Editing Butner, North Carolina (section)

==History==
The area eventually comprising the town of Butner was originally land along the [[Trading Path|Occaneechi Path]], a Native American trade route. Following the arrival of European settlers, it became a rural community populated by farmers. In August 1941, the U.S. federal government beginning planning for the development of a military facility in the area, motivated partly by its proximity to a rail line. Following the United States' entry into [[World War II]] that December, planning hastened and in January 1942 the government ordered locals to vacate their land. The government ultimately evicted between 400 and 500 families and razed most of their homes and agricultural buildings to make way for a [[U.S. Army]] camp. Construction commenced in March and [[Camp Butner]] officially opened in August 1942.<ref name= woltz>{{cite news| last = Woltz| first = Rebecca| title = Because of Camp Butner| newspaper = Our State| date = October 29, 2024| url = https://www.ourstate.com/camp-butner/| access-date = January 25, 2025}}</ref> It was named for Major General [[Henry W. Butner]] (1875–1937), a North Carolina native.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/counties/Granville/granville/butner.html |title=History from NC Dept. of Public Instruction site |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202232024/http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/counties/Granville/granville/butner.html |archive-date=February 2, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/campbutner/ButnerHistory.htm |title=Camp Butner –On Duty for the Nation, 1942-1947 |access-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201235458/http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/campbutner/ButnerHistory.htm |archive-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Thousands of soldiers were trained at the camp for service overseas. By April 1946, activity at the facility had declined significantly and it was officially closed in January 1947.<ref name= woltz/>

Following the camp's closure, its land was divided up among the U.S. [[War Assets Administration]], the [[North Carolina National Guard]], the state of North Carolina, and the dispossessed farmers who had once lived in the area.<ref name= townhistory>{{cite web| url = https://www.butnernc.org/connect-butner/page/incorporation| title = Town History : Incorporation| website = Butner, North Carolina| publisher = Town if Butner| access-date = January 25, 2025}}</ref> The state converted its former infirmary into a psychiatry hospital. A civilian community subsequently developed around the hospital's new workforce. Some former camp facilities were retained by the residents for their own use such as its recreation center and churches, others were repurposed as homes, and some were demolished so their materials could be used in new construction.<ref name= woltz/> The state government assumed responsibility for governance in the town and provided police and firefighting services.<ref name= townhistory/> Overall authority rested with State Board of Mental Health while most mundane administrative decisions were executed by the hospital's business manager. In the early 1970s, control of the town passed to the [[North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services|North Carolina Department of Human Resources]].<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Covington| first = Howard| title = Butner City-State Limits| magazine = N.C. Insight| pages = 10–12| publisher = N.C. Center for Public Policy Research|date=1978|volume=1|issue=2|url = https://nccppr.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Butner_City_State_Limits.pdf}}</ref>

In 2003, a seven-member elective Butner Advisory Council was created to advise the North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services on governance of the town.<ref name= townhistory/><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wral.com/story/107472/| title = Butner Marks Historic Day With Close Council Race| date = November 4, 2003| website = WRAL-TV| publisher = Capitol Broadcasting Company| access-date = January 25, 2025}}</ref> Following legislation passed by the [[North Carolina General Assembly]], Butner became an incorporated community effective November 1, 2007 and the advisory council was turned into a town council.<ref>[http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2007&BillID=H986 NC General Assembly]</ref><ref name= townhistory/> The town assumed responsibility for local police and firefighting services from the state in 2013.<ref name= BPS>{{cite web| url = https://www.butnernc.org/public-safety| title = Butner Public Safety| website = Butner, North Carolina| publisher = Town if Butner| access-date = January 25, 2025}}</ref>