Fair Bluff, North Carolina

Fair Bluff, North Carolina
Town
Downtown Fair Bluff
Fair Bluff
Location within the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 34°18′40″N 79°1′57″W / 34.31111°N 79.03250°W / 34.31111; -79.03250Coordinates: 34°18′40″N 79°1′57″W / 34.31111°N 79.03250°W / 34.31111; -79.03250
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Columbus
Government
 • Mayor Billy Hammond
Area
 • Total 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2)
 • Land 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 66 ft (20 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 951
 • Estimate (2016)[1] 905
 • Density 430/sq mi (170/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code 28439
Area code(s) 910
FIPS code 37-22240[2]
GNIS feature ID 1020187[3]
Website Official Fair Bluff, NC website

Fair Bluff is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States that was devastated by flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and inundated by high water by Hurricane Florence in 2018. The population was 951 at the 2010 census but is believed to be lower following the two disasters.

History

The Powell House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[4] v

In 2012, the Police Chief of Fair Bluff was arrested, tried and convicted for selling and delivering oxycodone and possession with the intent to sell and conspiracy to traffic while acting as police chief. He was sentenced to a minimum of seven years in prison and fined $100,000.[5]

In 2016, the town was devastated by flooding on the Lumber River caused by Hurricane Matthew, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents.[6] As of June 2018 the rebuilding effort was still underway but several hundred residents who had fled rising floodwaters never returned and a number of businesses remained shuttered[7].

In September 2018 Fair Bluff was flooded again by the impact of Hurricane Florence, again forcing evacuations and leaving the downtown area under water again.[8]

Geography

Fair Bluff is located at 34°18′40″N 79°1′57″W / 34.31111°N 79.03250°W / 34.31111; -79.03250 (34.311212, -79.032387),[9] along the banks of the Lumber River. It is one of the oldest towns in Columbus County, appearing on maps from the early 19th century, and was once a center of timber production.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880218—
189024311.5%
190032835.0%
191044134.5%
1920397−10.0%
1930806103.0%
194097020.3%
19501,0568.9%
19601,030−2.5%
19701,0390.9%
19801,0955.4%
19901,068−2.5%
20001,18110.6%
2010951−19.5%
Est. 2016905[1]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,181 people, 505 households, and 308 families residing in the town. The population density was 547.4 people per square mile (211.1/km²). There were 588 housing units at an average density of 272.6 per square mile (105.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.27% African American, 37.93% White, 0.68% Native American, 1.19% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 505 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $17,008, and the median income for a family was $22,969. Males had a median income of $20,764 versus $16,731 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,829. About 31.8% of families and 37.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.9% of those under age 18 and 24.3% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  5. ↑ http://www.wect.com/story/26654955/verdict-jury-reaches-verdict-in-marty-lewis-trial
  6. ↑ https://nrcolumbus.com/news/flooding-continues-across-area-fair-bluff-hardest-hit/
  7. ↑ Futch, Michael. "20 months after Matthew, Fair Bluff 'like a ghost town'". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  8. ↑ "Fair Bluff hit hard by second hurricane in two years". Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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