteries, Downtown Sanford Historic District, East Sanford Historic District, Euphronia Presbyterian Church, Farish-Lambeth House, Hawkins Avenue Historic District, Lee Avenue Historic District, Lee County Courthouse, Lee County Training School, John D. McIver Farm, Railroad House, Rosemount-McIver Park Historic District, Sanford High School, Former, Seaboard Milling Company, and Temple Theatre are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[19][20]

Transportation

Air

Raleigh Executive Jetport (ICAO: KTTA, FAA LID: TTA), formerly known as Sanford-Lee County Airport, is located 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Sanford via U.S. 1. The airport opened in 2000, replacing the Sanford Lee County Brick Field, and provides both recreational and corporate services.

Designated routes and highways

Commercial rail service

Public transit

The County of Lee Transit System (COLTS) is a coordinated transit system that provides transportation services in Sanford and Lee County.[21]

Bicycle and pedestrian
  • The Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1 passes through downtown Sanford and Lee County.
  • A half-mile greenway trail is located in the Kiwanis Family Park with additional mileage under development.
  • San-Lee Park features several miles of mountain bike trails, ranging from intermediate to advanced, as well as hiking trails, just a few miles from downtown Sanford.[22]

Culture

Museums

Performing arts
  • Temple Theatre
  • Lee County Community Orchestra
  • Heart of Carolina Jazz Society
  • A&R STUDIOS

Notable people
  • Black Sheep, hip hop duo from the 1990s, members of the Native Tongues collective
  • Britton Buchanan, runner-up on the fourteenth season of The Voice
  • Floyd Council, blues musician
  • Hardy Boyz, WWE wrestlers (older brother Matt was born in a Sanford hospital, and both lived there for a few months)
  • Lita, former WWE Diva; now resides in Atlanta, Georgia
  • J. D. McDuffie, NASCAR driver
  • Patrick Price, professional Call of Duty player and two time World Champion known by the tag ACHES
  • Herb Thomas, NASCAR driver
  • Dennis Wicker, former lieutenant governor; partner at Nelson Mullins Law Firm; board member of Coca-Cola Consolidated and First Bank

Sister city

Sanford has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:[23]

gollark: Sounds like negative utilitarianism, which is no.
gollark: no.
gollark: no.
gollark: But this is not accurate. It assumes the only options are "no god" or "basically Christian god".
gollark: Pascal's Wager basically goes "if no god, belief doesn't have costs anyway (wrong, since it takes time and may make your thinking more irrational); if god, non-belief means infinite badness (hell), belief means infinite goodness (heaven), so rationally you should believe".

References
  1. "City of Sanford, North Carolina". City of Sanford, North Carolina. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Sanford city, North Carolina". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: North Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Brick Capital, USA". 2007-05-05. Archived from the original on 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  12. "Lee County Major Manufacturers (2012)". Lee County. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  13. "The Rant"
  14. "About the Griffin Academy". The Griffin Academy. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  15. The O'Neal School
  16. "History of Downtown Sanford". Downtown Sanford, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  17. Holaday, Chris (2016). "The Tobacco State League; A North Carolina Baseball History, 1946–1950".. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6670-9.
  18. Trogdon, Kathryn (November 13, 2014). "Starting with pottery: Sanford delegation foresees fruitful relationship with Chinese sister city". The Sanford Herald. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  19. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  20. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/27/10 through 12/30/10. National Park Service. 2011-01-07.
  21. COLTS
  22. "San Lee Park". TriangleMTB. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  23. Martinez, Logan. Mann: Community should run sister city program. growsanfordnc.com. Retrieved Jul 21, 2020.
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