Boone, North Carolina

Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010. Boone is the county seat of Watauga County and the home of Appalachian State University. The town is named for famous American pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone, and every summer since 1952 has hosted an outdoor amphitheatre portrayal of the life and times of its namesake.

Boone
Boone took its name from the famous pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone, who on several occasions camped at a site generally agreed to be within the present city limits. Daniel's nephews, Jesse and Jonathan (sons of brother Israel Boone), were founders of the town's first church, Three Forks Baptist, still in existence today. Boone was served by the narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad (nicknamed "Tweetsie") until the flood of 1940. The flood washed away much of the tracks and it was decided by the powers that be not to replace them.

Boone is the home of Appalachian State University, a constituent member of the University of North Carolina. Appalachian State is the sixth largest university in the seventeen-campus system. Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute also operates a satellite campus in Boone.

"Horn in the West", a dramatization of the life and times of the early settlers of the mountain area, which features Daniel Boone as one of its characters, has been performed in an outdoor amphitheatre above the town every summer since 1952. The original actor in the role of "Daniel Boone" was Ned Austin. His "Hollywood Star" stands on a pedestal on King Street in downtown Boone. He was followed in the role by Glenn Causey, who portrayed the rugged frontiersman for 41 years, and whose image is still seen in many of the depictions of Boone featured in the area today.

The late guitarist Michael Houser was born in Boone. He is best known as a founding member of and lead guitarist for the band Widespread Panic. The Grammy Award-winning guitar player Doc Watson also comes from the Boone area, as do many bluegrass musicians and Appalachian storytellers.

Geography and climate


Boone is located at 36.21139°N, -81.66861°W (36.211364, −81.668657) and has an elevation of 3,333 feet (1015.9 m) above mean sea level. An earlier survey gave the elevation as 3,332 ft and since then it has been published as having an elevation of 3,333 ft (1,016 m). Boone has the highest elevation of any town of its size (over 10,000 population) east of the Mississippi River. As such, Boone features a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cfb), a rarity for cities in the South. Compared to the lower elevations of the Carolinas, winters are long and cold, with frequent sleet and snowfall, with the January high at 39.3 F, being more similar to much of New England than the South. Blizzard-like conditions are not unusual during many winters. Summers are warm, but far cooler and less humid than lower regions to the south and east, with a July high of 76.4 F.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,472 people, 4,374 households, and 1,237 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,307.0 people per square mile (890.7/km²). There were 4,748 housing units at an average density of 813.0 per square mile (313.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.98% White, 3.42% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 1.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,374 households out of which 9.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 71.7% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.63.

The age distribution is 5.8% under 18, 65.9% from 18 to 24, 12.1% from 25 to 44, 9.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 21 years. Both the overall age distribution and the median age are typical for communities dominated by a large university, here Appalachian State. For every 100 females there are 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median household income is $20,541, and the median family income is $49,762. The per capita income is $12,256. 37.0% of the population and 9.2% of families were below the poverty line.

Men had a median income of $28,060 versus $20,000 for women. However, poverty statistics that are based on surveys of the entire population can be extremely misleading in communities dominated by students, such as Boone. Out of the total population, 6.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Newspaper
Boone is mainly served by three local newspapers:


 * The Watauga Democrat is published on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday of each week,
 * The Mountain Times (free weekly entertainment publication).
 * The High Country Press (free weekly publication).

A smaller newspaper, The Appalachian, is Appalachian State University's campus newspaper published twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition to the locally printed papers, a monthly entertainment pamphlet named Kraut Creek Revival has limited circulation and is funded by a Denver, NC-based newspaper.

Radio

 * WATA-AM 1450 AM is predominantly News Talk.
 * WZJS-FM 100.7 FM is an Oldies radio station.
 * WMMY-FM 106.1 FM is a Country Music radio station.
 * WECR-FM 102.3 FM is an Adult Contemporary radio station, mostly music, also University of North Carolina Tar Heels sports network, and Carolina Panthers football.
 * WECR-AM 1130 AM is primarily a Gospel Music and Local News station.
 * WXIT-AM 1200 AM is predominantly Conservative Talk Radio.
 * WASU 90.5 FM is a college radio station run from the Appalachian campus.
 * WNCW 92.9 NPR Affiliate a noncommercial public radio station licensed to Isothermal Community College.

Law and government
Boone operates under a mayor-council government. The city council consists of five members. The mayor presides over the council and casts a vote on issues only in the event of a tie. As of October 2009, the City Council members are: Loretta Clawson, Mayor;  Lynne Mason, Councilor, Mayor Pro-tempore; and Councilors: Rennie Brantz,  Andy Ball, Stephen Phillips, and  Jamie Leigh.

Development
Industrial, commercial, and residential development in the town of Boone is a controversial issue due to its location in the mountains of Appalachia. On October 16, 2009, the town council accepted the "Boone 2030 Land Use Plan." While the document itself is not in any way actual law, it is used by the town council, board of adjustment, and other committees to guide decision making as to what types of development are appropriate.

In 2009, the North Carolina Department of Transportation began widening 1.1 miles of U.S. 421 (King Street) to a four to six-lane divided highway with a raised concrete median from U.S. 321 (Hardin Street) to east of N.C. 194 (Jefferson Road), including a new entrance and exit to the new Watauga High School, at a cost of $16.2 million. The widening has displaced 25 businesses and 63 residences east of historic downtown King Street. The project is slated to be completed by December 31, 2011.

Economy
Samaritan's Purse is based in Boone.

Largest Employers
According to the Town's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Points of interest

 * Appalachian State University
 * Blue Ridge Parkway
 * Daniel Boone Native Gardens
 * Horn in the West
 * Howard's Knob
 * Tweetsie Railroad
 * Watauga River
 * Elk Knob State Park
 * St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church
 * Grandfather Mountain
 * Saint Luke's Episcopal Church

Notable residents

 * Franklin Graham
 * Doc Hendley
 * Doc Watson
 * Robby Benson