 This Site Is Under ConstructionWebmaster:
Melinda
Sue |
||||||||||
 Home Proposal Dates Music Festival Rules Hotels & Motels Map Contact Info Links Webmaster FYI |
Taylorsville Located in the northern Piedmont foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Alexander County and Taylorsville were established in 1847, when land was separated from Lincoln County, Lots were sold in Taylorsville that year with the proceeds going to construct the first county courthouse on the site of the current courthouse. The county is bordered on the south by the Catawba River and on the north by the Brushy Mountains, one of the oldest mountain chains in the United States. The county was named in honor of the Alexander family, leaders in Colonial North Carolina. Taylorsville was named for either John Louis Taylor, a North Carolina agricultural leader or General Zachary Taylor, the twelfth president of the United States. Taylorsville and Alexander County are part of the heavily industrialized Unifour Area which also includes Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties arid has the third highest percentage of manufacturing workers, as a part of the total workforce, of any county in the southeastern United States. Furniture is the predominant product, with the county ranking seventh in the state in furniture production. AREA AND ALTITUDE Alexander County has an area of 259 square miles or 166,000 acres. Taylorsville is over one and a half square miles. Elevation in Alexander County is 1,246 feet above sea level at the Courthouse. County elevation ranges from 1,000 feet in the southeast corner to over 2,500 feet in the northwest. POPULATION The 2000 census listed 34,000 persons in the county. There are approximately 15,500 housing units compared to 12,000 in 1994. CLIMATE The average annual rainfall is 56 inches. Temperatures range from an average of 36.71 degrees in January to an average of 76.7 degrees in August. The Brushy Mountains provide a barrier to cold, winter winds. Summer days are often warm but nights cool rapidly. Some snow falls each year but does not linger. The sun shines more than half the daylight hours. MOTELS One motel and one bed and breakfast provide accommodations. > TRANSPORTATION The county is served by U. S. Highway 64. which is a controlled access roadway connecting Taylorsville with Lenoir and Statesville. N. C, Highways 16, 90 and 127 also serve the county. Interstates 40 and 77 are just 20 minutes from the majority of county residents. The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is an hour's drive from most parts of the county. The area is also served by the Hickory Regional Airport (30 minutes) and the Statesville Airport (20 minutes). The Alexander Railroad is an active short line rail system operating between Taylorsville and Statesville and connecting with Norfolk Southern. NEWSPAPERS The Taylorsville Times and Spotlight are published.weekly with a circulation of 7,200. The Bethlehem Star is produced monthly. Local coverage is provided by the Hickory Daily Record, The Statesville Record & Landmark and The Charlotte Observer. RADIO STATIONS AND TELEVISION Radio Stations WACB (860 AM) and WTLK (1570) serve the county Charter Communications provides cable television service. RECREATION The Emerald Hollow Gem Mine in Hiddenite is a favorite for rock hounds from throughout the nation. Precious stones such as emeralds, sapphires, sillimanite, rutile and others are commonly found at -this facilityopen to the public year round. CHURCHES More than 90 churches are located in the county Most denominations are represented. HEALTH AND MEDICAL Frye Regional Medical Center Alexander Campus operates a fully staffed Emergency Room with lab and x-rays. The County Health department and Foothills Mental Health Center also provide some health services. Thirty medical doctors, 8 PA-C's and 4 dentists practice in the county along with 4 chiropractors and 4 optometrists. Valley Hills Nursing Center, Shady Rest Home, BeUeview and Taylorsville House provide nursing care for the elderly. FINANCIAL Seven commercial banks are located in Taylorsville in addition to 4 branch banks in the Hiddemte and Bethlehem areas.
|
|||||||||