Vollis Simpson (1919 – May 31, 2013) was an American "outsider" folk artist known for large kinetic sculptures called " whirligigs ", which Simpson made from salvaged metal. He lived and worked in Lucama, North Carolina . Many of his larger pieces are on display at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina , about 10 miles from Lucama.
26-475: Vollis Simpson was born January 17, 1919, to Oscar and Emma Watson Simpson of Spring Hill Township in Wilson County, North Carolina . According to his wife, Jean Simpson, he was 8th of 12 children. He left school after the 11th grade. Though not attracted to farming, Simpson found work servicing the farm's equipment, such as the threshers, bailers, tractors, and pumps which are used in farming. Simpson served in
52-575: A household in the county was $ 30,983, and the median income for a family was $ 35,902. Males had a median income of $ 27,300 versus $ 21,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 14,435. About 16.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over. Edgecombe County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments . The North Carolina Department of Corrections previously operated
78-742: A population 17,189. In 1855, parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston , and Wayne counties were combined to form Wilson County . In the aftermath of the American Civil War , the economy of eastern North Carolina was adversely affected. In the Reconstruction era, freedmen gained political power and, as a result, three blacks were elected to the North Carolina General Assembly between 1868 and 1872 and blacks held significant influence in local government. In 1871, after significant political controversy, all parts of Edgecombe County west of
104-530: A total area of 373.10 square miles (966.3 km ), of which 367.57 square miles (952.0 km ) is land and 5.53 square miles (14.3 km ) (1.48%) is water. As of the 2020 census , there were 78,784 people, 32,384 households, and 19,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 people per square mile (77 people/km ). There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 units per square mile (32 units/km ). There were 28,613 households, out of which 31.90% had children under
130-827: A whirligig for the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore . The 55-foot (17 m) high, 45-foot (14 m) wide whirligig called "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" was installed for the museum's opening in November, 1995. He was also commissioned to create whirligigs for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta . Four of his works were installed at the Olympic Folk Art Park and remained there on permanent display. Other of Simpson's whirligigs have been exhibited at
156-569: Is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina . As of the 2020 census , the population was 48,900. Its county seat is Tarboro . Edgecombe County is part of the Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area . This area eventually comprising Edgecombe County was historically home to the Tuscarora , a Native American people. The first European settlers arrived in the Tar River region in
182-512: The 2000 census , there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families living in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (42 people/km ). There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 units per square mile (19 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 57.46% Black or African American , 40.06% White , 0.20% Native American , 0.13% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 1.56% from other races , and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.79% of
208-541: The 2020 census , the population was 78,784. The county seat is Wilson . The county comprises the Wilson, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included within the Rocky Mount -Wilson- Roanoke Rapids , NC Combined Statistical Area . On February 13, 1855, the North Carolina General Assembly established Wilson County from parts of Edgecombe , Johnston , Nash , and Wayne counties. The county
234-775: The American Folk Art Museum in New York City and at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia . Some of his sculptures have sold for thousands of dollars. In 2004, Wilson, North Carolina , held its first annual Wilson Whirligig Festival. The festival was renamed in 2016 to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival, and is usually held the first full weekend of November. The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
260-701: The Fountain Correctional Center for Women in an unincorporated area in the county, near Rocky Mount . It closed in December 2014. Edgecombe County's unemployment has been declining from a peak of 17.1 percent in February 2010. In June 2024 the county had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. Edgecombe County Public Schools has 14 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to thirteenth grade . These are separated into four high schools , four middle schools , five elementary schools , and one K–8 school. It
286-596: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 506.87 square miles (1,312.8 km ), of which 505.44 square miles (1,309.1 km ) is land and 1.43 square miles (3.7 km ) (0.28%) is water. As of the 2020 census , there were 48,900 people, 21,151 households, and 14,408 families residing in the county. At the 2010 census , there were 56,552 people living in the county. 57.4% were Black or African American , 38.8% White , 0.3% Native American , 0.2% Asian , 2.3% of some other race and 1.0% of two or more races . 3.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). At
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#1733085008319312-585: The US Army Air Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He demonstrated his intuitive engineering skills while stationed on Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands , where he constructed a windmill out of parts from a junk B-29 Superfortress bomber to power a washing machine for his company. After the war, Simpson founded a house-moving operation with his brothers to supplement
338-602: The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad were annexed to Nash leading to the bifurcation of the Edgecombe communities of Battleboro and Sharpsburg between the two counties. In 1883, the county was reduced to its present dimensions when part of it was annexed to Wilson. From the Reconstruction era until the Great Depression in the 1930s, the county experienced demographic increases and the development of industry. According to
364-429: The age of 18 living with them, 48.10% were married couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under
390-467: The age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 33,116, and the median income for a family was $ 41,551. Males had a median income of $ 30,364 versus $ 21,997 for females. The per capita income for
416-452: The age of 65, and began to build wind-driven structures which he called "windmills", but came to be called whirligigs. He built a number of large whirligigs on his property in Lucama surrounding a pond across from his workshop. This was referred to by locals as "Acid Park" because of how the sculptures would reflect car headlights when people came out after dark. Simpson was commissioned to create
442-416: The assembly acceded to the creation of the precinct. The reason for why the eventual county's name is spelled differently than the honoree's name or when this discrepancy came into practice is unknown. In 1746 part of Edgecombe County became Granville County . In 1758 another portion, including the county seat of Enfield, became Halifax County ; and in 1777 yet another part became Nash County . In 1763
468-488: The county seat was designated at the town of Tarboro. The first U.S. Census in 1790 recorded a total population of 10,255. In 1840 the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad—later renamed the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad —was completed with a line through the county, which spurred the development of the communities of Rocky Mount, Battleboro, and Sharpsburg. By 1850, the county produced significant amounts of cotton and recorded
494-482: The county was $ 17,102. About 13.80% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over. Wilson County government is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments . It has several law-enforcement agencies: Edgecombe County, North Carolina Edgecombe County ( / ˈ ɛ dʒ k ə m / EJ -kum or / ˈ ɛ dʒ k oʊ m / EJ -kohm )
520-446: The income from the family farm. He designed and built much of the heavy equipment they used to move houses, creating a first of its kind crop sprayer. He also ran a machine shop for decades. The 1940 United States Census shows Simpson living at home with his parents, two sisters – Hazel, four years older, Eleanor, five years younger – and younger brother, Daryl. His occupation is listed as "farming". Simpson retired at
546-543: The mid-1730s. On May 16, 1732, Royal Governor of the Province of North Carolina George Burrington , in response to a petition and with the consent of his council, authorized for the representation of an Edgecombe Precinct in the North Carolina Carolina Assembly, named in honor of British politician Richard Edgcumbe . This decision was vetoed by the assembly and subsequently debated for several years. In 1741,
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#1733085008319572-443: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 20,392 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.20% were married couples living together, 21.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
598-400: Was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.16. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.80 males. The median income for
624-407: Was 94. "[I’ve been a] farmhouse mover, electric welder, carpenter, the list goes on. If you don't try something, you don't learn anything. Common sense. You come across a lot of these people that know so damn much, sometimes you find out they're dumber than I am..." Notes Wilson County, North Carolina Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina . As of
650-508: Was created in Wilson to document, conserve, and display the large sculptures from Simpson's land in Lucama. The park had its grand opening on November 2, 2017. Simpson acted as a consultant for the renovation of the whirligigs for display. The North Carolina legislature recognized Simpson's contributions and in June 2013 designated Simpson's Whirligigs as the official folk art of North Carolina. Simpson died at his home in his sleep on 13 May 2013. He
676-463: Was named for Colonel Louis D. Wilson , a U.S. Volunteers soldier, who died of yellow fever while on leave from the state senate during the Mexican–American War . Wilson Speedway held 12 NASCAR Cup Series races at the county fairgrounds in Wilson between 1951 and 1960. The half mile dirt track operated between 1934 and 1989. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has
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