Greensboro, North Carolina, is a city located in Guilford County in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 223,891, making it the third most populous city in North Carolina. Its estimated population in 2004 was 231,543.
It is located at the intersection of two interstate highways (I-85 and I-40) in the Piedmont ("foot of the mountains") region in central North Carolina.
In 1808, Greensborough (as it was spelled then) was a planned town to replace Guilford Court House as the county seat. This act moved the county courts to near the geographical center of the county, easily reached by the more of county's citizens
In 2004, the previous Greensboro - Winston-Salem - High Point metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was broken up by the U.S. Census Bureau, resulting in the formation of the Greensboro-High Point MSA and the Winston-Salem MSA. The 2004 Greensboro-High Point MSA estimate was 667,542. The Greensboro - Winston-Salem - High Point combined statistical area, popularly referred to as the Piedmont Triad, had an estimated population of 1,335,217 in 2004. Source: US Bureau of the Census, Released April 2005
The town is home to several universities and colleges. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T), Guilford College, Bennett College, and Greensboro College all call Greensboro home. In addition, the state community college system has several campuses for Guilford Technical Community College. In the fall of 2006, the Elon University School of Law will open in downtown Greensboro.
The city is the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball club of the South Atlantic League.
The Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, one of the oldest national PGA Tour golf events, is held in Greensboro every fall at Forest Oaks Country Club.
Greensboro is located at 36°4'48" North, 79°49'10" West (36.079868, -79.819416).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 283.0 km2 (109.2 mi2). 271.2 km2 (104.7 mi2) of it is land and 11.8 km2 (4.5 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 4.16% water.
Greensboro enjoys gently rolling hills and is midway between the mountains of North Carolina and its beaches to the east. A view of the city from its highest building--the Jefferson-Pilot tower--reveals that the town is populated with large numbers of green trees, giving perhaps another dimension to its name. The town is well-situated in terms of travel, with Interstates 40, 85, and the soon-to-be-built I-73 passing through its borders.
As of the census of 2000, there are 223,891 people, 92,394 households, and 53,958 families residing in the city. The population density is 825.6/km2 (2,138.3/mi2). There are 99,305 housing units at an average density of 366.2/km2 (948.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 55.49% White, 37.40% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.08% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 4.35% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 92,394 households out of which 27.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% are married couples living together, 14.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.94.
The age distribution is 22.3% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,661, and the median income for a family is $50,192. Males have a median income of $34,681 versus $26,797 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,986. 12.3% of the population and 8.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The city was named for Major General Nathanael Greene, commander of the American forces at the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781. The Americans lost that battle but slowed Cornwallis' British forces enough to allow the Americans to prepare to defeat them at the Battle of Yorktown, where the British were forced to surrender on October 19, 1781, after a 20-day siege, thus ending the American Revolution.
In the 1800's, Greensboro was selected by the state government to become a railroad hub and substantally grew in size. It soon became known as the Gateway City. The railroads transported goods to and from the textile industries, which grew up around Greensboro due to its location. Many of these busnesses remained in the city until the 21st century, when many of them went bankrupt, reorganized, and/or merged with other companies. Greensboro remains as a major textile headquarters city with main offices of International Textile Group (Cone, Burlington Industries), Galey & Lord, Unifi, and VF Corporation (Wrangler, Lee, North Face, Vanity Fair). Rail traffic continues as a major North Carolina freight hub and four passenger trains per day (Amtrack)on the main Norfolk Western line between Washington and New Orleans by way of Atlanta.
Greensboro has been known for being on the forefront of racial equality issues, sometimes resulting in nationally known events. During the 19th century, with its large concentration of anti-slavery Quakers near Guilford College (now part of Greensboro), the town was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Railroad helped to smuggle runaway slaves to freedom in the North. In the 1861 Secession Convention Vote, Guilford County voted against secession from the Union by a margin of 2771 to 112, the fourth largest "no" margin in the state.
Though the city developed slowly, early wealth generated from cotton trade and merchandising led to the construction of several notable buildings. The earliest building, later named Blandwood, built in 1846. Additions to this residence designed by A. J. Davis of New York made the house an influential landmark in the state. Other significant estates followed, including "Dunleith" designed by Samuel Sloan, Bellemeade, and the Troy-Bumpass House (now operated as an inn). Early commercial architecture included the Guilford County Courthouse, West Market Street Methodist Church by S. W. Faulk, several buildings designed by Frank A. Weston, and Greensboro Women's College designed by Orlo Epps. During the twentieth century, Greensboro expanded in wealth and population due to profitable textile and tobacco interests. Rapid growth led to construction of grand commercial and civic buildings many of which remain standing today, designed by hometown architects Charles Hartmann, Harry Barton, Ed Loewenstein, and nationally prominent designers such as Walter Gropius, Eduardo Catalano, and George Matsumoto.
On February 1, 1960, four black college students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College sat down at an all-white Woolworths lunch counter, and refused to leave when they were denied service. Hundreds of others soon joined in this first sit-in, which lasted for several months. Such protests quickly spread across the South, ultimately leading to the desegregation of Woolworths and other chains. The original Woolworths counter and stools now sit in the Smithsonian, but a Sit-In Museum is being built in the old Woolworths building where the event actually occurred.
On November 3, 1979, gunfire was exchanged between Communist Workers Party members holding an anti-Ku Klux Klan rally, and a group of KKK and neo-Nazi counter-protesters. Five CWP members were killed and seven were wounded and television footage of the event was shown across the nation. This event is known as the Greensboro massacre. In 2005, Greensboro residents, inspired by post-apartheid South Africa, initiated a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take public testimony and examine the causes and consequences of the massacre. It is the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission convened in the United States.
Source:
Greensboro-USA.com
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