Editing Siler City, North Carolina

{{Distinguish|Silver City, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Siler City, North Carolina
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "Balanced for Progress"

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = North Chatham Ave.jpg
| image_caption            = North Chatham Avenue, [[Siler City Commercial Historic District|downtown]]
| image_seal               = Siler City, NC Town Seal.jpg
| image_map                = NCMap-doton-SilerCity.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Siler City, 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           = 15.72
| area_land_km2            = 15.66
| area_water_km2           = 0.05
| area_total_sq_mi         = 6.07
| area_land_sq_mi          = 6.05
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 7702
| population_density_km2   = 491.68
| population_density_sq_mi = 1273.48
| 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             = 646
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|43|31|N|79|27|22|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 27344
| area_code                = [[Area code 919|919]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 37-61860<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2407337<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407337}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.silercity.org}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

'''Siler City''' is a town in western [[Chatham County, North Carolina]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town's population was 7,702.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=Siler%20City%20town,%20North%20Carolina |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==History==
Siler City began when Plikard Dederic Siler and his wife, Elizabeth Hartsoe Siler, settled about four miles north of the town's current location. The couple briefly lived in Pennsylvania, then Virginia, and then settled near Lacy's Creek (the location near today's Siler City). They had 10 children.

In recent years, Siler City has become a suburb of [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] and the [[Research Triangle Park]]. 

The [[Bowen-Jordan Farm]], [[Cadmus N. Bray House]], [[Bray-Paschal House]], [[East Raleigh Street Historic District]], [[Gregson-Hadley House]], [[Former High Point Bending and Chair Company]], [[Hotel Hadley]], [[North Third Avenue Historic District]], [[Siler City City Hall]], [[Siler City Commercial Historic District]], [[Siler City High School]], [[Snipes-Fox House]], [[William Teague House]], and [[Burdett Woody House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref><ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20120106.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=2012-01-06|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/27/11 through 12/30/11|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

==Geography==
Siler City is located in western Chatham County. [[U.S. Route 64 in North Carolina|U.S. Route 64]] passes through the northern part of the town as 11th Street, leading east {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Pittsboro, North Carolina|Pittsboro]], the Chatham County seat, and west {{convert|21|mi}} to [[Asheboro, North Carolina|Asheboro]]. [[U.S. Route 421]] bypasses Siler City to the northeast, with access from Exits 168, 171, and 174. US 421 leads northwest {{convert|32|mi}} to [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] and southeast {{convert|24|mi}} to [[Sanford, North Carolina|Sanford]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|15.6|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.06|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.37%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Siler City town, North Carolina |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3761860 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212192346/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3761860 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder}}</ref>

[[Loves Creek (Rocky River tributary)|Loves Creek]], a tributary to the [[Rocky River (Deep River tributary)|Rocky River]] is the main watershed that drains Siler City.

==Demographics==
The population has increased by 75% from 1990 to the 2016 estimate, as workers have been attracted to new jobs in the poultry processing industry.

{{US Census population
|1890= 254
|1900= 440
|1910= 895
|1920= 1253
|1930= 1730
|1940= 2197
|1950= 2501
|1960= 4455
|1970= 4689
|1980= 4446
|1990= 4808
|2000= 6966
|2010= 7887
|2020= 7702
|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|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Siler City Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3761860&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-07|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|1,931
|25.07%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|1,458
|18.93%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|5
|0.06%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|88
|1.14%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|1
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|291
|3.78%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|3,928
|51.0%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 7,702 people, 2,735 households, and 1,773 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 7,887 people, 2,603 households, and 1,802 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|507.4|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. There were 2,890 housing units (2,603 of which were occupied) at an average density of {{convert|186.0|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the town was 44.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 19.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 31.1% [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any ethnicity comprised 49.8% of the population.<ref name="2010 Demographics">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3761860| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Siler City town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 29, 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20141229185753/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3761860| archive-date=December 29, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 2,603 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.50.<ref name="2010 Demographics"/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.<ref name="2010 Demographics"/>

For the period 2009–13, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $30,676, and the median income for a family was $34,838. Male full-time workers had a median income of $27,732 versus $24,877 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,234. About 15.5% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 34.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_5YR/DP03/1600000US3761860| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Siler City town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 29, 2014| archive-url=https://archive.today/20141229185752/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_5YR/DP03/1600000US3761860| archive-date=December 29, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[North Carolina Department of Public Safety]] (formerly the [[North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention]]) operates the Chatham Youth Development Center juvenile correctional facility in the Central Carolina Business Park in Siler City. The facility, which opened in 2008, serves both boys and girls.<ref>"[https://www.ncdps.gov/index2.cfm?a=000003,002476,003108,003110 Youth Development Centers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222153326/https://www.ncdps.gov/index2.cfm?a=000003%2C002476%2C003108%2C003110 |date=2015-12-22 }}." [[North Carolina Department of Public Safety]]. Retrieved on December 16, 2015. "Central Carolina Business Park 560 Progress Blvd. Siler City, N.C. 27344"</ref>

==Education==
Siler City is part of the [[Chatham County Public Schools]] District, with [[Jordan-Matthews High School]], One Academy, Chatham Early College, Chatham Middle School, Siler City Elementary School and Virginia Cross Elementary School serving the town. [[Chatham Charter High School]] is also located in Siler City, as well as Chatham Charter School.

==Media==
===Print===
Siler City and the rest of Chatham County is served by [[The Chatham News]], a weekly newspaper based in Siler City.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Joe |title=Chatham County newspapers sold. Look who bought them. |url=https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/article220613030.html |access-date=8 January 2022 |work=Durham Herald Sun |date=26 October 2018}}</ref>

===Radio===
Siler City is home to [[WNCA]], which broadcasts on AM 1570. The station went on the air in 1952.<ref name="by1999">{{cite book|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999|year=1999|page=D-329|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1999..pdf|accessdate=March 26, 2018}}</ref> WNCA airs a variety of programming, including local news, local sports, and a [[Tradio|swap shop]] program. The station also airs [[Adult contemporary music]], [[oldies]] and [[beach music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Raleigh-Durham AM Dial |url=http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/am.html |website=Raleigh-Durham Radio Waves |access-date=8 January 2022 |date=9 September 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040909090826/http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/am.html |archive-date=9 September 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Airport==
[[File:Siler City Airport terminal.JPG|thumb|Terminal building, Siler City Airport]]
[[Siler City Municipal Airport]] (5W8) is a single-runway airport located {{convert|3|mi|0}} southwest of downtown Siler City. The airport is used both by local residents and as a refueling stop for transiting military and [[general aviation]] aircraft.
<ref>{{cite web|title=5W8 - Siler City Municipal|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/5W8|publisher=AirNav}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Siler City Municipal Airport (5W8)|url=http://www.silercity.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={33E50FDB-5CE5-473D-832E-E282A93E5BF2}&DE=|publisher=Town of Siler CIty}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*Siler City was featured in episode 140 (season 5, episode 13) of ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'' (December 14, 1964) as the place where Andy and Helen were taken by a game warden for fishing without a license.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512404/ Internet Movie Database]</ref> The city was featured again on The Andy Griffith Show (11 January 1965) in episode 143, (season 5, episode 17) as the home of Sheriff Jackson, who visits Andy to see how Mayberry does traffic safety,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512485/|title = Goober Takes a Car Apart|website = [[IMDb]]|date = 11 January 1965}}</ref> and once more (January 1, 1968)  in a cooking show on the local TV station. In this episode, Andy described the city as only a 25-minute drive from Mayberry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0512596/|title = The Mayberry Chef|website = [[IMDb]]|date = January 1968}}</ref>
*The town was the setting for Paul Cuadros' book, ''A Home on the Field: How One Championship Soccer Team Inspires Hope for the Revival of Small Town America'' (2006), a non-fiction account of his experience coaching a majority-[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] soccer team at the high school to a state championship in spite of adversity faced by the students.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=A Home on the Field in TIME| url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1364206,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901071004/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1364206%2C00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 1, 2006| magazine=TIME Magazine | first=Paul| last=Cuadros| date=26 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/resources_geo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121184349/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/resources_geo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2008|title=National Geographic Magazine}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Lowell Bailey]] (born 1981), [[biathlon]] coach and former Olympic biathlon athlete<ref>[https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/meet-carolina-biathlete-lowell-bailey/275-293007760 Meet Carolina biathlete Lowell Bailey]. ''WCNC Charlotte''. Retrieved January 14, 2021.</ref>
*[[Frances Bavier]] (1902–1989), actress best remembered for her role as [[Aunt Bee]] on ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'', a 1960s television [[sitcom]] set in North Carolina, lived here in retirement and is buried here
*[[George Edwards (American football)|George Edwards]] (born 1967), [[National Football League|NFL]] coach<ref>Beane, Don. (January 21, 2020). [https://www.chathamnewsrecord.com/stories/nfls-cowboys-know-what-they-are-getting-in-siler-citys-edwards,4530 NFL’s Cowboys know what they are getting in Siler City’s Edwards]. ''Chatham News & Record''. Retrieved January 14, 2021.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.silercity.org Town website]
* [http://www.silercitymerchants.org/ Siler City Merchants Association]

{{Chatham County, North Carolina}}
{{Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Chatham County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in North Carolina]]