Yanceyville

Yanceyville is a town in and the county seat of Caswell County, North Carolina, United States.[6] It is located in the Piedmont Triad region of the state. The population as of the 2020 census was 1,937.[7]

Yanceyville has been the county seat since 1792 (although the settlement was originally called Caswell Court House until 1833). The original 1859 Caswell County Courthouse, which is located in the Yanceyville Historic District in Court Square, has been renovated and provides offices for county departments. The new courthouse is located a few blocks north.[8]

There remains uncertainty as to who the town was named for. Many have asserted that it was named for U.S. Congressman Bartlett Yancey, Jr. (1785–1828). Surviving documents in 1972 strongly suggested, however, that it was named for Bartlett Yancey, Jr.'s older brother James Yancey (1768–1829). The elder Yancey was a legislator, merchant, planter, public official, and educator. North Carolina historian William S. Powell wrote in 1977 that the preponderance of evidence supported Bartlett Yancey, Jr. as the town's namesake.[10][11][12]

The Yanceyville Historic District, Bartlett Yancey House, Graves House, William Henry and Sarah Holderness House, John Johnston House, Melrose/Williamson House, and Poteat House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[13][14]

Yanceyville is located at the center of Caswell County, at 36°24′25″N 79°20′30″W  /  36.40694°N 79.34167°W  / 36.40694; -79.34167 (36.407037, −79.341545).[15] U.S. Route 158 passes through the town, leading east 22 miles (35 km) to Roxboro and west 22 miles (35 km) to Reidsville. North Carolina Highway 86 joins US 158 in a short bypass just north of the center of town and leads 29 miles (47 km) southeast to Hillsborough and 13 miles (21 km) north to Danville, Virginia. North Carolina Highway 62 passes through the eastern side of Yanceyville, leading northeast 12 miles (19 km) to Milton and south 25 miles (40 km) to Burlington.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Yanceyville has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.4 km2), of which 5.5 square miles (14.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.57%, is water.[16]

The most pleasant months of the year for the town and region are May, September, and October. In Yanceyville, there are seven months (April–October) with average high temperatures in the range of 70–85° (21.1–29.4°C). In 2018, July was the hottest month with an average high temperature of 89.1° (31.7°C). January is usually the coldest month in Yanceyville. The most humid months are June, July, and August.[17]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,937 people, 891 households, and 465 families residing in the town. In 2019, the estimated median age in Yanceyville was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were an estimated 122.6 males.[7]

In the 2000 census, there were 2,091 people, 658 households, and 400 families residing in the town.[4] The population density was 450.9 people per square mile (174.0/km2). There were 748 housing units at an average density of 161.3 per square mile (62.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 44.29% White, 53.99% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 658 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.0% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,353, and the median income for a family was $26,417. Males had a median income of $24,632 versus $20,398 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,956. About 23.3% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 24.1% of those age 65 or over.

Three main areas of business are located in Yanceyville: Downtown, West Main Street, and Highway 86. Downtown's central business district starts at NC 62 and Main Street, extending west on Main Street for roughly one mile. Its focal point is Court Square, which contains the renovated Caswell County Courthouse. The district has 30 non-residential buildings: 24 of those are for business and six are for governmental use.

Approximately half of the central business district is located within the Yanceyville Historic District. Businesses include a hardware store, a general store, banks, lawyers' offices, CPAs, restaurants, an antique shop, and a clothing accessory store.[21] CoSquare, a coworking space that offers several business possibilities for entrepreneurs, is located in the downtown historic area.[22]

The largest industries in Yanceyville are accommodation & food services, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.[23] Manufacturers in the town include USA-RS Services, Chemtek, and Royal Textile Mills. Yanceyville is also home to one industrial park: Caswell County Industrial Park.[24]

The Caswell County Local Foods Council initiates community-driven projects and manages the Caswell Farmers' Market in Yanceyville.[25] NC Cooperative Extension's office in Yanceyville connects local farmers and agribusinesses with vital research-based information and technology.[26]

Yanceyville benefits from its proximity to Danville, Virginia, the greater Piedmont Triad area, and the Research Triangle. Residents have access to a wide range of goods, services, attractions, and employment in the region.[27] The town receives economic activity in kind from these neighboring areas.

The following public schools are located in Yanceyville:[28]

Caswell Family Medical Center is the largest primary care provider in Yanceyville. Urgent care, specialty, and behavioral healthcare services are also available.[30]

Sovah Family Medicine-Yanceyville provides primary care.[31]

Brian Center Health & Rehabilitation and Caswell House provide care to older adults with special needs.[32][33]

Outdoor recreational areas in the township include:[34][35][36]

Yanceyville annually hosts the "Bright Leaf Hoedown", which takes place in the town square. The "Hoedown" is a one-day outdoor festival held in late September featuring local food vendors, live entertainment, crafts, and non-profit organizations. The event usually draws more than 5,000 guests.[37][38]

The Caswell County Historical Association holds its annual Heritage Festival each May in Yanceyville. The festival celebrates town and county history through living history reenactments, tours, games, vendors, and live music.[39]

Yanceyville features an antebellum courthouse designed by William Percival and several other antebellum houses and buildings. (For further information, see history section above).

The town's cultural attractions also include:[40]

The Caswell County Civic Center has a full-size professionally equipped stage, a 912-seat auditorium, meeting and banquet facilities for up to 500, a lobby art gallery, and accessories for concerts, theatre, and social functions.[41] Events and ceremonies are also held at the Yanceyville Pavilion.

The Caswell County Department of Parks & Recreation offers indoor and outdoor recreational facilities as well as sports programs and activities.[36] The Caswell Senior Center, located in Yanceyville on Firetower Road, has recreation and fitness facilities built in 2009.[42]

Gunn Memorial Public Library offers summer reading programs to children of all ages.

Yanceyville operates under a council-manager form of government. The Town Council is comprised of four council members and a mayor who are elected at large by voters. Neither the mayor nor council members run for office according to party affiliation. Ballots do not contain their political party membership information.[43] The nonpartisan Town Council's role is to facilitate economic, infrastructure, and community development. Moreover, it determines which services to offer citizens to ensure the community stays socially and fiscally prosperous and healthy.

The Town Council is responsible for establishing policies guiding the town's administration e.g., public safety, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and emergency services issues. Its responsibilities also include setting Yanceyville's tax, water, and sewer rates, and appointing a town manager. The town manager's responsibilities include directing operational activities, supervising personnel, budgeting, planning, zoning, and purchasing.[44] In July 2021, Kamara Barnett was appointed the town manager of Yanceyville.[45]

As of July 2021, the Town Council's members are:[44]

The Town Council conducts meetings at the Yanceyville Municipal Services Building.[46] Yanceyville's government has additional offices for economic development, public services, public safety, human resources, finance, utilities, planning, zoning, and general administration. The Caswell County Board of Commissioners holds its regular meetings at the Historic Courthouse.[47]

Newspapers and periodicals that serve Yanceyville and the surrounding area include:

Yanceyville is the town of license for:

Other radio stations in the area include:

Yanceyville is part of the Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem designated market area, the 46th largest broadcast television market in the United States.[50]

Television stations in the area include:

Danville Amtrak station, built in 1899 by Southern Railways, is 13.9 miles (22 km) north of Yanceyville.

Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 are the closest interstate highways to the town, located 26 miles (41.8 km) south in Graham.