Bessemer City, North Carolina
Location of Bessemer City, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°17′3″N 81°16′58″W / 35.28417, -81.28278
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Gaston
Area
- Total	4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²)
- Land	4.2 sq mi (11.0 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation	912 ft (278 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,119
- Density	1,205.6/sq mi (465.5/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	28016
Area code(s)	704
FIPS code	37-05220[1]
GNIS feature ID	0981053[2]

Bessemer City is a city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,119 at the 2000 census. Settled in 1756 and founded in 1893, the city's motto is City with a Heart.

History

American City named for Sir Henry Bessemer who created the Bessemer process for smelting iron. Bessemer City was founded on land purchased from the Ormand family, near the Sloan-Washington-Ormand Iron Furnace. Adam Meek was granted 350 acres (1.4 km²) from King George II in 1754. The land adjoined another 350-acre (1.4 km²) tract owned by James Ormand, ancestor of the Ormand family, also granted in 1754. The land changed hands several times until Thomas Espy sold the farmland to John Sloan in 1786. It is unknown if there was a furnace on the land, but it is mentioned in a deed after 1786 when it was called the Washington Furnace. Despite a local tale that cannon balls were made during the Revolution, there is no proof the furnace was built that early. John Fulenwider purchased the furnace and land from John Sloan, and in 1827, Benjamin Ormand, Sr. purchased the same from the Fulenwider estate. The furnace made iron implements for local use and was in operation until the mid 1800's when the Bessemer process made small furnace operations uneconomical. The "Old Furnace" is still owned by the Ormand Family Foundation. After iron mining became obsolete, Bessemer City joined the booming cotton mill industry until recent years when the textile industry left this country.

Geography

Bessemer City is located at 35°17′3″N, 81°16′58″W (35.284262, -81.282853)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), of which, 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.70%) is water. Elevation: 904 feet (276 m).

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,119 people, 2,009 households, and 1,436 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,205.6 people per square mile (465.0/km²). There were 2,149 housing units at an average density of 506.1/sq mi (195.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.49% White, 13.42% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 1.04% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.

Ancestries:

• United States, 21.4%
• German, 8.7%
• Irish, 7.8%
• English 5.6%
• Scots-Irish, 2.0%
• Dutch, 1.7%

For population 25 years and over in Bessemer City:

• High school or higher: 68.6%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.7%
• Graduate or professional degree: 2.4%
• Unemployed: 7.0%
• Mean travel time to work: 24.5 minutes

There were 2,009 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,826, and the median income for a family was $39,759. Males had a median income of $31,357 versus $23,133 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,971. About 8.8% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

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. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Official Bessemer City, NC website

• Bessemer City, North Carolina is at coordinates 35°17′03″N 81°16′58″W / 35.284262, -81.282853 (Bessemer City, North Carolina)Coordinates: 35°17′03″N 81°16′58″W / 35.284262, -81.282853 (Bessemer City, North Carolina)
• City Data for Bessemer City
• Current Weather in Bessemer City

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Charlotte Metropolitan Area Counties Anson • Cabarrus • Catawba • Chester • Cleveland • Gaston • Iredell • Lancaster • Lincoln • Mecklenburg • Rowan • Stanly • Union • York Major city Charlotte Cities and towns 20k-99k Concord • Gastonia • Huntersville • Kannapolis • Matthews • Monroe • Hickory • Mooresville • Rock Hill • Salisbury • Shelby • Statesville Cities and towns 5k-20k Albemarle • Belmont • Bessemer City • Chester • Cherryville • Cornelius • Davidson • Fort Mill • Indian Trail • Kings Mountain • Lancaster • Lincolnton • Mint Hill • Mount Holly • South Gastonia • Unionville • Wadesboro • Weddington • York Footnotes Bold = principal metro cities • Italic = places and counties part of CSA

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Gaston County, North Carolina County seat: Gastonia Cities Belmont | Bessemer City | Cherryville | Gastonia | Kings Mountain | Lowell | Mount Holly Towns Cramerton | Dallas | Dellview | High Shoals | McAdenville | Ranlo | Spencer Mountain | Stanley CDP South Gastonia Unincorporated community Carolina