Statesville, NC
People living in Statesville, NC can rely on The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store to help them find quality health insurance plans at affordable prices. Free rate quotes for residents of Statesville, NC are just a phone call or click away. With all the recent changes to the Affordable Care Act, picking a health insurance plan can seem daunting. If you are living in Statesville, NC or anywhere in North Carolina, The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store can help. Our friendly agents know all the ins and outs of enrolling in Statesville health insurance, and can help you find the coverage that is right for you and your family.
Statesville is a small city in Iredell County, North Carolina. It has a population of about 25,000 and is known for its great sense of community.
Geography
The city of Statesville is 24.25 square miles and has an elevation of 919 feet. Iredell County, where Statesville is located, is in the Piedmont Region, a large plateau. The county contains the Brushy Mountains, fondly referred to as the Brushies. Most of the county, however, is made up of rolling countryside, small river valleys, and gentle hills. There is a large manmade lake, Lake Norman, in the south of the county. Lake Norman and the Brushies are easy to visit from Statesville, NC.
Demographics
In the 2010 census, Statesville had 24,633 people spread between 9,338 households. The city prides itself on being culturally diverse. Age in Statesville is pretty evenly spread out as well: 24.4% are under the age of 18, 8.7% between 18 and 24, 28% between 25 and 44, 21.4% between 45 and 64, and 17.4% above 65. The population is approximately 46.4% male and 53.6% female. The median household income in 2010 was $31,925. In Statesville, taxes are on average are $0.38 per $100.00.
History
Statesville, NC has a rich history. It was founded in 1753 as Fourth Creek Congregation by a group of German Lutherans and Scots-Irish Presbyterians from Pennsylvania who were coming farther south to seek better farming conditions. Statesville had fertile soil, plenty of water for fishing and irrigation, and plentiful game. The Presbyterian settlers built a log cabin in which to worship in the center of the settlement. Statesville has honored that history, and First Presbyterian Church still stands there today.
Just two years later, in 1755, the North Carolina colonial governor Arthur Dobbs ordered the construction of a fort, which became known as Fort Dobbs. Located three miles north of Fourth Creek Congregation, the fort defended the frontier during both the French and Indian War and the Anglo-Cherokee War. The fort was abandoned in 1766 and soon fell into disrepair. Archaeological research, however, has uncovered the fort’s location and appearance. The site is now preserved as the Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, and there are plans to reconstruct the fort.
In 1789, Iredell County legislature chose Fourth Creek Congregation as the location for its county seat. The settlement was correspondingly renamed Statesville, giving it its current name.
Between 1939 and 1963, Statesville, NC had its own minor league baseball team, the Statesville Owls. In 1940, 1948, and 1962 they won the league title. Since they stopped playing, the team’s stadium has been renamed Senior High Stadium and is still regularly used by the Statesville High School.
Famous People
Over the years, Statesville, NC has had a number of famous residents. Many of them have been great athletes, including Major League baseball players Gair Allie and Herm Starette, Olympic runner Louis Clarke, professional skateboarder Chris Cole, and NASCAR drivers Jake Crum and Ryan Newman. Rockie Lynn, the country singer, is also from Statesville. Perhaps the most famous person from Statesville is Thomas Marshburn, a NASA astronaut who visited space in 2012. Statesville is very proud of Marshburn and in 2013 hosted a number of events about space to honor his visit back to his hometown.
All-American City
In both 1997 and 2009, Statesville won the National Civic League’s prestigious All-American City award, given to only 10 cities in the United States each year. The award recognizes communities and cities whose citizens come together to meet community needs and achieve uncommonly great results. In 2009, Statesville, NC was recognized for working together to achieve a number of notable accomplishments. The citizens funded and created a Boys and Girls Club, to provide a safe place for young people in the city to spend time outside of school. In 2007, the Mi Familia Institute was founded to help members of Statesville’s Hispanic community receive support and better assimilate into American culture. Also in 2007, Statesville recognized that there had been a growing divide in the city, as communities on the south side of a highway corridor had increasing numbers of crime and abandoned properties. Residents of Statesville pledged themselves to rebuilding a joint community and improving the problems faced by the south side of the city. This strong sense of community spirit and obligation to help one another is still strong in Statesville, NC.
Activities
One of Statesville’s most famous activities is the Carolina Balloon Fest, held there the third weekend in October every year for 41 years. Every year, over 50 hot air balloons fill the sky with colors. Visitors can take a ride in a balloon, sample food and wine, shop at an artisan market, and listen to live music. It’s a fantastic way to bring the community together with visitors from all around the state every year. Statesville also holds a Pumpkinfest in November every year to celebrate fall. There are many events at the Pumpkinfest, including a 5k race, live entertainment, craft exhibits, games and rides for kids, and a pumpkin pie eating contest.
On an everyday basis, there’s a lot to do in Statesville, NC. Statesville is full of parks and trails, so you and your family can enjoy time outside. These include a disc golf course and facilities to play horseshoes, tennis, soccer, football, baseball, softball, and basketball. Of course, there are tons of playgrounds for kids. Statesville is an active community and hosts yearly Special Olympics and Senior Games.
Culture
In Statesville, you can find a number of great restaurants and cafes. There’s a wide selection of food choices that represent other countries, for example, Italian food and Hispanic food. There are lots of ice cream choices too! Statesville, NC also has a great artistic culture. Perhaps most representative of this is the Crossroads Fresco at the Statesville Civic Center. In 2005, artist Ben Long created a large and beautiful fresco depicting the goddess of the crossroads, who has the power of knowing what comes ahead in any direction. The fresco stands as part of the Fresco Trail, connecting frescos in Ashe, Meckenburg, and Avery counties. This fresco is representative of Statesville’s position in the center of cultural activity in North Carolina. Statesville is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or a lifetime. There is so much to do in the town and the surrounding area. It is a vibrant and creative hub in a region known for music, craftsmanship, and old time traditions. Numerous festivals are scheduled each year that the residents and visitors really enjoy to the fullest. There are few towns that can boast such features.
Education
Statesville, NC has over 20,000 students, making it one of the largest school districts in North Carolina. It is also one of the best. Iredell-Statesville schools are among the top 25% in the state. Statesville’s graduation rates and SAT scores are also among the highest in North Carolina. In both 2008 and 2009, the school district received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for its commitment to high quality in education. In addition to its public schools, Statesville also has a number of great charter schools and private institutions. Statesville, NC is also home to Mitchell Community College. MCC was founded as a Presbyterian women’s college in 1852 and is now a public community college. It provides post-secondary education and training to many students from Statesville and from elsewhere in the state.
Architecture
Statesville has five different historic districts, complete with many different kinds of architectural styles, with a particular emphasis on buildings from the antebellum period to the 1920s. These buildings include beautiful white-pillared mansions. The commercial district of Statesville is full of quaint storefronts, with lots of brick and colorful signs. There are many homes and apartments available to be bought or rented in Statesville, with a wide range of sizes and prices.
Health Insurance
The people of Statesville are conscious of their health. Health insurance is, of course, an essential part of staying healthy to ensure that each person can pay for medical care. Citizens of Statesville can choose from either private health insurance or “Obamacare.” For a young adult in Statesville, Obamacare rates range from $118 to $288 a month. WNC Health Insurance / The Asheville Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina® Store offers excellent (and free) health insurance quotes for those in Statesville and anyone who is a resident of North Carolina.
Utilities
Statesville, NC owns its own electric, water, and sewer systems. The Iredell Water Corporation, Energy United, and Duke Energy also provide water and electricity to residents of Statesville. Natural gas is provided by the Public Service Corporation of North Carolina. The city staffs a collection of personnel who can help you determine the proper providers and set up utility services if you are purchasing a new home. The city also provides waste pick-up for both private residences and businesses. The city runs a local television channel, Channel 20, which provides a constantly streaming schedule of city information and events, in addition to airing city council meetings.
