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Zebulon, North Carolina

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Zebulon (/ˈzɛbjulən/ ZEB-yoo-luhn)[5] is the easternmost town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,903 at the 2020 census.[6] Zebulon is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. In May 2022, Zebulon was ranked North Carolina's second fastest growing town, only behind neighboring Wendell.[7]

Zebulon, North Carolina
Town
Downtown Zebulon at the intersection of Arendell Avenue and Horton Street
Downtown Zebulon at the intersection of Arendell Avenue and Horton Street
Flag of Zebulon, North Carolina
Flag
Official seal of Zebulon, North Carolina
Seal
Motto: 
"The Town of Friendly People"
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in Wake County and the state of North Carolina.
Coordinates: 35°49′50″N 78°18′54″W / 35.83056°N 78.31500°W / 35.83056; -78.31500
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesWake, Johnston (partial), Nash (partial), Franklin (partial)
Incorporated1907
Named forZebulon Baird Vance[1]
Government
 • MayorGlenn York
Area
[2]
 • Total
6.12 sq mi (15.84 km2)
 • Land6.09 sq mi (15.77 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
[3]
322 ft (98 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,903
 • Density1,134.06/sq mi (437.85/km2)
DemonymZebulonian
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27597
Area code919
FIPS code37-76220[4]
GNIS feature ID2406928[3]
Websitehttp://www.townofzebulon.org/

History

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Five County Stadium in Zebulon

In 1906, the Raleigh and Pamlico Sound Railroad Company decided to bring the railroad through the Whitley and Horton family farms in eastern Wake County. Edgar B. Barbee and Falconer B. Arendell organized the Zebulon Company for development that same year. The company received its charter on February 15, 1906. Shortly thereafter, they began to divide up their 49 acres (20 ha) into lots, blocks, streets and avenues. On February 16, 1907, the town was officially recognized as Zebulon, North Carolina. The town was named after Zebulon Baird Vance, the Governor of North Carolina during the American Civil War. The first election was held in May 1907, and the first elected mayor was Thomas J. Horton.

In 1997 Zebulon annexed the neighboring community of Wakefield, increasing the total area inside the corporate limits to 2,115 acres (8.56 km2) and the population to 3,908. The population had grown to 6,903 by 2020.[6]

There are three properties in Zebulon listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Wakelon School, Bennett Bunn Plantation, and the George and Neva Barbee House.

Law and government

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Zebulon follows the council-manager government form of government, in which the elected governing body is responsible for legislative functions such as establishing policy, passing local ordinances, adopting annual budget, and developing an overall town vision. The council then appoints a professional town manager who is responsible for overseeing administrative operations, implementing policies, and advising the council.

Zebulon is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners and a mayor. Three members are elected in one year and the two remaining members and the mayor are elected two years later. The mayor, as the principal elected official of the town, provides leadership to the governing body and the community and presides over Board meetings.

As the legislative body of Zebulon, the Board's primary responsibilities include establishing town policies and adopting an annual budget. Local municipality budgets for each fiscal year must be adopted by June 30. The budget for the fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.[8]

Current Board members are Shannon Baxter, Quentin Miles, Beverly Wall Clark, Amber Davis, Jessica Harrison, and Mayor Glenn York. The town Manager is Joe Moore.[9][10]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km2), of which 4.1 square miles (10.7 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.57%, is water.[11]

Zebulon is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "Fall Line" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. Its central Piedmont location situates Zebulon about three hours by car west of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Zebulon is located on an elevated portion of land between the Little River and Moccasin Creek.[12]

Climate

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Zebulon has a cool subtropical climate or warm temperate climate, with moderate temperatures in the spring, and fall. Summers are typically hot with high humidity. Winter highs generally range in the low 50s°F (10 to 13 °C) with lows in the low-to-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), although an occasional 60 °F (15 °C) or warmer winter day is not uncommon. Spring and fall days usually reach the low-to-mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with lows at night in the lower 50s°F (10 to 14 °C). Summer daytime highs often reach the upper 80s to low 90s°F (29 to 35 °C). The rainiest months are July and August.[citation needed]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910482—
192095397.7%
1930860−9.8%
19401,07024.4%
19501,37828.8%
19601,53411.3%
19701,83919.9%
19802,05511.7%
19903,17354.4%
20004,04627.5%
20104,4339.6%
20206,90355.7%
2023 (est.)9,401[13]36.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2020 Census

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Similar to other towns in eastern Wake County, the town recorded a population growth of 13% in the 2020 United States census, making it the second fasting growing town in the state.[7] In August 2023, the town was reported to have reached 10,000 population, according to an estimate by the town's planning department.[15] The sudden growth was attributed to its relative affordability in living, incentives for new businesses, and an increased focus on development and expansion.[15][16]

Zebulon racial composition[17]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 2,554 37.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,741 39.71%
Native American 29 0.42%
Asian 78 1.13%
Other/Mixed 364 5.27%
Hispanic or Latino 1,137 16.47%

Economy

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The main building of Whitley Furniture Galleries in 2022

The town's largest employers include GlaxoSmithKline, US Foods, BB&T, Nomaco, Vinventions.[18] Until closing in 2022, Whitley Furniture Galleries located downtown was historically one of the largest employers in the town and had the largest furniture stock in the Research Triangle upon closing.[19]

In addition to these businesses, WakeMed operates the Zebulon/Wendell Outpatient and Skilled Nursing Facility, a satellite facility for the hospital's primary location in Raleigh.[20] In rural areas of the town, agriculture is still an important aspect of the local economy with products such as cotton, tobacco, wheat, corn and soybeans being grown.[citation needed]

Education

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The town is home to four public schools: including Corinth-Holders Elementary, Wakelon Elementary, Zebulon Elementary, Zebulon Middle. There is also one charter school, being East Wake Academy (K-12), and one private school, being Heritage Christian Academy.[21]

Higher education is provided by Wake Technical Community College [citation needed]

Parks and recreation

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The town has six public parks and a community center. The largest park, Zebulon Community Park, contains a number of trails and playing fields.[22] Other parks include:

  • Little River Dam and Park – natural park situated along the Little River with a dam and waterfall; picnic areas and hiking trails
  • Gill Street Park – basketball courts, playgrounds, and picnic areas
  • Wakelon Elementary School Park – two multipurpose fields, picnic shelter
  • Whitley Park – picnic areas, two playgrounds, tennis courts, benches and various shelters
  • Zebulon Elementary School Park – two baseball fields, picnic shelter, soccer field, playground, grass volleyball court

Transportation

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Passenger

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Roads

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  • US 64 and US 264 split in Zebulon. East of Zebulon they provide access to the Outer Banks, US 64 via Rocky Mount, and US 264 via Wilson. West of Zebulon the two roads remain merged as the Knightdale Bypass which connects eastern Wake County to Raleigh. There is also a Business US 64 which connects Zebulon, Wendell, and Knightdale and represents several former alignments of US 64. Interstate 540 also connects 64 Business, 264 Bypass, I-440 and I-40.
  • NC 96 is a primary north–south highway through the town. It connects Zebulon to Rolesville to the north and Selma to the south.
  • NC 39 is another north–south highway that connects Selma to Louisburg and Henderson. It passes to the east of Zebulon near Five County Stadium.
  • NC 97 is a former alignment of US 64. It parallels US 64 and connects several small unincorporated communities along its route.

Notable people

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  •  
    Zebulon town Hall
  •  
    Welcome to Downtown Zebulon Sign
  •  
    town of Zebulon Bench
  •  
    Historical: Norfolk & Southern Rail Station
  •  
    Historical: Downtown Tobacco auction Ad

References

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  1. ^ "History". Archived from the original on June 21, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Zebulon, North Carolina
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "NC Pronunciation Guide". WRAL. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Zebulon town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Stradling, Richard. "Wake County again has NC's fastest-growing towns, but maybe not the ones you think". newsobserver.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Town Government
  9. ^ Departments
  10. ^ Board of Commissioners
  11. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Zebulon town, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  12. ^ Zebulon North Carolina - The Town of Friendly People
  13. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Browne, Laura (August 17, 2023). "Zebulon population hits 10,000, Planning Department says". restorationnewsmedia.com. The Wake Weekly. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Perchick, Michael (July 5, 2023). "Zebulon works to enhance business community as population increases: Boomtown". WTVD. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  18. ^ "Economic Development". Town of Zebulon. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Dolder, Lars (January 26, 2022). "NC furniture store closing after over a century and 4 generations of family business". The News & Observer. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  20. ^ WakeMed Zebulon/Wendell Outpatient and Skilled Nursing Facility
  21. ^ "Search for Schools and Colleges | Zebulon". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "Parks & Facilities". Town of Zebulon. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  23. ^ E. C. Daniel in his Zebulon, North Carolina Drugstore. trumanlibrary.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  24. ^ [LContainers/Bombshell/Side-Solid&SkinSrc=[L]Skins/bombshell/base-skin Nick Driver > Bombshell Beer Company]. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  25. ^ (May 5, 2018). [Candidate Profile: Marty Gearheart, U.S House of Representatives, 3rd District]. The Register~Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  26. ^ Jim Pearce Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  27. ^ Former Pro Wrestler, Strongest Man Competitor Found Dead. WRAL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
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