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106-721: In 1887 brothers Moses H. and Caesar Cone began investing in textile mills in North Carolina. In 1891 they incorporated the Cone Export & Commission Company in New Jersey to broker Southern textile products in the North. Within several years the broker was trading products from almost 90 percent of all Southern textile mill owners. Two years later they established Southern Finishing & Warehouse Company in Greensboro, North Carolina . In 1895

212-502: A United Textile Workers of America (UTW) rally on the outskirts of Greensboro. A follow-up rally in June led to the formation of a UTW local union affiliate. In response, Cone Mills ordered the eviction of union members from their homes. UTW then shifted its strategy from criticizing stretch-outs to directly attacking the Cones' accumulated wealth and management style. Evictions continued throughout

318-543: A paternalistic approach towards its workers. The Cones sought to portray their company as primarily interested in promoting the general welfare of its employees—as opposed to being motivated by profits—and strove to maintain cordial relations with its workers without resorting to force. Their paternalism was often praised by contemporary observers and the local press. At their peak, the Cone mill villages covered 450 acres (180 ha) and housed 2,675 workers in about 1,500 houses. It

424-740: A "salute to the union", is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base. New York City has the largest fireworks display in the country sponsored by Macy's , with more than 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded in 2009. It generally holds displays in the East River. Other major displays are in Seattle on Lake Union ; in San Diego over Mission Bay ; in Boston on the Charles River ; in Philadelphia over

530-451: A 4,500-seat mini-arena, and eight meeting rooms. The 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m ) Pavilion is adjacent. The complex hosts "a broad range of activities, including athletic events, cultural arts, concerts, theater, educational activities, fairs, exhibits, and public and private events of all kinds including conventions, convocations and trade and consumer shows". The Greensboro Aquatic Center, which hosts national swimming and diving events,

636-560: A British coastal base in Wilmington . Greensboro was established near the geographic center of Guilford County, on land that was "an unbroken forest with thick undergrowth of huckleberry bushes, that bore a finely flavored fruit." Property for the future village was purchased from the Saura for $ 98. Three north–south streets (Greene, Elm, Davie) were laid out intersecting with three east–west streets, Gaston, Market, and Sycamore. The courthouse

742-529: A January daily average of 38.9 °F (3.8 °C). On average, there are 75 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and 4.3 days that fail to rise above freezing. Measurable snowfall occurs nearly every winter, and accumulates to 7.5 inches (19.1 cm) on average, usually in January and February and occasionally December and March; the amount varies considerably from winter to winter. Cold-air damming (CAD) can facilitate freezing rain , often making it

848-417: A center of protests and change. On February 1, 1960, four black college students sat down at an "all-white" Woolworth's lunch counter , and refused to leave after they were denied service. They had already purchased items in other parts of the store and kept their receipts. After being denied lunch service, they brought out the receipts, asking why their money was good everywhere else in the store but not at

954-696: A more pressing concern than snow. Summers are hot and humid, with a daily average in July of 78.5 °F (25.8 °C). On average, 32 days per year have highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C), but, as in much of the Piedmont South, 100 °F (38 °C)+ readings are uncommon. Autumn is similar to spring in temperature but has fewer days of rainfall and less total rainfall. Extremes in temperature have ranged from −8 °F (−22 °C) on January 21, 1985 , to 104 °F (40 °C), on June 12, 1911, June 12, 1914, and July 17, 1914. Thunderstorms are common during

1060-502: A painfully slow pace, and the verbal commitments from white leadership in 1963 were not implemented in substantial ways. In May 1969, students of James B. Dudley High School were outraged when the administration refused to let a popular candidate, Claude Barnes, run for student union class president, allegedly due to his membership in Youth for the Unity of Black Society. After their appeals to

1166-423: A picnic or barbecue; many take advantage of the day off and, in some years, a long weekend to gather with family members or friends. Parades are often attended in many towns and cities, some being hours-long, with many floats and participants. Parades are often held in the mid-late morning (before get-togethers), with longer spectacles sometimes extending into the early afternoon. Fireworks displays typically occur in

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1272-414: A property of Platinum Equity , in January 2019, remaining the parent corporation of Cone Denim. Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro ( / ˈ ɡ r iː n z b ə r oʊ / ; local pronunciation / ˈ ɡ r iː n z b ʌr ə / ) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina , United States. At the 2020 census , its population was 299,035; it

1378-489: A reputation as a well-planned community with a strong emphasis on education, parks, and a profitable employment base. Greensboro has two major public research universities, North Carolina A&T State University , a historically black college established in the late 19th century, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro . During the height of the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, students from A&T were

1484-571: A signatory of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe , another Founding Father who was elected president, also died on July 4, 1831, making him the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. The only U.S. president to have been born on Independence Day was Calvin Coolidge , who was born on July 4, 1872. Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Per 5 U.S.C.   § 6103 , Independence Day

1590-597: A twill and drill producer. In 1977, the Environmental Protection Agency sued Cone Mills, accusing the firm of violating an earlier order by continuing to pollute a creek with residues from its Proximity mill in Greensboro. In response, Cone Mills shut the facility down and laid off 600 workers. Like many other Southern textile companies during the early 20th century, the Cone Mills Corporation took

1696-567: A village to a city within a decade. By 1900, Greensboro was considered a center of the Southern textile industry, with large-scale factories producing denim , flannel , and overalls . The resulting prosperity was expressed in the construction of notable 20th-century civic architecture, including the Guilford County Courthouse , West Market Street United Methodist Church by S. W. Faulk, several buildings designed by Frank A. Weston, and

1802-498: Is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (such as the postal service and federal courts ) are closed on that day. While the legal holiday remains on July 4, if that date happens to be on a Saturday or Sunday, then federal government employees will instead take the day off on the adjacent Friday or Monday, respectively. Other non-essential that are non-government related may also be closed that day. Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending

1908-627: Is also in this complex. In 1998, FedEx built a $ 300 million mid-Atlantic air-cargo and sorting hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport , after an intensive competition for the hub among other regions of the state, as well as locations in South Carolina . The project was challenged in court based on the quality of planned noise and pollution abatements from neighborhoods near the site. The hub opened in 2009. Originally projected by FedEx to employ 750 people in its first two years of operation and eventually 1,500, local FedEx employment has been nearly

2014-530: Is currently host to the annual PGA Tour event Wyndham Golf Championship . Greensboro would serve as the Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters for 70 years, until the league relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina , in 2023. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the inhabitants of the area that became Greensboro were the Saura, a Siouan -speaking people. Other indigenous cultures had occupied this area for thousands of years, typically settling along

2120-459: Is typically one of the busiest United States travel periods of the year, as many people use what is often a three-day holiday weekend for extended vacation trips. The Philippines celebrates July 4 as its Republic Day to commemorate the day in 1946 when it ceased to be a U.S. territory and the United States officially recognized Philippine Independence . July 4 was intentionally chosen by

2226-543: The 2020 census , there were 299,035 people, 118,046 households, and 69,420 families residing in the city. At the 2019 U.S. census estimates, there were 296,710 people living in the city, up from the 2019 American Community Survey 's 291,303. At the 2010 U.S. census , there were 269,666 people; 111,731 households; and 63,244 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,131.7 people per square mile (823.1 people/km ). There were 124,074 housing units at an average density of 980.8 per square mile (378.7/km ). Of

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2332-672: The Appalachians . After the Revolutionary War , the city of Greensboro was named for Major General Nathanael Greene , commander of the rebel American forces at the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781. Although the Americans lost the battle, Greene's forces inflicted heavy casualties on the British Army of General Cornwallis . After the battle, Cornwallis withdrew his troops to

2438-465: The Boom Supersonic factory at the airport. The future site will be used as a final assembly line and test site for its supersonic passenger aircraft, Overture . Construction on the factory is expected to finish in 2024. Like much of the southeastern United States , Greensboro has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with four distinct seasons. Winters are short and generally cool, with

2544-459: The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations of shows. Some local or regional firework sales are limited or prohibited because of dry weather or other specific concerns. On these occasions the public may be prohibited from purchasing or discharging fireworks, but professional displays (such as those at sports events) may still take place. A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called

2650-574: The Declaration of Independence , a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by the Committee of Five , which asked Thomas Jefferson to author its first draft. While Jefferson consulted extensively with the other four members of the Committee of Five, he largely wrote the Declaration of Independence in isolation over 17 days between June 11, 1776, and June 28, 1776, from the second floor he

2756-636: The International Civil Rights Center and Museum , which opened on February 1, 2010, the 50th anniversary of the sit-ins. A section of the counter is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. to mark the protesters' courage. The white business community acceded to the desegregation of Woolworth's and made other minor concessions, but the civil rights movement had additional goals, holding protests in 1962 and 1963. In May and June 1963,

2862-612: The Julius I. Foust Building of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro , designed by Orlo Epps . During the 20th century, Greensboro continued to increase in population and wealth. Grand commercial and civic buildings, many of which still stand today, were designed by local architects Charles Hartmann and Harry Barton. Other notable industries became established in the city, including Vicks Chemical Co. (known for over-the-counter cold remedies such as VapoRub and NyQuil ), Carolina Steel Corporation, and Pomona Terra Cotta Works. During

2968-473: The Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks , parades , barbecues , carnivals , fairs , picnics , concerts , baseball games , family reunions , political speeches , and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of

3074-918: The National Folk Festival. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex hosts a variety of major sporting events, concerts, and other events, including the ACC men's basketball tournament and women's basketball tournament . Local professional teams include the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic Baseball League , the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League , and the semi-professional Carolina Dynamo soccer club of USL League Two . Amateur teams include Greensboro Roller Derby and college teams in four NCAA programs. The Sedgefield Country Club

3180-607: The New Deal . After World War II , Cone Mills ended its pursuit of paternalism, selling off the mill villages, terminating its welfare programs, and shifting to a more detached style of worker management. In April 1951, over half of Cone Mills' unionized workers went on strike, leading the Dwight Manufacturing mill in Alabama to completely shut down. The Cone Mills Corporation faced intense competition from foreign textile companies in

3286-775: The Philadelphia Museum of Art ; in San Francisco over the San Francisco Bay ; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival , Detroit, Michigan , hosts one of the largest fireworks displays in North America, over the Detroit River , to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario 's celebration of Canada Day . The first week of July

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3392-567: The Piedmont region . In response, Cone Mills directed dozens of operative to surreptitiously join the union and Caesar Cone declared that he would rather destroy the Proximity facility than negotiate with a union. In 1900 the union went on strike. He temporarily closed the mill and surrounding company stores and hired watchmen to patrol the nearby villages. When union members refused to leave their organization, Cone Mills evicted them and their families from

3498-655: The Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America . The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain , King George III , and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing

3604-459: The War of 1812 . Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. In addition, local and regional conditions may dictate whether the sale or use of fireworks in an area will be allowed; for example, the global supply chain crisis following

3710-536: The "Gate City" due to its role as a transportation hub for the Piedmont. The railroads transported goods to and from the cotton textile mills. Many of the manufacturers developed workers' housing in mill villages near their facilities. Though the city developed slowly, early wealth generated in the 18th and 19th centuries from cotton trade and merchandising resulted in owners' constructing several notable buildings. The earliest, later named Blandwood Mansion and Gardens ,

3816-414: The 124,074 households in the city in 2010, 30.1% included children under age 18, 35.5% were headed by married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were classified as non-family. Of the total households, 33.8% were composed of individuals, and 9.0% were someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31, and the average family size

3922-429: The 1980s. In 1983, Western Pacific Industries attempted a hostile takeover of the firm after a deal to acquire shares from Caesar Cone II. At the time, the company had 16 plants. The deal was thwarted by a leveraged buyout by 47 members of management, after which the company made several cutbacks. Lawsuits related to the buyout lingered into the 1990s. Debt refinancing from the 1984 buyout continued as late as 1992, when

4028-452: The 2020 census, 41.42% of the population was black or African American, 38.6% non-Hispanic white, 0.33% Native American, 5.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.4% mixed or some other race, and 10.17% Hispanic or Latin American of any race. This reflected the national demographic shift and growth of nonwhite-identifying Americans. In Greensboro, Sperling's BestPlaces determined that 48.33% of

4134-570: The Cone Mills Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2003. Two of the company's three facilities in Rutherford County, North Carolina , were then shuttered, resulting in the loss of 625 jobs. In 2004 WL Ross & Co acquired Cone Mills and merged it with Burlington Industries to create the International Textile Group . The White Oak Mill was closed in 2017. International Textile Group transformed into Elevate Textiles,

4240-550: The Cone brothers began creating their own textile mills for the production of denim. That year they built Proximity Cotton Mills in Greensboro, with Caesar Cone serving as the Proximity Manufacturing Company's president. Four years later they partnered with two men from South Carolina to launch a flannel manufacturer, Revolution Mills, in Greensboro. In 1905 the Cones built a new denim plant for Proximity Manufacturing in Greensboro, White Oak Mill. Over subsequent years

4346-422: The Cones often delivered speeches. Cone Mills also established welfare programs, schools, and clinics and sponsored orchestras and sports teams with the aim of bringing "civilization" to their primarily rural workforce. After 1910 they focused on improving living conditions in the mill villages, paving streets and building new homes with running water and electricity and space for gardening. During World War I , when

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4452-409: The Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. By remarkable coincidence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States , both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not

4558-481: The English city of Gloucester , its cathedral rang bells in 2019 and 2020 for the anthem " The Star-Spangled Banner " every July 4 for its links to the anthem , commemorating its status as the birthplace of John Stafford Smith , who composed the tune on which the anthem is based. (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to

4664-559: The Gem of the Ocean "; " God Bless America "; " America the Beautiful "; " My Country, 'Tis of Thee "; " This Land Is Your Land "; " Stars and Stripes Forever "; " Yankee Doodle "; " God Bless the U.S.A. " and " Dixie " (in southern states); " Lift Every Voice and Sing "; and occasionally (but has nominally fallen out of favor), " Hail Columbia ". Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or

4770-544: The Koury Convention Center is the largest convention center in the Southeast between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The hotel has more than 1,000 rooms. The Greensboro Coliseum is at 1921 W. Gate City Boulevard. This multipurpose complex consists of the 22,000-seat Greensboro Coliseum, the 300-seat Odeon Theatre, and the 167,000-square-foot (15,500 m ) Special Events Center, which includes three exhibition halls,

4876-568: The Mississippi River to continue the war effort and avoid capture. Shortly thereafter, the cabinet left Greensboro and separated. Greensboro is notable as the last place where the entire Confederate government met as a group; some consider it the Confederacy's final capital city. At nearly the same time, Governor Zebulon B. Vance fled Raleigh , the capital of North Carolina, before the forces of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman swept

4982-463: The U.S. Census Bureau reported Greensboro's population as 74.0% white and 25.8% black. As in the rest of the state, most blacks were still disenfranchised under state laws, Jim Crow laws and customs were in effect, and public facilities, including schools, were racially segregated by law. This was after the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools

5088-630: The United States because it corresponds to its Independence Day, and this day was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962. In 1964, the name of the July 4 holiday was changed to Republic Day. Rebild National Park in Denmark is said to hold the largest July 4 celebrations outside of the United States. While not an Independence Day celebration by any means, the city of Trois-Rivières , Quebec , Canada celebrates its founding every July 4, having been founded on July 4, 1634. Trois-Rivières

5194-571: The United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States. During the American Revolution , the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain's rule. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to

5300-474: The actions was shown worldwide, and the event became known as the Greensboro massacre . In November 1980, six KKK defendants were acquitted in a state criminal trial by an all-white jury after a week of deliberation. Families of those killed and injured in the attack filed a civil suit against the city and police department for failure to protect citizens. In 1985, a jury in this case found five police officers and two other individuals liable for $ 350,000 in damages;

5406-464: The brothers acquired controlling shares of other textile operations and expanded their business to cover other fabrics and textile-related processes. Revolution Mills and Proximity Manufacturing were merged to create the Cone Mills Corporation in 1948. Three years later, the corporation became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange . It also acquired Dwight Manufacturing of Alabama,

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5512-506: The celebration. The highest ever were in Salem, Massachusetts , with pyramids composed of as many as forty tiers of barrels. These made some of the tallest bonfires ever recorded. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries and is still practiced in some New England and northeastern towns. Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs, such as " The Star-Spangled Banner " (the American national anthem ); " Columbia,

5618-607: The city hopes to build a new economy. Wartime and postwar prosperity brought development, and designs commissioned from nationally and internationally known architects. Walter Gropius , a leader of the German Bauhaus movement in the United States, designed a factory building in the city in 1944. Greensboro-based Ed Loewenstein designed projects throughout the region. Eduardo Catalano and George Matsumoto were hired for projects whose designs have challenged North Carolinians with modernist architectural concepts and forms. In 1960,

5724-428: The city was 48.4% white , 40.6% black or African American , 4.0% Asian American (1.6% Vietnamese, 0.7% Indian), 0.5% Native American , 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander , 3.8% some other race , and 2.6% two or more races . Non-Hispanic whites were 45.6% of the population in 2010, compared to 70.9% in 1970. People of Hispanic or Latin American heritage, who may be of any race, in 2010 were 7.5% of

5830-643: The city was relatively untouched by the war, although residents had to deal with regional shortages of clothing, medicine, and other items caused by the US naval blockade of the South. In the war's final weeks, Greensboro played a unique role in the last days of the Confederate government. In April 1865, the commanding officer of the Army of Tennessee, General Joseph E. Johnston , instructed General P. G. T. Beauregard to prepare to defend

5936-503: The city. For a brief period beginning April 16, 1865, he and other officials maintained the state capital in Greensboro. Vance proclaimed the North Carolina Surrender Declaration on April 28, 1865. Later, he surrendered to Union officials in the parlor of Blandwood Mansion. Historian Blackwell Robinson wrote, "Greensboro witnessed not only the demise of the Confederacy but also that of the old civil government of

6042-575: The city. During this time, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the remaining members of the Confederate cabinet had evacuated the Confederate Capital in Richmond, Virginia , and moved south to Danville, Virginia . When Union cavalry threatened Danville, Davis and his cabinet managed to escape by train, and reassembled in Greensboro on April 11, 1865. While in the city, Davis and his cabinet decided to try to split up and make their way west of

6148-637: The community's first streetlights. The company sold off the village homes in the late 1940s. From 1958 to 1969, Cone's factories furnished fabric for the wardrobes of the annual winner of the Miss North Carolina Pageant . They also provided fabric for the gowns each winner wore to the Miss America Pageant . Shortly after the opening of Proximity Mill in Greensboro, the National Union of Textile Workers attempted to organize workers in

6254-440: The company and began hiring professional, college-trained supervisors, thus phasing out the longstanding practice of promoting from within. The Cones continued with many of their paternalistic practices as before, such as personally engaging with workers and hosting events, but relations between management and the workers were never fully restored. Discontent persisted until May 1930, when one-third of Cone Mills' workforce attended

6360-403: The company and the Greensboro city council dating to the villages' incorporation into the municipality allowing Cone Mills to pick the candidates for one of the council seats ended. Greensboro's social services were expanded into the villages, and the city assumed the responsibilities for law enforcement, garbage collection, and road maintenance in the area. It took over the mill schools and erected

6466-537: The company offered shares to the public and obtained new loans. The firm closed its operation at Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1999, citing additional overseas fabric imports and years of heavy losses. The Salisbury mill had been in business since 1888. In 2000, the Raytex plant at Marion, South Carolina , was closed, taking with it 200 jobs, as demand for comforters and bedspreads declined. Weakened by foreign competition, lower consumption of denim, and higher material costs,

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6572-476: The company's paternalistic system became more fraught with conflict. Workers at the White Oak mills hosted several small strikes until an agreement to ease demands placed upon them was arbitrated. At the same time as the stretch-out, Cone Mills began implementing other changes to the functioning of its mills, including the adoption of scientific management practices and introduction of new machinery. Following Caesar's death, his brother Bernard assumed leadership of

6678-414: The disturbances; its 1970 report concluded that the National Guard invasion was a reckless action disproportionate to the danger posed by student protests. It criticized local community leaders for failing to respond adequately to the Dudley High School students when the issues first arose. They declared it "a sad commentary that the only group in the community who would take the Dudley students seriously were

6784-513: The downtown was stimulated by the 2006 opening of the Elon University School of Law . The law school is credited with attracting student dollars to the downtown. The Four Seasons Town Centre , at 410 Four Seasons Town Centre, is a three-story shopping mall with 1,141,000 square feet (106,000 m ) of shopping space developed by the Koury Corporation . It is adjacent to the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel. With over 250,000 square feet (23,000 m ) of flexible meeting space,

6890-639: The evening, at such places as parks, harbors, off of boats, sporting venues, fairgrounds, public shorelines, or town squares. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag , and many homes and businesses will decorate their properties with miniature American flags. The night before the Fourth was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by raucous gatherings, often incorporating bonfires as their highlight. In New England , towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from barrels and casks. They were lit at nightfall to usher in

6996-428: The first three decades, Greensboro grew so rapidly that there was an acute worker housing shortage. Builders set a construction goal of 80 to 100 affordable housing units per year to provide homes for workers. Greensboro's real estate was considered "the wonder of the state" in the 1920s. Growth continued even through the Great Depression , as Greensboro attracted an estimated 200 new families per year. The city earned

7102-457: The governor ordered the North Carolina National Guard into the A&T campus, in what was described at the time as "the most massive armed assault ever made against an American university". The North Carolina National Guard swept the college dormitories, taking hundreds of students into "protective custody". The demonstrations were suppressed. The North Carolina State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights investigated

7208-615: The humid spring and summer months, some severe. On April 2, 1936, around 7:00 pm, a large, F-4 tornado cut a seven-mile (11-km) swath of destruction through southern Greensboro. 14 people were killed and 144 injured by the tornado, which moved through part of downtown. The storm was part of the 1936 Cordele-Greensboro tornado outbreak . Strong tornadoes have struck the Greensboro area since then, notably Stoneville on March 20, 1998 ; Clemmons and Winston-Salem on May 5, 1989 ; Clemmons and Greensboro on May 7, 2008 ; High Point on March 28, 2010 ; and Greensboro on April 15, 2018 . As of

7314-456: The labor market was tight, Cone Mills subsidized certain food products in its stores and worked to ensure availability for consumer products for its workers despite shortages. Cone Mills' paternalistic approach towards its workers generally succeeded in maintaining positive labor relations from 1900 to 1925. While some workers did display individual discontent with their work and leave, many stayed knowing that conditions at other textile plants in

7420-564: The largest civil rights protest in North Carolina history took place in Greensboro. Protesters sought desegregation of public accommodations, and economic and social justice, such as hiring policies based on merit rather than race. They also worked for the overdue integration of public schools. Each night more than 2,000 protesters marched through Greensboro's segregated central business district. William Thomas and A. Knighton Stanley, coordinators of Greensboro's local CORE chapter, invited Jesse Jackson , then an activist student at A&T, to join

7526-400: The largest religion in Greensboro is Islam (0.82%), followed by Judaism (0.60%). Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism were the least common in Greensboro (0.34%). Fourth of July Independence Day , known colloquially as the Fourth of July , is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by

7632-597: The latter has been adapted and operates as a private inn. In the mid-19th century, many of the residents of the Piedmont and western areas of the state were Unionist , and Guilford County did not vote for secession . But once North Carolina joined the Confederacy , some citizens joined the Confederate cause, forming infantry units such as the Guilford Grays to fight in the American Civil War . From 1861 to March 1865

7738-488: The lunch counter. Hundreds of supporters soon joined in this sit-in, which lasted several months. Such protests quickly spread across the South, ultimately leading to the desegregation of lunch counters and other facilities at Woolworth's and other chains. Woolworth's went out of business due to changes in 20th-century retail practices, but the original Woolworth's lunch counter and stools are still in their original location. The former Woolworth's building has been adapted as

7844-554: The major force in protests to achieve racial justice, desegregation of public facilities, and fair employment, beginning with the Greensboro Four , who sat in at the segregated lunch counter at Woolworth's in 1960 to gain service. The largest civil rights protests in North Carolina history took place in Greensboro in May and June 1963. In the 21st century, the universities are leaders in new areas of research in high tech and science, on which

7950-521: The minutes of the Perquimans and Little River Quarterly Meeting on May 25, 1754: "To Friends at New Garden in Capefair", signed by Joseph Ratliff. The settlement grew rapidly over the next three years, adding members from as far away as Nantucket , Massachusetts. It soon became North Carolina's most important Quaker community and the mother of several other Quaker meetings established in the state and west of

8056-656: The monies were to be paid to the Greensboro Justice Fund, established to advance civil rights. Textile companies and related businesses continue into the 21st century, when most went bankrupt, reorganized, and/or merged with other companies as textile manufacturing jobs moved offshore. Greensboro is still a major center of the textile industry, with the main offices of Elevate Textiles (Cone, Burlington Industries), Galey & Lord, Unifi, and VF Corporation ( Wrangler , Lee , The North Face , and Nautica ). ITG Brands , maker of Kool, Winston and Salem brand cigarettes and

8162-409: The most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to

8268-989: The most popular are the Greensboro Science Center , the International Civil Rights Museum , The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts , the Weatherspoon Art Museum , the Greensboro Symphony, and the Greensboro Ballet . Annual events in the city include the North Carolina Folk Festival, First Fridays in Downtown Greensboro, Fun Fourth of July Festival, North Carolina Comedy Festival, and Winter Wonderlights. From 2015 to 2017, Greensboro hosted

8374-497: The nation's third-largest tobacco company is headquartered in Greensboro. Rail traffic continues to be important for the city's economy, as Greensboro is a major regional freight hub. Twelve Amtrak passenger trains also stop in Greensboro daily. The Crescent has its platform on the main Norfolk Southern line between Washington and New Orleans by way of Atlanta . The Carolinian and Piedmont trains have their platform at

8480-644: The other, from this time forward forever more. Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress. Historians have long disputed whether members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that

8586-405: The population (4.6% Mexican, 0.7% Puerto Rican). In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of Greensboro was 47.3% non-Hispanic white, 41.4% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaska Native, 5% Asian alone, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 3.0% multiracial. Hispanics and Latin Americans of any race made up 7.9% of the local population. At

8692-551: The population was religiously affiliated as of 2017. The largest religion in Greensboro is Christianity , with the most affiliates being either Baptist (11.85%) or Methodist (10.25%). The remaining Christian populations are Presbyterian (3.97%), Roman Catholic (3.71%), Pentecostal (2.61%), Episcopal (1.17%), Latter-Day Saints (1.02%), Lutheran (0.96%), and members of other Christian denominations (11.03%) including Greek Orthodox , Quaker , Moravian , Church of Christ , and non-denominational churches. After Christianity,

8798-407: The population were living below the poverty line , including 25.9% of those under 18 and 10.5% of those 65 or older. From 2015 to 2019, the median household income increased to $ 48,964 with a per capita of $ 29,628. The median earned income for males was $ 44,974 and $ 37,937 for females. An estimated 18.5% of Greensboro residents lived at or below the poverty line in 2019. The racial composition of

8904-574: The protesters, and at one point approximately 1,400 blacks were jailed in Greensboro. The scale of protests disrupted the business community and challenged the leadership of the mayor and Governor Terry Sanford . Finally, the city and business community responded with further desegregation of public facilities, reformed hiring policies in city government, and commitments to progress by both Sanford and Greensboro's mayor. Sanford declared, "Anyone who hasn't received this message doesn't understand human nature." Significant changes in race relations still came at

9010-562: The protests. Jackson quickly rose to prominence as a student leader, becoming the public spokesman of the non-violent protest movement. Seeking to overwhelm city jails, as was done in protests led by Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama , the protesters invited arrest by violating segregation rules of local businesses; they were charged with trespassing and other nonviolent actions. College and high school students constituted most of

9116-450: The region were worse. In the 1920s demand for textile products declined. Cotton and tobacco prices plummeted, leading many farmers to approach mills for work. Confronted with a labor surplus and a need to cut costs, in 1925 company leaders began cutting pay, laying off staff, and assigning the remaining workers more responsibilities. Workers referred to this strategy as the "stretch-out". Many workers felt betrayed by Cone Mills, and thereafter

9222-624: The same as before the facility was constructed. In March 2015, HondaJet , with a manufacturing facility in Greensboro, announced that it had received provisional type certification (PTC) from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This achievement indicates the FAA's approval of the HondaJet design based on certification testing, design reviews, and analyses completed to date. In 2022, construction began on

9328-486: The school were rejected, the students asked activists at North Carolina A&T State University for support in a protest. Protests escalated and after students at A&T had thrown rocks at police, they returned on May 21 armed with tear gas canisters, using them against the crowds. The uprising grew larger, and the governor ordered the National Guard to back up local police. After there were exchanges of gunfire,

9434-478: The start of Norfolk Southern NC-Line that runs from Greensboro to Goldsboro, NC. According to the United States Census Bureau , Greensboro has an area of 136.65 square miles (353.9 km ), of which 131.41 square miles (340.4 km ) is land and 5.24 square miles (13.6 km ) (3.83%) is water. The city of Greensboro lies among the rolling hills of North Carolina's Piedmont , midway between

9540-1302: The state's Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains to the west and the Atlantic beaches and Outer Banks to the east. The view of Greensboro from its highest building—the Lincoln Financial tower, commonly known as the Jefferson-Pilot Building after its previous owner,—shows an expanse of shade trees in the city. Interstates 40 , 73 , and 85 intersect at Greensboro. Greensboro is 29 miles (47 km) east of Winston-Salem , 54 miles (87 km) west of Durham , 77 miles (124 km) northwest of Raleigh , 90 miles (140 km) northeast of Charlotte , and 201 miles (323 km) southwest of Richmond, Virginia . Downtown Greensboro has attracted development investment in recent years with such new construction as First National Bank Field , residential construction, and offices. The Southside neighborhood downtown exemplifies central-city reinvestment. The formerly economically depressed neighborhood has been redeveloped as an award-winning neotraditional-style neighborhood featuring walkability , compact blocks and local amenities and services. The redevelopment of

9646-565: The state." Once surrender negotiations were completed at Bennett Place (in present-day Durham ) between General Johnston and General Sherman on April 26, 1865, Confederate soldiers in Greensboro stacked their arms, received their paroles, and headed home. After the war, investors worked to restore the textile mills and related industry. In the 1890s, the city continued to attract attention from northern industrialists, including Moses and Caesar Cone of Baltimore . The Cone brothers established large-scale textile plants, changing Greensboro from

9752-667: The students at A&T State University". On November 3, 1979, members of what would become the Communist Workers Party (CWP) held an anti- Ku Klux Klan rally at the Morningside Homes public housing project. Four local TV news stations covered it. During the protest, two cars containing Klansmen and neo-Nazis arrived. After a confrontation, the KKK and CWP groups exchanged gunfire. Five CWP members were killed. Eleven CWP members and one Klansman were injured. Television footage of

9858-517: The summer, and the unionization drive eventually collapsed under a combination of pressure exerted by the Cones and the economic conditions of the Great Depression , which left mill workers with few alternatives. Despite the resolution in the company's favor, many workers' loyalty to the company was permanently shaken by the events. Challenges to the Cones' management continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s, aided by new labor protections introduced by

9964-399: The villages. This quickly led to the collapse of the local union, as unionists either lost their jobs and moved elsewhere or quit the organization and signed yellow-dog contracts with the company. The 1900 strike damaged Cone Mills' public image. Seeking to restore the company's reputation and protect its increasing profitability, corporate leaders attempted to reform their relationship with

10070-527: The waterways, as did the early settlers. Quaker migrants from Pennsylvania, by way of Maryland , arrived at Capefair (now Greensboro) in about 1750. The new settlers began organized religious services affiliated with the Cane Creek Friends Meeting in Snow Camp in 1751. Three years later, 40 Quaker families were granted approval to establish New Garden Monthly Meeting. The action is recorded in

10176-551: The workforce and present themselves as benevolent managers with the aim of making the workforce more loyal to the company. To achieve this, members of the Cone family personally inserted themselves into the lives of the workers, often walking through the villages and greeting workers by name, handing out Christmas gifts to children, and individually intervening with troubled workers to provide them with money or wage increases. The company hosted large events and celebrations for its workers including an annual Fourth of July picnic, at which

10282-444: Was 3.00. In 2019, the average household size was 2.37. The 2019 American Community Survey determined Greensboro had a median age of 35.1, up from 33.4 in 2010. Approximately 6.0% of the city's inhabitants were under 5; 78.2% of the population was 18 and older, and 13.7% 65 and older. The age distribution in 2010 was 22.7% under 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who 65 or older. The median age

10388-400: Was 33.4. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 84.6 males. In 2011–15, the estimated median annual income for a household was $ 41,628, and the median income for a family was $ 53,150. Male full-time workers had a median income of $ 40,143 versus $ 34,761 for females. The per capita income was $ 25,929. About 14.6% of families and 19.3% of

10494-803: Was also the site of the final battle of the American Revolutionary War that was fought on Quebec soil in June 1776, the Battle of Trois-Rivières , which was also a part of the Continental Army's failed American Invasion of Quebec . Following a defeat at the hands of the British, the Continental Army retreated to Fort Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu , Quebec, and then to Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga , New York, before permanently ceasing their invasion of Quebec in July 1776. In

10600-431: Was built at the center of the intersection of Elm and Market streets. By 1821, the town was home to 369 residents. In the early 1840s, the state government designated Greensboro as one of the stops on a new railroad line, at the request of Governor John Motley Morehead , whose house, Blandwood , was in Greensboro. Stimulated by rail traffic and improved access to markets, the city grew substantially, soon becoming known as

10706-465: Was built by a farmer in 1795. Additions to this residence in 1846, designed by Alexander Jackson Davis , made the house influential as America's earliest Tuscan -style villa. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark . Other significant houses and estates were developed, including Dunleith, designed by Samuel Sloan ; Bellemeade; and the Bumpass-Troy House . Since the late 20th century,

10812-568: Was estimated to be 302,296 in 2023. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina , after Charlotte and Raleigh , and the 69th-most populous city in the United States . The population of the Greensboro–High Point metropolitan statistical area was estimated to be 789,842 in 2023. The Piedmont Triad region, of which Greensboro is the most populous city, had an estimated population of 1,736,099 in 2023. In 1808, Greensboro

10918-533: Was planned around a central courthouse square to succeed Guilford Court House as the county seat. The county courts were thus placed closer to the county's geographical center, a location more easily reached at the time by the majority of the county's citizens, who traveled by horse or on foot. Three major Interstate Highways ( Interstate 40 , Interstate 85 , and Interstate 73 ) in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina were built to intersect at this city. Among Greensboro's many notable attractions, some of

11024-590: Was renting in a three-story private home at 700 Market Street in Philadelphia , now known as the Declaration House, and within walking distance of Independence Hall . Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, removing Jefferson's vigorous denunciation of King George III for importing the slave trade , finally approving it two days later on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail : The second day of July 1776, will be

11130-601: Was the second largest mill community in the state, behind Cannon Mills ' Kannapolis . Though incorporated into the city of Greensboro in 1923, the mill community lived largely separate lives from other city residents for decades. Many of the early workers had rural origins and reared livestock in the yards of their homes. East White Oak mill village housed African American workers. Until the 1960s, African Americans were restricted to menial jobs in Cone Mills facilities, such as work as janitors. In 1944, an informal agreement between

11236-418: Was unconstitutional. Facilities reserved for blacks were generally underfunded by the state and city governments, which were dominated by conservative white Democrats. In the postwar period, blacks in North Carolina and across the South pushed to regain their constitutional rights. College students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College (A&T), a historically black college , made Greensboro

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