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History of Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Greensboro, Guilford, NC
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, Sycamore). The courthouse was built at the center of the intersection of Elm and Market streets. By 1821, the town was home to 369 residents.
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Greensboro Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Discover Greensboro: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1854 - Greensborough
Greensborouoh, a flourishing post-village, capital of Guilford county, North Carolina, on the Central railroad, 86 miles W. N. W. from Raleigh. The situation is healthy, and the surrounding country is fertile. Many of the houses are of wood, and others are built of brick. It is a place of considerable activity in trade, and is the seat of excellent institutions for learning, among which are several academies. It also contains 2 banks, 1 or 2 newspaper offices, and a number of manufactories.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
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1865 - April 26 - Battle of Durham Station, NC (Greensboro)
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1869 - Four inches of snow fell on the 7th at Covington, Va., and Greensboro, N. C.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
November 13, 1869
1878 - Courting Advice
We are two sisters, good-looking, sociable, refined and educated, but we have no admirers. We will not talk nonsense and think, perhaps that is the cause. What is your opinion ?
Inquirers.
We think you are correct in your conjecture, and we think it a good and sufficient reason for your not having admirers. The average man has not sufficient courage to visit, far less to marry- a woman who will not talk nonsense, and such a woman would be a stupid, not to say a dangerous companion for life.
Greensboro North State
Greensboro, North Carolina
Thurs., February 28, 1878
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1895 - Greensborough
Greensborough, a post-town, capital of Guilford, N.C., on the North Carolina Railroad, at its junction the Richmond & Danville and Northwestern Railroad, 81 miles W.N.W. of Raleigh, and 48 miles S.S.W. of ?ville. It contains a court-house, 16 churches, 4 news offices, 4 banks, 2 fine hotels, a Methodist female col a graded school, a public hall, 2 foundries, 3 tobacco factories, a saw-mill, and manufactures of spokes, harsash, and blinds. Pop. in 1890, 3317.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1900 - Blaze at Greensboro, N. C.
Charlotte, N. C., Jan. 1. - Fire at Greensboro, N. C. yesterday caused losses aggregating nearly $100,000, partly covered by insurance. The fire originated in the elevator shaft of the Hague-McCorkle Dry Goods Company. The losses are as follows: Hague-McCorkle Company $80,000, insurance $55,000; W. J. Clary, loss $12,500, insurance $6,500. The damage to the buildings will aggregate $4,000.
Dallas Morning News
Dallas, Texas
January 2, 1900
1904 - STUDENTS ESCAPE FLAMES.
Greensboro, N. C., Jan. 22. - Three hundred and fifty young women students were forced to flee in their night clothing as a result of a fire which destroyed the main dining room, dormitory, and laundry of the State Normal college. Only one-third of the students saved their personal effects.
The Cedar Rapids Evening
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
January 22, 1904
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1916
Greensboro, a city, capital of Guilford co., N.C., on the Southern R., 48 miles SSW. of Danville, Va. It contains a court-house, Greensboro Female College, Bennett College (for colored), the State Normal and Industrial College, and the Agricultural and Mechanical College (colored), and has cotton- and tobacco-factories, steel- and iron- works, and manufactures of furniture, spokes, handles, cotton-mill supplies, saw-mill machinery, flannels, carpets, sash and blinds. Pop. in 1890, 3317 ; in 1900, 10,035.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
1936 - LIST OF DEAD IN TORNADO-RAVAGED GREENSBORO SWELLS TO 12; WORK OF RELIEF AND REHABILITATION SPEEDED. AT LEAST ONE MORE EXPECTED TO DIE TODAY.
DAMAGE OF $1,500,000 LEFT IN WAKE OF FREAK TWISTER.
WIDE AREAS DEVASTATED.
Greensboro, April 3. - (AP) - The body of another negro man was taken today from the debris left by last night's tornado to swell the death toll to 12, with at least one other persons expected to die during the day.
Men armed with shovels, picks, axes, crowbars and aided by tractors dug into the ruins in all parts of the devastated area and searchers expressed the belief one or more other negroes had perished in the Five Points cafe where the body of ROBERT MITCHELL, 18, negro dishwasher of 211 Lewis street, was uncovered in mid-morning.
The storm was Greensboro's first recorded tornado and left in its wake damage estimated at upwards of $1,500,000 to a strip of business and residential property some 2 1/ 2 miles long and three to four blocks wide. More than 100 persons were injured.
Nearly Hits Business Heart.
Thousands of curious thronged the damaged sector of this city of 60,000 as the brunt of... Read MORE...
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1960 - February 1 - 4 students stage 1st civil rights sit-in, at Greensboro NC Woolworth
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