Editing Goldston, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Goldston, North Carolina
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Goldston.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Commercial buildings along North Main Street
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = NCMap-doton-Goldston.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Goldston, North Carolina
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Chatham County, North Carolina|Chatham]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 2.16
|area_land_km2            = 2.15
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.83
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.83
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 234
|population_density_km2   = 109.03
|population_density_sq_mi = 282.27

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 417
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|35|32|N|79|19|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 27252
|area_code                = [[Area code 919|919]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 37-26920<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2406585<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406585}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.goldstonnc.com}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Goldston''' is a town in [[Chatham County, North Carolina|Chatham County]], [[North Carolina]], United States, south of [[Pittsboro, North Carolina|Pittsboro]]. The population was 268 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3726920| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212193426/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3726920| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Goldston town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=December 29, 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
Goldston is located in southern Chatham County. [[U.S. Route 421]], a four-lane [[controlled-access highway|expressway]], passes northeast of the town, with access from Exit 159. US 421 leads southeast {{convert|12|mi}} to [[Sanford, North Carolina|Sanford]] and northwest {{convert|44|mi}} to [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]]. Via rural roads it is {{convert|13|mi}} northeast from Goldston to [[Pittsboro, North Carolina|Pittsboro]], the Chatham [[County seat]].

Soils at Goldston are dominantly yellowish brown, moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained silt loams of the [[Cid (soil)|Cid]] or [[Lignum (soil)|Lignum]] soil series. Brown to yellowish red, well drained silt loam of the [[Nanford (soil)|Nanford]] series is also common.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Goldston has a total area of {{convert|2.1|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.01|sqkm|disp=flip|3}}, or 0.64%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Historic features==
The [[Goldston Commercial Historic District]] is registered on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The town is also home to several historic homes: the [[Paschal-Womble House]] and [[William Alston Rives House]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> The town is named for its founders, the Goldston family.

==Business and industry==
The town has always been predominantly rural, and most of the business and industry over the years has been centered around the area's agricultural heritage, mainly the [[poultry]] industry. The town's location near the railroad line has helped to keep industry going in the area, although in recent years the town has seen a decline in industry. The town has a [[Dollar General]] variety store as well as two restaurants, Lizzie's and Rufus's.

==Railroad==
Goldston is located on a spur of the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] that runs between [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] and [[Sanford, North Carolina|Sanford]]. The railroad was historically important to the growth of the town. The rail line was once part of the now defunct [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]], and prior to that the Atlantic & Yadkin Railway.<ref>[http://southern-railway.railfan.net/ay/explore.htm Atlantic & Yadkin Railway]</ref> Until a few years ago many older Southern-marked freight gondolas could be found parked on a side track downtown and at the nearby old Pomona Clay pit.

Most of the rail traffic that comes through town is local freight between Sanford and Greensboro or freight going to the [[Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway]], which connects {{convert|4|mi|0}} to the southeast of Goldston in the village of [[Gulf, North Carolina|Gulf]]. Most of this freight is composed of grain hopper cars going to local poultry feed mills. Norfolk Southern Right of Way Maintenance equipment and cars are also frequently parked on the side trackage in Goldston.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 240
|1920= 289
|1930= 312
|1940= 416
|1950= 372
|1960= 374
|1970= 364
|1980= 353
|1990= 299
|2000= 319
|2010= 268
|2020= 234
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 268 people, 144 households, and 121 occupied houses in the town. As of the [[census]] of 2000, the population density was {{convert|403.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 142 housing units at an average density of {{convert|179.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 90.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.63% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.57% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.45% of the population.

There were 128 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.

As of the [[census]] of 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $22,188 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,485. About 8.9% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Miscellaneous==
* Although technically a town by incorporation standards, the town has no official town-employed police force. All law enforcement is handled by the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, which operates a substation in the town.
* Country singer [[Charlie Daniels]] lived near Goldston as a child, and graduated from the now demolished Goldston High School in 1955.<ref>{{cite web| last=Doran| first=Will| title=Charlie Daniels coming home for Down South Music Festival| url=http://www.sanfordherald.com/news/chathamcounty/x177809502/Charlie-Daniels-coming-home-for-Down-South-Music-Festival| work=Sanford Herald}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.goldstonnc.com Town of Goldston unofficial website]
* [http://www.chathamcountyevents.com Community Website for all events, parks, and businesses in Chatham County]

{{Chatham County, North Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Chatham County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]