Plymouth, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Plymouth | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Plymouth, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates:35°51′31″N76°44′55″W / 35.85861°N 76.74861°W /35.85861; -76.74861 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.03 sq mi (10.45 km2) |
| • Land | 4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,320 |
| • Density | 824.0/sq mi (318.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 27962 |
| Area code | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-53040[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407138[2] |
| Website | www |
Plymouth is the most populous town inWashington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,320 at the2020 census. It is thecounty seat of Washington County.[4] Plymouth is located on theRoanoke River about seven miles (11 km) upriver from its mouth into theAlbemarle Sound in North Carolina'sInner Banks region.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town of Plymouth has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), of which 3.9 square miles (10 km2) is land and 0.26% is water.
| Climate data for PLYMOUTH 5 E, NC, 1991-2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.9 (12.2) | 57.4 (14.1) | 64.2 (17.9) | 73.8 (23.2) | 80.2 (26.8) | 86.5 (30.3) | 89.3 (31.8) | 87.6 (30.9) | 82.7 (28.2) | 74.5 (23.6) | 64.3 (17.9) | 56.7 (13.7) | 72.6 (22.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.8 (6.6) | 46.3 (7.9) | 52.5 (11.4) | 61.6 (16.4) | 69.1 (20.6) | 76.5 (24.7) | 79.8 (26.6) | 78.3 (25.7) | 73.3 (22.9) | 63.5 (17.5) | 53.3 (11.8) | 46.7 (8.2) | 62.1 (16.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) | 35.2 (1.8) | 40.8 (4.9) | 49.4 (9.7) | 58.1 (14.5) | 66.4 (19.1) | 70.4 (21.3) | 69.0 (20.6) | 64.0 (17.8) | 52.6 (11.4) | 42.3 (5.7) | 36.7 (2.6) | 51.5 (10.8) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.95 (100) | 3.40 (86) | 4.16 (106) | 3.74 (95) | 4.14 (105) | 5.42 (138) | 5.70 (145) | 6.60 (168) | 6.13 (156) | 4.14 (105) | 3.57 (91) | 3.64 (92) | 54.59 (1,387) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.0 (2.5) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.4 (3.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.4 | 10.9 | 11.4 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 11.1 | 12.7 | 12.9 | 11.2 | 9.9 | 10.2 | 11.5 | 135.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Source: NOAA[5][6] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 951 | — | |
| 1860 | 872 | −8.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,389 | 59.3% | |
| 1880 | 836 | −39.8% | |
| 1890 | 1,212 | 45.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,011 | −16.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,165 | 114.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,847 | −14.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,139 | 15.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,461 | 15.1% | |
| 1950 | 4,486 | 82.3% | |
| 1960 | 4,666 | 4.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,774 | 2.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,571 | −4.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,328 | −5.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,107 | −5.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,878 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 3,320 | −14.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 887 | 26.72% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,259 | 68.04% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.09% |
| Asian | 12 | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 100 | 3.01% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 57 | 1.72% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 3,320 people, 1,522 households, and 678 families residing in the town.
As of the2010 United States census, there were 3,878 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 68.3% Black, 28.9% White, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% from some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, there were 4,107 people, 1,623 households, and 1,119 families living in the town. The population density was 1,061.7 inhabitants per square mile (409.9/km2). There were 1,829 housing units at an average density of 472.8 per square mile (182.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 35.04%White, 63.09%African American, 0.02%Native American, 0.61%Asian, 0.73% fromother races, and 0.51% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 1,623 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% weremarried couples living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,281, and the median income for a family was $26,800. Males had a median income of $26,352 versus $17,350 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $12,067. About 30.8% of families and 37.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 54.3% of those under age 18 and 28.8% of those age 65 or over.
The Moratuc tribe of American Indians was living in a large settlement on Welch Creek near the currentDomtar pulp mill site in 1585 when the area was explored by English settlers. Moratuc was an Indian name for theRoanoke River. The Moratuc tribe were probably anAlgonquian tribe, but there is debate that they may have beenIroquois.[9]
Plymouth was established in 1787 by Arthur Rhodes on 100 acres (0.40 km2) of his Brick House plantation he subdivided into 172 lots. Note that "Brickhouse" is a common localpatronym. In 1790, theNorth Carolina General Assembly named Plymouth a "port of delivery" and in 1808 it was named a "port of entry". The county seat of Washington County was moved to Plymouth from Lee's Mill, asRoper, North Carolina, was then known, by special act of the General Assembly on January 31, 1823. A newcourthouse was completed by November 1824 on the same site where the present courthouse stands. It stood until 1862 when it caught fire and burned to the ground from a shell fired by aUnion gunboat during bombardment of Plymouth.
Plymouth has the historical distinction of being the site of the second-largest battle in North Carolina and its last Confederate victory, theBattle of Plymouth (1864), during theAmerican Civil War. The Confederateironclad warshipCSSAlbemarle — and its eventual sinking on October 27, 1864, while moored at a dock in Plymouth — are the centerpieces of this history.
Beginning early in the war and for its remainder, the Union controlled theAlbemarle andPamlico Sounds. The geographical importance for the Northern forces of Plymouth's location at themouth of the Roanoke River was the Union desire to push upriver and capture the vitalWilmington and Weldon Railroad line passing throughWeldon, North Carolina, which would completely cut off the major supply line for GeneralRobert E. Lee's army in Virginia from more southerly ports. This would essentially end allmateriel support for Lee's forces and force his defeat or retreat from Virginia.
Fort Branch, located upriver at Hamilton, successfully blocked the Union gunboats and troops sailing upstream from Plymouth at the river bend called Rainbow Branch. The fort held until April 10, 1865, one day after General Leesurrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, at which point it was abandoned and its cannons were hurled into the Roanoke River. Thus, the war histories of Fort Branch and Plymouth are intimately connected.[10]
Plymouth State Normal School was established to educate African American teachers. It was moved to Elizabeth City in 1903 and became Elizabeth City State University.[11]
The Port O'Plymouth History Museum, located in the circa 1923 formerAtlantic Coast Line Railroad station in downtown Plymouth, has an excellent, nationally recognized collection of Civil War artifacts, including one of the most complete belt-buckle and button collections in the U.S. and a model of the ironclad ramCSSAlbemarle.[12]
TheGarrett's Island House,Latham House,Perry-Spruill House,Plymouth Historic District, andWashington County Courthouse, New Chapel Missionary Baptist Church are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[13]
The primary industry for the area isDomtar Paper Company, LLC., a paper manufacturer. The paper mill and its related facilities have been the largest employer since 1937. It was owned by Kieckhefer Container Company (John W. Kieckhefer) which was merged intoWeyerhauser in 1957. In March 2007, Weyerhauser sold its paper interests to Domtar. The paper mill is now a Domtar papermill, while the onsite sawmill is still owned by Weyerhauser. In October 2009, Domtar announced the end of paper machine operations, and the mill will be converted to producefluff pulp alone, with a 33% workforce reduction to about 360 employees.[citation needed]
The town is re-branding itself as a tourist destination to offset the reduction in paper-making employment, taking advantage of its natural environment, being surrounded by tracts of forests and swamplands. A riverfront boardwalk has been built, with views of the Roanoke River.[citation needed] Plymouth is home to theNorth Carolina Black Bear Festival, an annual three-day event at the beginning of June centered around bears.
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Geographic data related toPlymouth, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapMunicipalities and communities ofWashington County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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