The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-13
WHAT THE CENSUS FIGURES
SHOWS.

0nV w ~
A study of the census the leading
towns of North Carolina shows many
interesting things. 1t is apparent
that, except at Asheville, which has
been mainly helped by immigration,
the greatest increase has come in the
towns and cities where the most
manufacturing is done. This is parti-
cularly notable at Kings Mountain
which had population of only 429 in
1890, and which has now grown to p
O62, and in Graham which has increas-
ed from 991 to 2,052. Gastonia, which
jumped from 1893 to 4,61O and Bur-
lington which went from 1,716 to g.
602 are the other two of the smaller
towns which have grown most rapid
ly through the establishment and en-
largement of the cotton mill industry.
The establishment of tobacco mar
kets in Eastern North Carolina has
helped several towns. 1t has been
potent, though not by any mean the
only, cause of the wonderful increase
of the population of Rocky Mount,
which now has population
of 1887 against SO in 1890.
The removal of the A. and
IN. C. Railroad shops, increase in
manufacturing and general business
have contributed to this increase. Will
son owes much of it's large increase
from 2,126 to 1885 to the stimulus of
the tobacco market and the tobacco
industry. Kinston's large increase
from 1,726 to 4,106, which is most re-
markable next to Rocky Mount, is due
5. aIsr. largely to the tobacco industry,
but the manufacturing and truck IN
dustries have been other chief factors.
Goldsboro's growth from 4,O17 to 5,o7,
Greeaville's growth from 1887 to 1865,
and Tarboros growth from 1921 to
2,499 have also felt the stimulus of the
new tobacco, but not to such an eX-
tent as the other Eastern markets,
while Newbern and Fayetteville have
been helped some.
OF the larger towns in the East, the
growth of Elizabeth City is most
marked, the. population of that mart
having almost doubled within ten
wears. while the increase at Washing
ton & 1900, and Goldsboro (1,S0O), has
been very gratifying. Beaufort gain
ed only 17S; Edenton gained over 500;
Fayetteville, 400; Wilmington, 900;
New Bern, 1900. These gains have
been largely during the last part of
the ten years, and show that the
Eastern towns and cities are steadily
and rapidly gaining in population.
The towns and cities in the East
Central Raleigh, Henderson,
Durham-show a smaller rate of in
crease Durham makes gratifying
gain of 1900; Raleigh, 965, while Hen
derson loses about 800. In 1890 its
tobacco interests were large and pros
porous. The tobacco trusts methods
gave it a severe blow, but during the
past three years it has grown steadily
and at the present rate of growth it
viii have 5000 people in 1910. Monroes
increase from 1866 to 2,427 is crafty
ing.
The central cities and towns, in the
Piedmont section, show large growth
We have already alluded to the large
increase of the population at Graham
and Burlington. Greensboro shows
the largest growth of any OF the
larger towns of the State, increasing
from 1917 in 1890 to 10,035-a three
fold increase. Winston's increase is
from S,O1S to 10.00S Winston has de
pended chiefly on tobacco manutac-
turing which has been disastrousiy
affected by the trusts, while Green's
boro has depended upon multitude
of small manufacturing establish
ments. That explains in part why
Greensboro's growth has SO far sur
passed Winston's. Salem has gained
900, due chiefly to manufacturing
These two towns-virtually one-have
a population of 1860, or more than
the census gives to Raleigh. Mt. Airy
shows healthy growth, increasing
from 1,76S to 1850, while High Points
= gain is not so much, the increase be-
ing from 3,451 to 4,163. Reidsville's
increase is small. The population was
1920 and is now 1902. 1t suffered
much from the tobacco trust. Hickory
gains 800; Salisbury. $3.50. and States
Vile 1928. There remains Concord
which has made d remarkahle gain