Taylortown

Taylortown is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 722 as of the 2010 census. It is bordered by nearby Pinehurst.

Taylortown is located at 35°12′59″N 79°29′44″W  /  35.21639°N 79.49556°W  / 35.21639; -79.49556 (35.216254, -79.495543).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

Academy Heights School was first constructed in the Taylortown community in 1934 housing first through the twelfth grades until the time of desegregation. Additions to the campus have included: an auditorium in 1938, the cafeteria - media center in 1956, gymnasium in 1960, and the lower classroom building in 1964. In 1969 the school was named Pinehurst Elementary School with a staff of six full-time teachers and a part-time librarian with students in kindergarten through fourth grade. In 1977 the fourth graders moved to Pinehurst Middle School making the elementary school for kindergarten through third grade. A self-contained academically gifted program offered services at that time to second and third grade students bused from other schools in this area. The name changed to Academy Heights Elementary in 1996 when the school became year round. Academy Heights served students in kindergarten through fifth grade until 2011. Then, Academy heights closed and moved K-2 grades to Pinehurst Elementary School, and moved 3-5 grades to West Pine Elementary School. Taylortown has asked for the school to be turned over to the town.

The town is governed by a five-member council. Mayor, Barrett Councilman, Thompson Councilman, Taylor Councilman, Ray Councilman, Worthy 910-295-4010

On November 3, 2009 Jessie Fuller lost his seat on the Taylortown Council. The coalition, led by incumbent F. Ellis Ray, intended to put at least three like-minded candidates on the Town Council so they could oust Ulysses Barrett Jr., from his mayoral seat. That plan did not work, instead Mr. Fuller was ousted and only Mr. Ray was the remaining Family First candidate to obtain a seat.

In 2007, the State Bureau of Investigation looked into whether he used his mayoral position to benefit his building business. He was charged with three misdemeanors, including fraud and benefiting from a public contract. He was found not guilty of fraud, and the other charges were dropped.

But trouble still followed. In May 2008, it was discovered that 36 sites in town were used to illegally bury houses, barns and garages while Barrett was mayor. Excavation costs exceeded $805,000; the town had to pay more than $215,000 of it.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 956 people, 308 households, and 226 families residing in the town. The population density was 702.4 people per square mile (271.9/km2). There were 337 housing units at an average density of 280.1 per square mile (108.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 27.46% White, 69.47% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 308 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,781, and the median income for a family was $35,739. Males had a median income of $32,625 versus $20,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,889. About 12.0% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 20.7% of those age 65 or over.

On the TV program, The Andy Griffith Show, it is said in the episode The Battle of Mayberry, that the town of Mayberry was almost named Taylortown in honor of Colonel Carleton Taylor, who was one of the first settlers in the area.