Lake Lure, North Carolina
Location of Lake Lure, North Carolina.
Coordinates: 35°26′41″N 82°11′28″W / 35.44472, -82.19111
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Rutherford
Area
- Total	14.8 sq mi (38.3 km²)
- Land	13.6 sq mi (35.2 km²)
- Water	1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²)
Elevation	1,125 ft (343 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,027
- Density	75.6/sq mi (29.2/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	28746
Area code(s)	828
FIPS code	37-36500[1]
GNIS feature ID	1021079[2]

Lake Lure is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,027. Lake Lure was incorporated in 1927, and acquired the lake after which it is named in 1965.

Lake Lure
Location	Rutherford County, North Carolina
Coordinates	35°25′55″N, 82°11′50″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary sources	Rocky Broad River
Primary outflows	Rocky Broad River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	717 acres (2.9 km²)
Surface elevation	911 ft (278 m)

History

In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse and his brothers Hiram and Asahel purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) around Chimney Rock (within present-day Chimney Rock Park) for $5,000. They later acquired enough land in the area to bring the total to 8000 acres (32 km²). Lucius Morse's wife Elizabeth is credited with naming the lake (and the town). ^[3]

In 1925, Morse family created Carolina Mountain Power Company and funded the construction of a dam on the Broad River (through a mortgage) which produced the lake after which the town is named. The full impoundment of Lake Lure was completed in 1927. At ordinary water levels, Lake Lure covers approximately 720 acres and has a shoreline of approximately 27 miles. The dam's power plant began operations in 1928 with the sale of electricity under a 10-year contract to Blue Ridge Power Co., a local predecessor of Duke Power.

The plans for development came to a halt in 1929 with the advent of the Great Depression. A mortgage-holder, Stroud & Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, foreclosed on the lake and the dam. Stroud owned them and the power the dam generated until 1965. In 1963 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the legislation that authorized the Town of Lake Lure to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of acquiring the assets from Stroud. The dam, power company, and real estate of Lake Lure were acquired by the Town of Lake Lure in 1965. ^[4]

In modern times, the town continues to sell electricity to Duke Energy, although profits from the dam now come second to maintaining a fixed water level year-round for the residents of the Lake Lure area.

The Lake Lure area is commonly used as a filming location for major motion pictures. Films include My Fellow Americans a 1996 comedy-drama starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner, and Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze which was filmed here (the dance scenes at the Lodge) and in Virginia. It is also a common recreational area for residents and those within 100 miles of the Lake from four states to come visit, picnic, water ski, boating and fishing or spend the summer.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,027 people, 495 households, and 359 families residing in the town. The population density was 75.6 people per square mile (29.2/km²). There were 1,957 housing units at an average density of 144.1/sq mi (55.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.27% White, 1.46% African American, 0.29% Asian, 0.19% Native American, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.

There were 495 households out of which 10.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the town the population was spread out with 10.4% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 14.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 36.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,417, and the median income for a family was $45,833. Males had a median income of $39,464 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,459. About 4.9% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Lake Lure is located at 35°26′41″N, 82°11′28″W (35.444668, -82.191243)^[5]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.8 square miles (38.3 km²), of which, 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (8.11%) is water.

Panorama of Lake Lure

Popular Culture

Lake Lure was a filming location for scenes from the movies "Thunder Road", Dirty Dancing, A Breed Apart, Forrest Gump,The Last of the Mohicans,The Passion of the Christ and Firestarter. It was also the site for HGTV Dream Home 2006.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ History of Lake Lure
4. ^ History of Lake Lure
5. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

• Town's official website
• Titles with locations including Lake Lure, North Carolina, USA. IMDB. Accessed January 12, 2007.

External links

• Lake Lure, North Carolina is at coordinates 35°26′41″N 82°11′29″W / 35.444668, -82.191243 (Lake Lure, North Carolina)Coordinates: 35°26′41″N 82°11′29″W / 35.444668, -82.191243 (Lake Lure, North Carolina)
• USGS GNIS: Lake Lure (reservoir)
• USGS GNIS: Lake Lure (populated place)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Rutherford County, North Carolina County seat: Rutherfordton Towns Bostic | Ellenboro | Forest City | Lake Lure | Ruth | Rutherfordton | Spindale Village Chimney Rock