Charlotte area "ring cities"

[videtur quam contuor]

Another fine Sunday for a Covid drive to an historic courthouse. Chester this time. Downtown Chester is atop a hill and the city is about a mile square with other lesser hills and more piedmontese than I expected. Feature buildings are just off the crest of the hill. At the crest is the confederate monument. No tin soldier just the memorial in granite. No clamor to remove, apparently. 

 

 

Federal building. Unclear of current use. Parking at rear has spaces marked for SC Appeals Judges

 

Just off the crest in the other direction the town hall and police department. This was the only place in Chester I saw human movement other than two wandering souls carrying bags as if homeless though their condition is unknown to me. This building had an opera house on the top floor originally which was the performing and meeting hall for the community. A fire decades ago destroyed that. There was also a steeple with lead that melted and was not replaced. The clock is almost correct.

Courthouse. Marker with information is photo below. From 1852 with much added. This facade has been preserved as a hybrid of the winding double exterior stairs from Lancaster and Dallas and later pure rectangular facades. This has square stairs to court rooms above, offices below. The double winding stairs make those other buildings appear to be lifted above the ground. Not here, this is squat and strong. Doric capitals and portico.

 

This is a photo of courthouse from rear corner showing additions. Rather than start anew they stayed true and adapted. Well done.

Downtown theatre from 100+ years ago. Dreamland Theatre. I LOOOVE the name. There was an addition to this building that covered this original name. There is now work on the lot here after the addition has been removed, recently, apparently. Construction equipment on the site, staging visible here, so the Dreamland name has been revealed not so long ago.

 

This is the front of the theatre. It was a community theatre for a while but structural issues condemned the building. Perhaps that is the reason for the demo next door.

Jail, 1914. Behind the courthouse. Now a museum of history.

 

Chester has a solid but small housing area in the square mile with some victorian giants cheek by jowl with far smaller homes on the street behind. A Southern idiom. 

The business district is maybe a third vacant or with lower level tenants: charity shop, evangelical church. Some local shops with seasonal or impulse kinds of goods. The general sense of the area is better than I expected. At the outermost fringe of the town is a bypass to Lancaster and there are usual shops there, grocer, auto parts and such. One thing that struck me is that just past that road is a development of rental townhomes. Quality, safe, well built rental housing is in seriously low supply in these outer regions. If you think Charlotte has an issue with housing for the lower income population try Gaffney, Stanley county, etc. This is why one sees so many mobile homes as they meet some of the need at the absolute lowest cost. Chester had someone invest in a project that would look fine anywhere.

Chester County has transitioned to manufacturing and agriculture has diminished. The road from 77 to town has four major plants with giant facilities. The town is well served by rail lines, always was a rail hub. There may be more to see here but it was a fine destination. They protect their historic architecture and celebrate their history by choice and not out of desperation. I can easily imagine someone would commute from Arrowood to Chester, or reverse. About 35 minutes today for that distance.

Edited October 18, 2020 by tarhoosier

[rancenc]

Jobs and investment coming to the SC ring city of Rock Hill!

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2020/10/16/auto-manufacturer-picks-south-carolina-over-nc.html

[rancenc]

Expansion underway at Caromont Regional Medical Center.  Part of a $350 million expansion of healthcare facilities throughout Gaston County.

https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20201002/new-critical-care-tower-under-construction-at-caromont

Edited October 22, 2020 by rancenc

[videtur quam contuor]

New Covid drive this Sunday afternoon. Wadesboro and Anson County. How many times have I been on 74 through Wadesboro, one hundred times? I have never turned off the road to see the town. Courthouse and major buildings are ~120 yards off of 74 and a five minute loop while on the way east or west is worth it. Otherwise...

Anson County has the same population as in 1910, with small variations over the century and currently in decline. Anson was in the Charlotte Standard Metropolitan Area but was dropped in 2013. To call Wadesboro a ring city may involve a ring of Saturn. Still, with the Monroe toll road, commuting or logistics to Charlotte has been improved such that some economic development may happen due to that change. Time from Elizabeth neighborhood to Wadesboro today, Sunday, was ~45-50 minutes.

Wadesboro proper is and has been a small town with a few thousand people. Center of town is on a knob with a drop in all directions. 

Anson County Courthouse. A fine neoclassical work well recognized by everyone as a modern interpretation of a public structure such as courthouse, post office, museum. Inset doric portico. Note stone scrolls at each side of stairs. Prominent cornice with dentils. The CSA soldier on the plinth was dispatched this summer. An addition by subtraction for this view. If the remaining granite were likewise dispatched the view would be greatly improved. More subtraction, please. A light buff-yellow brick not well translated by the photo but easy on the eye. Rectangular building with similar columns on each face but none as broad as this main face. Charlotte architect.

The sun breaks through.

Facing a short side of the courthouse is the Post Office, 1931-32 and meant to complement the courthouse as it surely does.

Facing the main façade across the street is Belk. Long closed. Unknown use, if any. False facade from the 1950's removed in (Edit: original said 1912. False 50's façade remove 2012).

Just off the main street near courthouse is the cabin, later improved, of Wadesboro founder.

Cabin is at rear of the 1839 two story home and not visible from the street.

 

Leavitt House, 1832. Across from courthouse. Served numerous purposes including first funeral home in town and now lawyer offices.

 Ansonia Theatre, originally vaudeville, then cinema now a restored playhouse. Fruitcakes is the holiday play involving comedy, nutty family members, the usual.

The downtown business area is surprisingly intact for the welter of retail on 74 just a walk short drive away. A few vacant spots highlight missing structures but a movie set in the 1930's could be made here with proper angles. Intact but much unused, however. 

Anson County is the least populated county in our region, by a large measure, and declining. The Economic Development team has had some success in attracting manufacturing, a major employment area. Attracting humans is a tougher job. Low education levels, low labor force participation, low number of employers (relative to Chester Co. SC, as example).

Data from Census https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ansoncountynorthcarolina

 

Edited November 2, 2020 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

Belks first store in late 1800s was in Wadesboro and while this county is one of the poorest in the region I think it will start gaining jobs and manufacturing since access via the Monroe Bypass has opened for warehouses, manufacturing etc and the commute times are already less with the new highway.  

[videtur quam contuor]

That courthouse meant a bold and confident wager on the future of the county in 1910 or so by the citizens. The significant expense would have been mortgaged by their future. O for that confidence today. Nonetheless due to the stagnant population the courthouse likely serves adequately for a long time to come, as it must. The jail behind it was replaced by a more contemporary facility.

Edited November 2, 2020 by tarhoosier

[rancenc]

New housing development in the Town of Belmont

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-homes-4-rent-opens-belmont-town-square-community-in-belmont-north-carolina-301165448.html

[kermit]

I was passing through Pineville today and I thought I would check in on the Cone mill. Much to my surprise, the complex had been completely demoed in the past couple of weeks (debris removal was happening when I passed by).

This really bums me out. It could have been a great reuse space. Shrug, Charlotte's disdain for history runs awfully deep.

Edited November 5, 2020 by kermit

[Bikeguy]

19 hours ago, kermit said:

I was passing through Pineville today and I thought I would check in on the Cone mill. Much to my surprise, the complex had been completely demoed in the past couple of weeks (debris removal was happening when I passed by).

This really bums me out. It could have been a great reuse space. Shrug, Charlotte's disdain for history runs awfully deep.

Had the town Fathers shown a little foresight and agreed to an extension of the Blue Line into Pineville when they had the chance, the Cone Mill complex would be a thriving landmark today.  

 

[Bikeguy]

Loons at Tillery this morning...

[rancenc]

From 3 years ago, but here is a aerial view of the SC ring city of Lancaster.

 

Edited November 8, 2020 by rancenc

[videtur quam contuor]

Another beautiful Sunday for a drive. Next stop:  Lincoln County and Lincolnton.

Lincoln is different in important ways from the others. It has a water only border with Mecklenburg. No rail line connects the two and the single road is a narrow NC 73 with no shoulder and must be a fright on rainy nights. Other connections are through Iredell and Gaston to Mecklenburg. This distinction has affected the growth of the county. It has the lowest population of any contiguous county. It also has a high percentage of out-migration commuters as seen here:

https://ui.uncc.edu/story/commuting-and-charlotte-region’s-economic-connections

Think about these out-migrating commuters when you transit that 321-85 intersection.It has the smallest percentage of black residents (at ~6%) of any nearby county. About 5% foreign born, which may include citizens born outside the U. S. Small numbers, all. Lincolnton is the sole incorporated municipality in the county which has a mostly rural population. It is gaining in population, even if not industrial and commercial facilities.

The city was alive with activity today. What a difference from my other experiences. Crossing 321 and heading toward town one goes Main Street straight to he courthouse and courthouse circle. Built 1921, James Salter of Raleigh, architect. This building is unsatisfying to my eye. It appears to have a portico attached to a pre-existing building. The Greek Revival elements are the doric columns and frieze. There is a second pediment above. The tympanum, or area within the pediment, is unadorned. It looks incomplete. The cornice is along the pediment only. The minor cornice on the building stops short. The color of the stone in this light emphasizes the difference of the functioning part of the building from the portico and doric columns and doric frieze. The windows have no adornment at all. They and the single door, out of proportion to the mass, appear to belong to another building. A few steps with nothing to flank the entrance. I will assume this was due to budget and plebeian taste of the time. On the other face of the building is a memorial to the confederacy with a stone drinking fountain in a stone shelter. No tin soldier.

.

Another view. No better. (comments welcome here) Clock is sponsored by a bank.

Downtown was buzzing with activity. All storefronts are leased and active with conventional uses even on a Sunday. 

A BOOKSTORE! Living units above, possibly? Facing he courthouse

Women's clothing and open on Sunday afternoon.

Note carolina stoneware pot decoration on brick parking bulb. This is a theme in town.

First Methodist Church. Dome, and another church with a dome a block away is now a cultural center.

Jonas Law. Family firm since 1912. Charles Raper Jonas was my US representative when I moved to Charlotte. His name is on the Charlotte Federal Courthouse on West Trade.

If you need legal services in Lincoln county there is but a single choice.

https://www.jonaslaw.com/about/

On my way out of town at an intersection there was a white man, ~35 years, gray suit, white shirt, dark tie, bible in hand shouting at the top of his voice about Jesus. I lowered my window to hear his message. "There is bad news and good news. The bad news is Joe Biden will be the President. The good news is that Jesus will save you from your sins" and so on. I drove on, enlightened.

Edited November 8, 2020 by tarhoosier

[videtur quam contuor]

My architectural taste is in my mouth. What I know I have learned in the past three months. Viewing photos and then in person and comparing styles has a great educational value. There are many more here who are more well versed. I chose courthouses to feature as they are usually the most prominent building in the city, if not county.

I visit these outlying counties because they are rarely if ever mentioned in the development posts of our board so I wanted to investigate them to see what I could learn. I wanted to feature them here because I thought many others were as unaware as I of these towns which make a part of our  region.

It takes many communities to form an Urban Planet.

[KJHburg]

17 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

My architectural taste is in my mouth. What I know I have learned in the past three months. Viewing photos and then in person and comparing styles has a great educational value. There are many more here who are more well versed. I chose courthouses to feature as they are usually the most prominent building in the city, if not county.

I visit these outlying counties because they are rarely if ever mentioned in the development posts of our board so I wanted to investigate them to see what I could learn. I wanted to feature them here because I thought many others were as unaware as I of these towns which make a part of our  region.

It takes many communities to form an Urban Planet.

Downtown Statesville is great if you have not been there in a while.   I like your road trips! and Shelby is great! 

[videtur quam contuor]

Lincolnton is quite nice but Wadesboro, Chester and  Lancaster have the air of desuetude. And Gaffney is between. Dallas is a different thing, of course.

[JorgiPorgi]

My Favorite Ring City Downtowns: Shelby, Lincolnton and Salisbury.  SHelby, Concord and Salisbury have pretty expansive historic districts. It's not a ring city but if you have a chance to visit downtown Hendersonville, it's worth the drive from I-26. 

[videtur quam contuor]

To follow on with the theme of our overlooked counties in the region I present the near complete vote totals for president: 

Trump  numbers first, Biden last.

5,321.     5,788   Anson

36,167.     13,178  Lincoln

72, 132      40,231 Gaston

30,312      18,937 Lancaster

8,660      6,941. Chester

18,043.     6,983 Cherokee

I added more spaces if that helps

Edited November 11, 2020 by tarhoosier

[Bikeguy]

43 minutes ago, dnlleffingwell said:

Where does Trump stop and Biden begin?

 

 

At the Mecklenburg County line.  

https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/north-carolina/

Edited November 11, 2020 by Bikeguy

[JRNYP2C]

On 11/10/2020 at 10:19 AM, JorgiPorgi said:

My Favorite Ring City Downtowns: Shelby, Lincolnton and Salisbury.  SHelby, Concord and Salisbury have pretty expansive historic districts. It's not a ring city but if you have a chance to visit downtown Hendersonville, it's worth the drive from I-26. 

Shelby is a gem!  Hendersonville has a great Apple Festival in September!  Lincolnton is the only one I haven't been to yet.

[davidclt]

On 11/10/2020 at 2:40 PM, tarhoosier said:

To follow on with the theme of our overlooked counties in the region I present the near complete vote totals for president: 

Trump  numbers first, Biden last.

5,321.     5,788   Anson

36,167.     13,178  Lincoln

72, 132      40,231 Gaston

30,312      18,937 Lancaster

8,660      6,941. Chester

18,043.     6,983 Cherokee

I added more spaces if that helps

I did a little bit more. Not sure if it's indicative of anything useful or not:

	2020		2016		% Δ Trump 2016 to 2020 + number = Trump improvement
	Trump	Biden	Trump	Clinton
Anson	5,321	5,788	4,506	5,859	15.02%
Lincoln	36,167	13,178	28,806	9,897	-16.61%
Gaston	72,132	40,231	61,798	31,177	-18.92%
Union	79,778	48,199	66,707	34,337	-28.75%
Lancaster	30,312	18,937	23,719	13,812	-11.66%
Chester	8,660	6,941	7,265	6,579	14.34%
Cherokee	18,043	6,983	15,167	6,092	9.42%
York	82,727	59,008	66,754	41,593	-20.30%
Mecklenburg	178,921	377,501	155,518	294,562	-5.40%

[tozmervo]

6 hours ago, davidclt said:

I did a little bit more. Not sure if it's indicative of anything useful or not:

	2020		2016		% Δ Trump 2016 to 2020 + number = Trump improvement
	Trump	Biden	Trump	Clinton
Anson	5,321	5,788	4,506	5,859	15.02%
Lincoln	36,167	13,178	28,806	9,897	-16.61%
Gaston	72,132	40,231	61,798	31,177	-18.92%
Union	79,778	48,199	66,707	34,337	-28.75%
Lancaster	30,312	18,937	23,719	13,812	-11.66%
Chester	8,660	6,941	7,265	6,579	14.34%
Cherokee	18,043	6,983	15,167	6,092	9.42%
York	82,727	59,008	66,754	41,593	-20.30%
Mecklenburg	178,921	377,501	155,518	294,562	-5.40%

I don't have the numbers, but I think Cabarrus had one of the biggest swings away from Trump.

[davidclt]

53 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

I don't have the numbers, but I think Cabarrus had one of the biggest swings away from Trump.

You're right, Cabarrus wins (Iredell not looking too shabby either):

	2020		2016		% Δ for Trump 2016/2020 + number = Trump improvement
	Trump	Biden	Trump	Clinton
Anson	5,321	5,788	4,506	5,859	15.02%
Lincoln	36,167	13,178	28,806	9,897	-16.61%
Gaston	72,132	40,231	61,798	31,177	-18.92%
Union	79,778	48,199	66,707	34,337	-28.75%
Cabarrus	62,974	51,943	53,819	35,521	-30.28%
Iredell	66,439	33,426	54,754	24,734	-22.61%
Lancaster	30,312	18,937	23,719	13,812	-11.66%
Chester	8,660	6,941	7,265	6,579	14.34%
Cherokee	18,043	6,983	15,167	6,092	9.42%
York	82,727	59,008	66,754	41,593	-20.30%
Mecklenburg	178,921	377,501	155,518	294,562	-5.40%

[davidclt]

Because I was curious, here is the data for all NC sorted by most improved for Trump:

County	Trump	Biden	Trump	Clinton	% Δ for Trump 2016/2020 + number = Trump improvement
Robeson	26,012	18,094	20,762	19,016	34.58%
Montgomery	8,411	4,327	7,130	4,150	22.58%
Columbus	16,696	9,382	14,272	9,063	20.48%
Caswell	7,089	4,860	6,026	4,792	20.11%
Scotland	7,473	7,186	6,256	7,319	18.52%
Sampson	17,412	10,962	14,838	10,547	18.16%
Perquimans	4,894	2,485	4,177	2,319	16.82%
Anson	5,321	5,789	4,506	5,859	15.01%
Alexander	15,888	4,145	13,893	3,767	14.50%
Stokes	20,058	5,279	17,116	4,665	13.06%
Richmond	11,830	8,754	10,383	8,501	13.00%
Person	13,184	8,465	11,185	7,833	12.95%
Alleghany	4,527	1,486	3,814	1,306	12.61%
Gates	3,367	2,546	2,874	2,385	11.74%
Bladen	9,676	7,326	8,550	7,058	10.94%
Duplin	13,703	8,676	12,217	8,283	10.45%
Martin	6,532	5,911	5,897	5,846	9.63%
Wilkes	27,591	7,510	23,752	6,638	9.57%
Cleveland	33,798	16,955	28,479	14,964	9.02%
Granville	16,647	14,565	13,591	12,909	9.01%
Warren	3,752	6,400	3,214	6,413	8.51%
Vance	8,391	12,431	7,332	12,229	7.54%
Halifax	9,973	15,382	9,031	15,748	7.49%
Rockingham	30,997	15,811	26,830	14,228	7.48%
Northampton	3,989	6,069	3,582	6,144	7.43%
Edgecombe	9,206	16,089	8,261	16,224	6.30%
Ashe	11,451	4,164	9,412	3,500	6.09%
Greene	4,874	3,832	4,374	3,605	5.86%
Jones	3,280	2,197	2,974	2,065	5.28%
Wilson	19,581	20,754	17,531	19,663	5.19%
Bertie	3,778	5,846	3,456	5,778	4.81%
Pamlico	4,849	2,713	4,258	2,448	4.79%
Pasquotank	9,626	9,653	8,180	8,615	4.77%
Beaufort	16,437	9,633	14,543	8,764	4.69%
Washington	2,991	3,849	2,564	3,510	4.66%
Lee	16,469	12,143	13,712	10,469	4.65%
Franklin	20,904	15,882	16,368	12,874	4.48%
Hertford	3,479	7,097	3,099	6,910	4.17%
Yancey	7,516	3,688	6,385	3,196	4.02%
Chowan	4,471	3,247	4,014	2,992	3.54%
Stanly	25,462	8,133	21,964	7,094	3.46%
Burke	31,019	13,118	26,238	11,251	3.26%
Tyrrell	1,044	758	975	720	2.31%
Camden	4,312	1,537	3,546	1,274	2.21%
Hyde	1,418	1,046	1,288	965	2.09%
Orange	20,176	63,594	18,557	59,923	0.76%
Wayne	30,708	24,216	27,540	21,770	0.30%
Hoke	9,453	11,804	7,760	9,726	0.30%
Surry	27,538	8,721	23,671	7,488	-0.35%
Lenoir	14,590	13,605	13,613	12,634	-0.51%
Cumberland	60,032	84,469	51,265	71,605	-0.52%
Nash	25,827	25,947	23,319	23,235	-0.82%
Durham	32,470	144,754	28,350	121,250	-0.95%
Pender	21,956	11,723	17,639	9,354	-1.28%
Chatham	21,186	26,787	17,105	21,065	-2.11%
Caldwell	32,119	10,245	26,621	8,425	-2.47%
Pitt	38,982	47,252	35,691	41,824	-2.84%
Guilford	106,384	171,538	98,062	149,248	-3.69%
Forsyth	85,060	113,029	75,975	94,464	-5.17%
Mecklenburg	179,220	378,110	155,518	294,562	-5.40%
Harnett	35,177	22,093	27,614	16,737	-5.77%
Haywood	22,834	13,144	18,929	10,473	-7.02%
Wake	226,149	393,254	196,082	302,736	-7.26%
Rowan	49,297	23,114	42,810	19,400	-7.39%
Catawba	56,588	25,689	48,324	21,216	-7.49%
Buncombe	62,253	96,383	55,716	75,452	-9.25%
Jackson	11,356	9,591	9,870	7,713	-9.56%
Randolph	56,589	15,506	49,430	13,194	-9.69%
Moore	36,764	20,779	30,490	16,329	-9.79%
Madison	7,979	4,901	6,783	3,926	-9.97%
Craven	31,032	21,151	27,731	17,630	-10.58%
Polk	7,689	4,518	6,768	3,735	-11.02%
Alamance	46,056	38,825	38,815	29,833	-11.48%
Watauga	14,453	17,125	13,697	14,138	-12.48%
Swain	4,161	2,780	3,565	2,196	-12.66%
New Hanover	63,333	66,146	55,344	50,979	-12.82%
Mitchell	7,090	1,867	6,282	1,596	-13.86%
Davidson	64,658	22,636	54,317	18,109	-14.30%
Brunswick	55,373	32,984	42,720	23,282	-15.61%
Yadkin	15,933	3,763	13,880	3,160	-15.83%
Lincoln	36,341	13,274	28,806	9,897	-17.28%
Graham	3,710	905	3,283	768	-17.53%
Dare	13,938	9,936	11,460	7,222	-18.40%
Rutherford	24,891	9,134	21,871	7,512	-18.64%
Carteret	30,028	12,093	26,569	9,939	-19.01%
Gaston	73,033	40,959	61,798	31,177	-19.91%
Macon	14,211	6,230	12,127	4,876	-20.60%
Onslow	46,078	24,266	37,122	17,514	-22.07%
Transylvania	11,636	8,444	10,520	6,558	-22.61%
Mcdowell	16,882	5,832	14,568	4,667	-22.68%
Iredell	67,010	33,888	54,754	24,734	-23.63%
Clay	5,112	1,699	4,437	1,367	-23.70%
Davie	18,228	6,713	15,602	5,270	-24.52%
Johnston	68,354	41,261	54,372	28,362	-26.04%
Cherokee	12,628	3,583	10,844	2,860	-26.72%
Union	79,778	48,199	66,707	34,337	-28.75%
Cabarrus	63,244	52,167	53,819	35,521	-30.28%
Henderson	40,032	27,211	35,809	19,827	-33.49%
Currituck	11,657	4,195	9,163	2,913	-36.68%
Avery	7,172	2,191	6,298	1,689	-45.54%

[rancenc]

What I find most interesting with the numbers above, are the counties that have large African-American populations and the percentage of voters that actually WENT up for Trump.  Anson County is a glaring example; 52% black and the population has actually declined since the last election.  Robeson County, which is unique in the sense it has a large Native American population (about a 1/3) but a lot of Lumbee people I have met tend to be very conservative in their social and political outlook.

[videtur quam contuor]

Election story/joke. Feel free to tell this as your own with what changes you wish:

Small town where everyone knows all. Owner of barber shop always talks about how wonderful things will be when Democrats rule things. Every election when paper ballots are counted there is a single Democrat choice. Barber is a fine man, sponsors a Little League team, friend to all, and everyone in town. Each person has peccadillo and this, apparently, is his. Minor and benign, say his fellows. Sadly the barber dies. The funeral is a send-off to a valued member of the community. At the church after the ceremony memories are shared and much smiling recalling his lifelong support of Democrats and that single Democrat vote.

Next election officials overturn election box and sifting through they realize there is a single Democrat vote. Stunned silence. "You know what this means? We buried the wrong man!"