Editing Spencer Mountain, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Spencer Mountain, North Carolina
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = NCMap-doton-SpencerMountain.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Spencer Mountain, North Carolina
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|North Carolina}}
| subdivision_name2  = [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1963

<!-- Area -->| established_title1 = Incorporation suspended
| established_date1  = 2016
| 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     = 1.40
| area_land_km2      = 1.26
| area_water_km2     = 0.14
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.54
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.49
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.05

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 0
| population_density_km2 = 0.00
| population_density_sq_mi = 0.00

<!-- 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       = 630
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|18|26|N|81|06|36|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 28054
| area_code          = [[Area code 704|704]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 37-63780<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        = 2407382<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407382}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}
'''Spencer Mountain''' is an inactive incorporated town in [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County]], [[North Carolina]], United States. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was listed as zero, down from 37 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/G001/1600000US3763780| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200210213938/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3763780| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 10, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Spencer Mountain town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=March 27, 2013}}</ref>

==Geography==
The town is located at the base of Spencer  Mountain, a {{convert|1250|ft|adj=on}} summit to the south. The town is sited along the [[South Fork Catawba River]] at an elevation of {{convert|679|ft}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.4|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|1.3|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 9.77%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==History==
Spencer Mountain was settled in 1772 by Zachariah Spencer, a local [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Tory]]. In 1874, J. Harvey Wilson II built a water-powered [[textile mill]] (Wilson & Moore Cotton Mill) at the base of Spencer Mountain. W. Thomas Love and John C. Rankin purchased the mill in 1895 and changed its name to Spencer Mountain Mills. A predecessor of [[Duke Power]] purchased the mill and the hydroelectric plant that powered it in 1926. The mill was purchased by Pharr Yarns in 1957 and was shut down in 1999. Spencer Mountain was incorporated for a brief period of time between 1895 and 1909 and again in 1963.<ref>Robert A. Ragan. "Spencer Mountain: A tribute to an energetic past", ''Gaston Gazette'', September 30, 2001. Retrieved from [http://www.glrl.lib.nc.us/ragan2001.htm Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System] on July 14, 2008</ref>

On July 15, 1949, [[WBTV]], the [[CBS]] affiliate for the [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] area, broadcast the first commercial television signal in the Carolinas from its transmitter on Spencer Mountain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbtv.com/story/10534472/chronology-of-wbtv |title=Chronology of WBTV |website=www.wbtv.com |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> WBTV's transmitter remained on Spencer Mountain until 1984, when a new transmitter tower was completed in [[Dallas, North Carolina]], in the north-central portion of Gaston County.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistration.jsp?regKey=110494 |title=ASR Registration 1005062 |website=wireless2.fcc.gov |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>  The old transmitter tower on Spencer Mountain has since been truncated, but it is still in use by various groups, including [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]], and local amateur radio clubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.btmemories.com/photos/singles/spencer_today/spencer_today.html |title=BT Memories |website=www.btmemories.com |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>

In August 2018, the former gas station and Spencer Mountain Mansion were razed.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 300
|1980= 169
|1990= 135
|2000= 51
|2010= 37
|2020= 0
|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 2000, there were 51 people, 16 households, and 14 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|104.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 17 housing units at an average density of {{convert|35.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 72.55% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 19.61% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]] and 7.84% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]].

There were 16 households, out of which 50.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.5% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 3.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,143, and the median income for a family was $32,143. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,848. There were no families and 1.3% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including none under 18 and none of those over 64.{{dubious|date=November 2015}}

As of 2016, only two residents remained living in the town, Chase and Alice White; mayor and councilwoman, respectively. In May 2016, this husband and wife team were notified that a bill was being introduced in the state legislature that would suspend the town's charter until it is repopulated. The NC General Assembly adopted SL 2016-45 which suspended the charter effective July 1, 2016, with a sunset of June 30, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AN ACT TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SPENCER MOUNTAIN. |url=https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/sessionlaws/pdf/2015-2016/sl2016-45.pdf }}</ref> This suspension was extended in 2019 to 2023 by SL 2019-29<ref>{{Cite web |title=AN ACT TO EXTEND THE SUNSET ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SPENCER MOUNTAIN AND TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF EUREKA. |url=https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/sessionlaws/pdf/2019-2020/sl2019-29.pdf }}</ref> and from 2023 to June 30, 2026, by SL 2023-49.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AN ACT TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY TO CONSTRUCT COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUSES OF ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND TO EXTEND THE SUNSET ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF SPENCER MOUNTAIN. |url=https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/sessionlaws/pdf/2023-2024/sl2023-49.pdf }}</ref>

According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were no people living in the town.

==Politics==
As of October 27, 2009, there were only 29 registered voters and no official candidates for mayor or town council.  Two years before, only four people voted and did so by writing in their own names.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/democrats-rip-one-of-their-own-for-his-language |title=Democrats Rip One of Their Own for His Language - Special Report w/ Bret Baier - FOXNews.com |website=[[Fox News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030113855/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569897,00.html |archive-date=October 30, 2009}}</ref>  By 2015, there were only two registered voters in the town, and they elected themselves to the town council by write-in vote.<ref>[http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/11/04/towns-only-2-residents-vote-for-themselves-on-election-day/75178902/ 2015 Election results]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Gaston County, North Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Gaston County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1772]]