Yadkin County, North Carolina

Yadkin County is a located in the  of. As of 2000, the population was 36,348. Its is.

History
The county was formed in from the part of  south of the, for which it was named.

Law and government
Yadkin County is a member of the regional.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 874 (337 ). 869 km² (336 sq mi) of it is land and 5 km² (2 sq mi) of it (0.57%) is water. Yadkin County is located in the region of central North Carolina. The Piedmont consists of rolling farmlands frequently broken by hills or valleys formed by streams. The extreme western section of the county contains the, a deeply eroded spur of the much higher to the west. Yadkin County marks the eastern end of the Brushy Mountains range; none of the peaks rise more than 400-500 feet above the surrounding countryside. The highest point in the county is Star Peak near Jonesville, at 1,590 feet above sea level.

The forms the county's northern and eastern borders. The county takes its name from the river.

Townships
The county is divided into twelve :

Adjacent counties

 * - north
 * - east
 * - south-southeast
 * - south-southwest
 * - west

Towns of the past
These towns were incorporated at one time :
 * , merged with Jonesville in 2001.
 * , chartered in 1818.
 * , incorporated in 1792.
 * , incorporated from 1903-1911.
 * , incorporated in 1924.

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 36,348 people, 14,505 households, and 10,588 families residing in the county. The was 42/km² (108/sq mi). There were 15,821 housing units at an average density of 18/km² (47/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 92.54%, 3.43% or , 0.16% , 0.17% , 0.02% , 2.91% from , and 0.77% from two or more races. 6.48% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 14,505 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,660, and the median income for a family was $43,758. Males had a median income of $29,589 versus $22,599 for females. The for the county was $18,576. About 7.10% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.

Public schools
Yadkin County has two high schools, Forbush and Starmount. They are fed by eight elementary schools, which teach kindergarten through eighth grades. The eight elementary schools are Boonville, Courtney, East Bend, Fall Creek, Forbush, Jonesville, West Yadkin and Yadkinville. The school system also operates Yadkin Success Academy, an alternative learning center on Old U.S. 421 in Yadkinville.

offers courses through its Yadkin Campus at 649 North near Yadkinville.

Highways
Two major four-lane highways serve Yadkin County. runs north to south in the western part of the county and runs east to west. The two highways intersect near. The county also is served by, which runs mostly paralllel with I-77, and , which runs through and. is another popular artery that links the northern part of the county with Jonesville-Elkin and.

Airports
Commercial flights are available through which is less than an hour west in  and. Two private airports are located in the county, Swan Creek near Jonesville and Lone Hickory near Yadkinville.

Public Transportation
Beginning in 2006, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) began offering limited bus service between and  as part of its US 421 Mountaineer Express. The buses make stops east and west in Yadkinville.

Yadkin Valley Economic Development District Inc. (YVEDDI), a community action agency based in, operates a multi-county rural public transportation system.

Yadkin Valley wine region
Yadkin County is part of the, an recognized by the  government as a unique -growing region. s made from grapes grown in this area may use the "Yadkin Valley" on the label.

Print
Yadkin County is covered by two community newspapers, ' and ' of Elkin. The , a larger daily paper, also covers the county. Yadkin Valley Living, a bimonthy lifestyles publication, is based in.

Broadcast
, an, broadcasts from eastern Yadkin County.

Yadkin County is part of the radio and  but many broadcasts from the  market also can be received.

Notable residents

 * , French-born film composer.
 * , U.S. senator and representative and Confederate brigadier general.
 * , basketball star for and the.
 * , chief justice, and his son,, a diplomat and U.S. representative.
 * , U.S. congressman.
 * , a baseball pitcher and former  sheriff.