“Wilkes County, North Carolina”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The county was formed in 1777 from parts of Surry County and Washington District (now Washington County, Tennessee). The first session of the county court was held in John Brown's house near what is today Brown's Ford. The act creating the county became effective on February 15, 1778, and the county celebrates its anniversary as February 15. Wilkes County was named for the English political radical John Wilkes, who lost his position as Lord Mayor of the City of London due to his support for the colonists during the American Revolution.

In 1799 the northern and western parts of Wilkes County became Ashe County. In 1841 parts of Wilkes County and Burke County were combined to form Caldwell County. In 1847 another part of Wilkes County was combined with parts of Caldwell County and Iredell County to become Alexander County. In 1849 additional parts of Wilkes County and Caldwell County were combined with parts of Ashe County and Yancey County to form Watauga County. Numerous boundary adjustments were made thereafter, but none resulted in new counties.

Moonshine and the birth of NASCAR

Wilkes County was once known as the "Moonshine Capital of the World", and was a leading producer of illegal homemade liquor. From the 1920s to the 1950s some young Wilkes County males made their living by delivering moonshine to North Carolina's larger towns and cities. Wilkes County natives also used bootleg liquor as a means for barter far beyond the borders of North Carolina. Many Wilkes County distillers ran white liquor as far as Detroit, New Jersey and South Florida. Since this often involved outrunning local police and federal agents in auto chases, the county became one of the birthplaces of the sport of stock-car racing.

The North Wilkesboro Speedway was the first NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) track; it held its first race on May 18, 1947^[5] and the first NASCAR-sanctioned race on October 16, 1949.^[6] Wilkes County native and resident Junior Johnson was one of the early superstars of NASCAR, as well as a legendary moonshiner. Johnson was featured by the writer Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire magazine titled "The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Yes!", which gave him national exposure. Wolfe's vivid article was later adapted as the movie The Last American Hero (1973), starring Jeff Bridges and Valerie Perrine. Benny Parsons and Jimmy Pardue were two other notable NASCAR drivers from Wilkes.

The North Wilkesboro Speedway was closed following the 1996 NASCAR season. Two new owners, Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith, moved North Wilkesboro's NASCAR races to their tracks in Texas and New Hampshire. In 2009, Speedway Associates, Inc., obtained a three-year lease and started running races and other events at the speedway. However, in May 2011, the group announced that funding had fallen through and they were ending their lease prematurely.^[7] The track has been closed since 2011, although several unsuccessful efforts have been made to re-open it.^[8]

In recent years, the physical decline of the speedway, combined with its historical legacy as a birthplace of NASCAR, has led to numerous news media stories and articles being written about the rich history of the speedway, the current decay of the track and grandstands, and efforts to renovate and save the speedway.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]

Geography and climate

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|757|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|754|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.6|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.^[13]

Wilkes County is located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the Appalachian Mountains chain. The county's elevation ranges from 900 feet (375 meters) in the east to over 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) in the west. The Blue Ridge Mountains run from the southwest to the northeast, and dominate the county's western and northern horizons. Thompkins Knob, the highest point in the county, rises to 4,079 feet (1243 meters).^[14] The Blue Ridge Parkway runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge on the county's northern and western borders. The foothills and valleys of the Blue Ridge form most of the county's midsection, with some elevations exceeding 2,000 feet (610 meters). Stone Mountain State Park, located in the foothills of northern Wilkes County, is one of the most popular state parks in North Carolina, and is noted for its excellent rock climbing and trout fishing. The Brushy Mountains, an isolated spur of the Blue Ridge, form the county's southern border. Wilkes County's terrain gradually becomes more level and less hilly as one moves to the east; the far eastern section of the county lies within the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The largest river in Wilkes is the Yadkin River, which flows through the central part of the county. The county's three other major streams, all of which flow into the Yadkin, are the Reddies River, Roaring River, and Mulberry Creek. Following the devastating floods of 1916 and 1940, the US Army's Corps of Engineers constructed the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir on the Yadkin River four miles west of Wilkesboro. Opened in 1962, the dam created a lake with a shoreline of 56 miles. The lake is used for boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing; it is especially noted for its excellent bass fishing. The W. Kerr Scott lake is the largest body of water in Wilkes.

Due to its wide range of elevation, Wilkes County's climate varies considerably. In the winter, it is not unusual for it to be sunny with the temperature in the forties in the county's eastern section, while at the same time it is snowing or sleeting with the temperature below freezing in the county's mountainous north, west, and south. Generally speaking, Wilkes receives ample amounts of precipitation, with frequent thunderstorms in the spring and summer months; and rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain all occur at times during the winter, with the frequency increasing with the altitude. Severe weather is not common in Wilkes but does occur. Tornadoes are rare, but severe thunderstorms can bring strong winds which can down trees and power lines, as well as cause hail. On October 23, 2017, a rare EF 1 tornado touched down in the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro, and then moved through the Mulberry, Fairplains, and Hays communities, causing significant damage.^[15] Wilkes County is far enough inland that hurricanes rarely cause problems, but a strong hurricane which moves inland quickly enough may cause damage, as with Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Due to the numerous creeks and streams which run through its valleys, Wilkes is especially prone to devastating flash floods. The two most memorable floods occurred in 1916 and 1940, killing a number of residents and causing millions of dollars in damages. Since the opening of the W. Kerr Scott Dam in 1962, the Yadkin River has not flooded in the county. Although Wilkes County has never had a severe earthquake, a fault runs through the Brushy Mountains, and mild earth tremors are not uncommon. On August 31, 1861 an earthquake estimated at 5.0 on the Richter magnitude scale hit the southern part of the county and caused minor damage.^[16]

National protected area

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census of 2010,^[22] there were 69,340 people, 28,360 households, and 19,683 families residing in the county. The population density was 91.91 people per square mile (35.49/km²). There were 33,065 housing units at an average density of 43.84 per square mile (16.93/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.60% White or European American, 4.08% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.33% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Of all races, 5.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 28,360 households out of which 26.76% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.03% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. Of all households, 26.69% were made up of individuals and 11.59% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population breakdown by age is: 22.41% under the age of 18, 7.16% from 18 to 24, 23.96% from 25 to 44, 29.49% from 45 to 64, and 16.99% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females there were 97.69 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.42 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,668, and the median income for a family was $39,670. Males had a median income of $30,917 versus $26,182 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,319. About 17.60% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.60% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Since colonial times Wilkes County has been overwhelmingly Protestant Christian. The two earliest churches to be established in Wilkes were the Episcopalian and Presbyterian. However, by the 1850s the Southern Baptists had eclipsed them, and the Baptists have remained the dominant church in Wilkes.^[23] The county also contains a significant number of Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and non-denominational Evangelical Protestant congregations.^[23] Historically, few Roman Catholics lived in Wilkes, but recent immigration from other U.S. States and especially by people of Hispanic descent has increased their numbers.^[24] In contrast, relatively few Jews or members of other non-Christian faiths have settled in the county.^[24]

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics and government

Since the American Civil War, Wilkes County has been heavily Republican, owing to its strong Unionist sentiment during that war,^[25] which resulted from its rocky and infertile soil unsuited to plantation farming.^[26] The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Wilkes County was Andrew Jackson in 1832. The Whig Party dominated politics in the county from 1836 until its dissolution in the middle 1850s. Since the formation of the Republican Party in 1854, Wilkes County has voted Republican in every election bar three: in 1856 it voted for "Know-Nothing" Millard Fillmore, in 1860 for Constitutional Unionist John Bell, and in 1912 for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt.

The primary governing body of Wilkes County follows a council–manager government format with a five-member Board of Commissioners and the County Manager. The current County Manager is John Yates.^[28] The current Commissioners are: Keith Elmore (Chairman), Gary D. Blevins (Vice-Chairman), David Gambill, Gary L. Blevins, and Eddie Settle.^[29]

Wilkes County is a member of the regional High Country Council of Governments.^[30]

In the North Carolina General Assembly, Wilkes is represented by Shirley B. Randleman (district 30) in the Senate, and by Jeffery Elmore (district 94) in the House.^[31]

In the US Senate, the county is represented by Richard Burr and Thom Tillis. Wilkes is entirely in the Fifth District of the US House,^[32] represented by Virginia Foxx.^[33]

Wilkes County's economic struggles since 2000, and the county's strong support for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and after, has led to Wilkes being prominently featured in numerous stories and articles by national news media outlets such as The New York Times, NBC News, PBS NewsHour, U.S. News & World Report, and MSNBC.^[34]^[35]^[36]^[37]^[38]

Hospitals

Wilkes Medical Center was opened in 1952 as Wilkes General Hospital.^[39] In 2017, Wake Forest Baptist Health brought the hospital, at the time known as Wilkes Regional Medical Center, into their system. WMC is the largest hospital in northwestern North Carolina^[40] and is Wilkes County's fourth largest employer.^[41] West Park, formerly a large shopping center built in the 1970s, was, starting in 2000, transformed into a large medical park with numerous offices for physicians, medical specialists, pharmacies, physical therapists, and other medical and health-related fields.

Economy

Despite its rural character and relatively small population, Wilkes County has been the birthplace of numerous large industries. Lowe's, the second-largest chain of home-improvement stores in the nation (after The Home Depot) was started in Wilkes County in 1946. Until 2003, Lowe's had its corporate headquarters in Wilkes County, but the company has since relocated most of its corporate functions to Mooresville, North Carolina, a fast-growing suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina. However, Lowe's large office in Wilkesboro still houses many corporate departments, and Lowe's remains the county's second-largest employer.^[42] A telecommunications firm, Carolina West Wireless, was started in Wilkesboro in 1991 and is also headquartered in the county.

Other industries which started in Wilkes County are Lowes Foods (now headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) and The Northwestern Bank, which was once North Carolina's fourth-largest banking chain until it was merged with First Union Bank in 1986. The Carolina Mirror Company in North Wilkesboro, founded in the 1930s, was for many years the largest mirror factory in America. Today Gardner Glass Products Inc. still produces mirrors in North Wilkesboro. Holly Farms, in Wilkesboro, was the largest poultry producer in the Southeastern United States until it was bought by Tyson Foods in 1989. Wilkes County remains one of the largest producers of poultry in the Eastern United States, and many of the county's farmers are poultry farmers for Tyson Foods. Tyson is the largest employer in Wilkes.^[42]

Like many rural areas in North Carolina, Wilkes County has suffered since 1990 from the closing of nearly all of its textile and furniture factories, which formed a major part of its economic base. Most of these factories have moved to low-wage locations in Latin America and Asia, especially China and Vietnam. According to Stateline, the number of Wilkes County residents employed in manufacturing dropped from 8,548 in 2000 to around 4,000 as of 2015, a reduction of over 53%.^[43] From 2000 to 2014, the median household income in Wilkes declined by over 30%.^[43] However, from 2014 to 2017 the median household income increased by nearly 22%, and in 2017 Wilkes was ranked 47th out of 100 counties for "economic distress" by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.^[44]

Wine region[

Wilkes County is part of the Yadkin Valley AVA, an American Viticultural Area. Wines made from grapes grown in Wilkes County may use the appellation Yadkin Valley on their labels. With the decline of tobacco farming, some Wilkes County farmers have switched to wine-making, and have hired experts from Europe and California for assistance. As a result, wine-making is growing in popularity in both Wilkes and surrounding counties.

In May of each year, Wilkes county celebrates the new wine industry with the Shine to Wine Festival, held in downtown North Wilkesboro.

Transportation

Wilkes County is home to several NC and US Highways, as well as an airport and public transportation. Wilkes is also one of the twenty-seven counties which the Blue Ridge Parkway runs through.

Aviation

Major highways

Public Transportation

Wilkes Transportation Authority serves Wilkes County with buses and vans along a scheduled route and rural service.

Education

The Wilkes County Schools system has 22 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade, including an early college high school. Those 22 schools are separated into 5 high schools, 4 middle schools and 13 elementary schools.^[45] There is only one charter school in Wilkes County: Bridges Charter School in State Road, North Carolina.^[46] The Elkin City Schools district also covers parts of Wilkes. Wilkes County has three private schools, all three are associated with one of the larger Protestant Christian churches in the county.^[47] The largest private school in Wilkes is Millers Creek Christian School.^[48] In recent years, the number of students being home schooled in Wilkes has steadily increased, while public school enrollment has decreased.^[47] The only college in Wilkes is Wilkes Community College (WCC), a public two-year college within the North Carolina Community College System.

Events and festivals

It hosts the annual Shine to Wine Festival, in downtown North Wilkesboro. Held on the first Saturday of May, the Shine to Wine festival pays tribute to the county's heritage of growing from the Moonshine Capital of the World to what is now recognized as a strong viticultural industry.

Wilkes County is also home to the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, which is held in downtown North Wilkesboro the first weekend in October. The festival, which attracts over 160,000 visitors each year, is one of the largest single-day arts and crafts fairs in the Southern United States.

Carolina in the Fall is another music festival each September in the Historic Downtown Wilkesboro and is hosted by the Heart of Folk and the Kruger Brothers. The festival and venue won an award at the IBMA and features music, wine and beer garden and food truck competition. It continues to grow in popularity.

The Carolina West Wireless Community Commons and Wilkes Communications Pavilion has "Concerts on the Commons," a live music concert series held from May through October annually. {{main|MerleFest}}

In 1988 legendary, Grammy-winning folk music guitarist Doc Watson and Bill Young started the Doc Watson Festival (later renamed the MerleFest music festival) in Wilkesboro. Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, and named in honor of Doc's late son Merle Watson, MerleFest has grown into one of the largest folk and bluegrass music festivals in the United States, drawing an average of over 75,000 music fans each year.^[50] The festival has become the main fundraiser for the college, and brings over $10 million in estimated business and tourist revenues to Wilkes County and surrounding areas each year.^[51]

Media

Wilkes County is also home to GoWilkes.com, an internet media source that allows residents to discuss current events and local happenings in real time. GoWilkes.com was voted the 2004 Small Business of the Year by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}

Notable people

Tom Dooley

As noted above, another well-known Wilkes native was Tom Dula (Dooley), a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who was tried and hanged shortly after the war for the murder of his fiancée, Laura Foster. To this day many people believe that one of Dula's jealous ex-girlfriends murdered Laura Foster, that Dula was innocent of the crime, and that he accepted blame only to protect his former lover.^[52]

The case was given nationwide publicity by newspapers such as The New York Times and the New York Herald, and thus became a folk legend in the rural South. Dula's legend was popularized in 1958 by the top-selling Kingston Trio song "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley." Dula's story was also turned into a 1959 movie starring Michael Landon as Dula, and each summer Bleu Moon Productions presents an outdoor drama based on the story.

See also

References

1. ^¹{{cite web|last1=Fausset|first1=Richard|title=Feeling Let Down and Left Behind, With Little Hope for Better|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/feeling-let-down-and-left-behind-with-little-hope-for-better.html|website=nytimes.com|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=25 May 2016|language=English|date=25 May 2016}}
2. ^¹{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37193.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}
4. ^{{cite web|title=North Wilkesboro, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area|url=https://www.census.gov/econ/census07/pdf/maps/nc/metro/31000us35900m.pdf|work=Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Maps|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=October 23, 2011|format=PDF}}
5. ^First Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway
6. ^October 16, 1949 – Wilkes 200
7. ^{{cite news|last=Long|first=Dustin|title=North Wilkesboro closing again|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/north-wilkesboro-closing-again|accessdate=December 15, 2011|newspaper=HamptonRoads.com|date=May 9, 2011}}
8. ^(https://www.journalnow.com/news/columnists/scott_sexton/north-wilkesboro-speedway-eroding-with-passage-of-time/article_d70344fa-2dbf-5fca-8938-d98bfce3ce03.html)
9. ^(https://www.journalnow.com/news/columnists/scott_sexton/north-wilkesboro-speedway-eroding-with-passage-of-time/article_d70344fa-2dbf-5fca-8938-d98bfce3ce03.html)
10. ^(https://www.forbes.com/sites/davecaldwell/2018/04/05/why-a-beloved-nascar-racetrack-might-not-provide-a-sentimental-journey/#6a683ee553f1)
11. ^(http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nascar/news/north-wilkesboro-speedway-cars-3-nascar-track-disney-pixar/17q9v7w7lwp3p1uqr53bsypnsa)
12. ^(https://www.sbnation.com/longform/2015/3/4/8126311/north-wilkesboro-speedway-after-nascar)
13. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_37.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 20, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112071425/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_37.txt|archivedate=January 12, 2015|df=mdy-all}}
14. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes County|url=http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/county/wilkes_county.html|publisher=North Carolina Geological Survey|accessdate=September 8, 2012}}
15. ^(http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/nws-confirms-that-tornado-hit-parts-of-wilkes-monday-evening/article_7a7e9a32-b938-11e7-a5a1-7301c64da0e3.html)
16. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.wncvitalityindex.org/geology/faults-and-earthquakes|title=Faults and Earthquakes {{!}} Western North Carolina Vitality Index|website=www.wncvitalityindex.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}
17. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|accessdate=June 9, 2017}}
18. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}
19. ^{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}
20. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}
21. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|accessdate=January 20, 2015}}
22. ^{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=American FactFinder}}
23. ^¹{{Cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/37/rcms2010_37193_county_name_2010.asp|title=The Association of Religion Data Archives {{!}} Maps & Reports|website=www.thearda.com|access-date=2018-03-17}}
24. ^¹{{Cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/37/rcms2010_37193_county_name_1980_ON.asp|title=The Association of Religion Data Archives {{!}} Maps & Reports|website=www.thearda.com|access-date=2018-03-17}}
25. ^Nash, Steven E.; Reconstruction's Ragged Edge: The Politics of Postwar Life in the Southern Mountains pp. 22, 64 {{ISBN|146962625X}}
26. ^Auman, William T.; Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt: The Confederate Campaign Against Peace Agitators, Deserters and Draft Dodgers, p. 30 {{ISBN|078647663X}}
27. ^{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=2018-03-17}}
28. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes County Administration|url=http://www.wilkescounty.net/administration.php?nid=1|work=WilkesCounty.net|publisher=Wilkes County|accessdate=October 27, 2011}}
29. ^{{cite web|title=Board of Commissioners|url=http://www.wilkescounty.net/governing_body.php|work=WilkesCounty.net|publisher=Wilkes County|accessdate=October 27, 2011}}
30. ^{{cite web|title=Membership|url=http://www.regiond.org/membership.html|work=RegionD.org|publisher=High Country Council of Governments|accessdate=October 27, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927095920/http://www.regiond.org/membership.html|archivedate=September 27, 2011|df=mdy-all}}
31. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes County Representation|url=http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/counties/counties.pl?County=Wilkes|work=NCGA website|publisher=North Carolina General Assembly|accessdate=October 27, 2011}}
32. ^{{cite web|title=Rucho-Lewis Congress 3 (adopted redistricting plan)|url=http://www.ncleg.net/gis/randr07/District_Plans/PlanPage_DB_2011.asp?Plan=Rucho-Lewis_Congress_3&Body=Congress|work=NCGA website|publisher=NC General Assembly|accessdate=October 27, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102063230/http://www.ncleg.net/gis/randr07/District_Plans/PlanPage_DB_2011.asp?Plan=Rucho-Lewis_Congress_3&Body=Congress|archivedate=November 2, 2011|df=mdy-all}}
33. ^{{cite web|title=Directory of Representatives|url=http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_nc|work=US House website|publisher=United States House of Representatives|accessdate=October 27, 2011}}
34. ^[https://web.archive.org/web/20160525100031/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/feeling-let-down-and-left-behind-with-little-hope-for-better.html]
35. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/two-counties-defining-battle-lines-gop-s-civil-war-n812516|title=Two counties, two factions on the front lines of the GOP civil war|work=NBC News|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US}}
36. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-11-10/a-lesson-from-donald-trumps-america|title=Working-class voters listened to Trump because Clinton and the Democratic Party didn't speak to them|last=Cooper Jr|first=Michael|date=November 10, 2016|work=US News & World Report|access-date=2018-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111005829/http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-11-10/a-lesson-from-donald-trumps-america|archive-date=2016-11-11|dead-url=yes}}
37. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/rural-north-carolina-voters-say-struggles-ignored|title=What people living in poverty want the presidential candidates to know|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-18}}
38. ^{{Cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/north-carolina-town-weighs-its-2016-options-784187459630|title=North Carolina town weighs its 2016 options|work=NBC News|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US}}
39. ^{{cite news|last=Hayes|first=Francis|title=New WRMC areas open soon|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/article_0b3bd498-9484-11e1-8536-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=May 7, 2012|newspaper=Wilkes Journal-Patriot|date=May 2, 2012}}
40. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes Regional Medical Center|url=http://www.north-wilkesboro.com/WRMC/|publisher=Town of North Wilkesboro|accessdate=May 7, 2012}}
41. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes County's Largest Employers|url=http://www.wilkesedc.com/about/largest-employers/|publisher=Wilkes Economic Development Corporation|accessdate=May 7, 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231239/http://www.wilkesedc.com/about/largest-employers/|archivedate=September 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}}
42. ^¹{{Cite web|url=http://www.wilkesedc.com/business-data/largest-employers/|title=Largest Employers {{!}} Wilkes Economic Development Corporation|website=www.wilkesedc.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-18}}
43. ^¹{{Cite web|url=http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2016/01/22/fewer-manufacturing-jobs-housing-bust-haunt-many-us-counties|title=Fewer Manufacturing Jobs, Housing Bust Haunt Many U.S. Counties|website=www.pewtrusts.org|access-date=2018-03-18}}
44. ^{{Cite news|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/median-income-up/article_933707c4-e4c3-11e7-9cf5-87ac58320dea.html|title=State's tier report shows improvements in Wilkes: Median income up|last=Hubbard|first=Jule|date=December 19, 2017|work=journalpatriot|access-date=2018-03-18}}
45. ^{{cite web|title=Our Schools|url=http://www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/schools.html|publisher=Wilkes County Schools|accessdate=April 28, 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429072600/http://www.wilkes.k12.nc.us/schools.html|archivedate=April 29, 2012|df=mdy-all}}
46. ^{{cite web|title=Wilkes County|url=http://www.ncpublicschools.org/charterschools/schools/counties/county?countyName=Wilkes|work=Office of Charter Schools website|publisher=North Carolina Department of Public Instruction|accessdate=April 28, 2012}}
47. ^¹{{Cite news|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/home-schooling-grows-as-public-schools-see-decrease/article_cbfd6090-7640-11e7-ae39-93d24756c130.html|title=Home schooling grows as public schools see decrease|last=Hubbard|first=Jule|date=August 1, 2017|work=journalpatriot|access-date=2018-03-18}}
48. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.privateschoolreview.com/north-carolina/wilkes-county|title=Wilkes County, NC Private Schools {{!}} PrivateSchoolReview.com|website=www.privateschoolreview.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-18}}
49. ^{{cite web | url=http://www.arlibrary.org | title=Homepage | publisher=Appalachian Regional Library | accessdate=August 10, 2014}}
50. ^{{Cite news|url=http://www.journalnow.com/relishnow/merlefest/merlefest-sees-bump-in-attendance/article_3aef09b0-ed2f-11e4-8366-db4c85d53b34.html|title=MerleFest sees bump in attendance|last=Journal|first=Lynn Felder/Winston-Salem|work=Winston-Salem Journal|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en}}
51. ^{{Cite news|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/edc-hears-statistics-on-merlefest/article_ad6b910a-a28f-11e5-84fb-a78e02ab632a.html|title=EDC hears statistics on MerleFest|work=journalpatriot|access-date=2018-03-18}}
52. ^¹²{{cite web| url=http://criminalbrief.com/?p=11062| title=Who Killed Laura Foster? |last=Lundin|first=Leigh| date=February 21, 2010| work=Tom Dula| publisher=Criminal Brief}}

History