The below, brief timeline is drawn from Melvin O. Wyrick’s History of the Town of Gibsonville (1971) and research by GMHSI contributors.
Early – Mid 1700s: The first European settlers of eastern Guildford County were Germans, Ulster Scots (Scotch-Irish), and English. These family came largely from Pennsylvania down the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road into the northern Piedmont of North Carolina. Eastern Guilford County was home primarily to German families. For this reason common family names include Albrechts (Albrights), Anthoneys, Brouns (Browns), Bravers (Browers), Klaps (Clapps), Cobles, Emigs (Amicks), Fausts (Fousts), Vogelmanns (Foglemans), Goertners (Cortners), Greffs (Graves), Holts, Ingles, Ingolds, Eiseles (Isleys), Kaubs (Cobbs), Keims (Kimes), Laus (Lows), Leinbergers (Linebergers, Lineberrys), Longs, Mays, Neases, Reitzells, Schaeffers (Shepherds), Shaffners (Shoffners), Scherbs (Sharpes), Schmidts (Smiths), Schwenks (Swings), Stacks, Stahles (Staleys), Sthars (Starrs), Straders, Summers, Trollingers, Weitzels (Whitesells), and Weiricks (Wyricks). Religiously our German local families separated themselves as German Lutherans or German Reformed (who were Calvinists).
Mid 1740s: Founding of Friedens Church, also known in the early days as “Stahmaker’s” Church. This church has the distinction of being the first church in Guilford County and it is still in operation, located about two miles northwest of Gibsonville @ 6001 NC Highway 61 North. The adjacent cemetery is one of the oldest in Piedmont North Carolina, with some of the gravestones going back to 1750. The older slate and soapstone tombstones carry inscriptions in German, which was used as late as 1825. Unfortunately, many of the gravestones have been lost or broken.
About the same time as the organization of Friedens Church, “Brick” Church was organized about six miles south of present Gibsonville @ 3699 Brick Church Road, Burlington. It is claimed by some that the two churches were organized by the same minister. It is elsewhere claimed that Brick Reformed Church (now Brick United Church of Christ) dates back to the year 1748 when George Valentine Clapp (Klapp) and his brother, Luther, from Berks County, Pennsylvania, settled on Beaver Creek near the present Alamance County line. At its founding this church was called Der Klapp Kirche (The Clapp Church) because of the great efforts of that family. Founders of this church were the Albrechts (Albrights), Basons, Ephlands, Fausts (Fousts), Gerhards (Garretts), Longs, Loys, Neases, Schades (Shaddies), Scherbs (Sharpes), Steiners (Stoners), Trollingers, and others.
In rural agricultural areas like our, churches were important as cultural meeting locations and also as schools.
1775 – 1783: The Revolutionary War and Americas War for Independence. Locally this includes the 1771 Battle of Alamance and the 1781 Battle for Guilford Courthouse.
1812 – 1861: In the antebellum era, many local residents were opposed to slavery, including Lutherans, Quakers and Methodists. Guilford County was a stop on the Underground Railroad, for which volunteers aided refugee slaves en route to freedom in the North.
1848: The NC Legislature passed a railroad bill calling for an east-west railroad to connect the coastal plain with the piedmont. The purpose of this new infrastructure was to open western portions of the state for economic and industrial development. In 1849, the North Carolina Rail Road Company chartered a course for this new rail road between Charlotte and Goldsboro. In January 1852, rail road construction began simultaneously at both ends of this new rail line. Source: http://www.ncrr.com/about-ncrr/ncrr-history/
1850s: Infrastructure began to take shape in Gibsonville. In 1851 the road bed was started for the railroad to build tracks through the town and area. This work was completed by enslaved people and organized by Guilford County local Joseph Gibson. In 1854 a train depot in downtown Gibsonville was constructed; this is no longer in existence. On October 9, 1855, the first train entered the new Gibson Station. Due to the abundance of roses at Minneola Mill across from the train depot, Gibsonville later becomes branded “the city of roses.”
June 15, 1855: Opening of the Gibsonville Post Office. While the community was not formally named Gibsonville until 1871, the Post Office did bear this name as early as its opening.
1861 – 1865: US Civil War. At the end of the Civil War, slavery is abolished by the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution.
Feb 18, 1871: The Town of Gibsonville was incorporated and named in honor of Joseph Gibson (1785 – 1857). Prior to his death, Joseph requested the community formally bear his name since he himself had no sons to carry on his legacy.
1887: Grover Cleveland was President, the US was composed of 38 states, the first automobile was recently invented (1886), and the commercial light bulb was under development and production by Thomas Edison.
Late 1880’s – Early 1900’s: During this period, Gibsonville’s downtown and employment centers saw initial construction. The oldest sections of Minneola Mill were constructed in 1887 by Mr. Berry Davidson and added to over time; this is the large mill located across the railroad tracks from downtown. Hiawatha Mill was constructed in the mid-1890s by Mr. Berry Davidson and was later renamed Gem Cotton Mill (after it was sold to the Holts of Burlington). Due to its proximity to Durham and its excellent rail access, Gibsonville was a site of serious consideration for American Tobacco Company in the 1890s. American Tobacco Company ultimately chose continued Durham expansion instead. Today Gem Cotton Mill is located at 130 Eugene Street ‘behind’ downtown and across from Mr. Davidson’s plague off Little Avenue. By 1899, a Greensboro newspaper reported Gibsonville boasted seven general stores, a drug store, a hotel, a livery barn, and some minor enterprises. The Greensboro Patriot also included May 1899 press and Nov 1921 press about Gibsonville’s growth. By 1901, other records show that Gibsonville had 80 homes, two cotton mills, three or four merchandise establishments, and about 500 persons.
1907: The town’s first bank was established, The Bank of Gibsonville. Local owner of Burke’s Department Store, Mr. J.W. Burke was one of the organizers and a member of the Board. This bank had a presence in downtown Gibsonville from 1907 until 1969 when it merged with and became a branch of First Citizens Bank & Trust Company. This is today located at the site of the Fidelity bank building.
1910 – 1940s: Gibsonville stayed a small town through much of the start of the 20th century. Per the US Census, the Town’s population grew only 591 persons from 1910 to 1940. Population figures were as follows: 1,162 persons (1910), 1,302 persons (1920), 1,605 persons (1930), and 1,753 persons (1940).
1913 – 1933: Mayor Dwight (D. M.) Davidson, Sr starts his twenty years term in office. D. M. ran against his father in his 1913 initial win for Mayor. After his election, D. M. guided Gibsonville through World War I (1914 – 1918), the town’s tremendous growth in the 1920’s, cultural changes like women’s first opportunity to vote (1920), construction of Highway 70 taking statewide traffic away from downtown Gibsonville (1931), and the start of the Great Depression (1929 – 1939). D.M was Gibsonville’s longest serving Mayor until our current Mayor Lenny William’s (2001 – present).
1914 – 1918: World War I
1918: Gibsonville resident Mrs. Etta ‘P. T.’ Burke “was instrumental in helping to organize the [P.T.A] program on a state level.” “The first State PTA office, which housed the office of the Treasurer, was located on the second floor of Burke’s Department Store. Mrs. J. W. Burke, better known as ‘P. T. Burke,’ was the first State PTA Treasurer, and she served without compensation.” Additionally, this office space was furnished gratis by Mr. and Mrs. Burke. During this time and through her life, Mrs. Burke “kept the books” for both her husband’s businesses and for statewide PTA efforts. Ironically, women are finally allowed the right to vote by the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920.
1920: Formation of the Gibsonville Development Corporation for “Insurance, Loans, Real Estate, and Lumber”. This was the partnership of high net worth individuals D. M. Davidson (president and mayor of Gibsonville), J.W. Burke (vice president), A. B. Owens (secretary), and P. L. Kivett (assistant secretary). This group purchased, built, and owned many of the town buildings and expanded our downtown. This group also developed vacant land into neighborhoods and were an active part of the town’s residential growth.
1923: Completion of the town’s water and sewer systems. This access to water on demand allowed for the start of the Gibsonville Fire Department. During this time, Gibsonville also saw development of both two new schools as well as the overpass in downtown.
1929: The crash of Wall Street and start of Great Depression was marked in Gibsonville by the closing of the Gem Cotton Mill by the Holts.
1930: Gibsonville local J.W. Burke became a Guilford County Commissioner. This was following the great stock market collapse in 1929 and when real implications of the Great Depression were becoming apparent. In 1931, US national unemployment jumped to 16.3%. Locally, high net worth Guilford County is impacted. Under the first two year of J.W.’s tenancy, county positions, hours county services are provided, and wages to staff are cut. Mr. Burke and his peers’ efforts paid off. “The county succeeded in weathering the effects of the Depression without defaulting on its obligations, due in no small degree to the fact that, by 1933 and for the remainder of the decade, it had become the wealthiest county in the state.” Mr. Burke was a County Commissioner for twelve years.
1931: Highway 70 was constructed south of downtown. This removed most of the primary traffic that passed through downtown Gibsonville and routed it around town in a more direct east -west fashion. Prior to Highway 70, the main east – west road through the area was Highway 100, which ran from small town to small town in a zig zag fashion.
1939 – 1945: World War II. The US became involved in WWII based on the surprise Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. One of Gibsonville’s own (Charles Willis Mann) was at Pearl Harbor and is considered the first of Gibsonville’s sons lost to this war. During this time, Mr. W. D. Hammer was the Veteran Service Officer in Town Hall. Our VFR at 423 Boonwood Drive is today named after Mr. Hammer.
1940-1942: An active Civilian Conservation Corp facility near Gibsonville. This was an F. D. Roosevelt New Deal program.
1947: Daily Times – News of Burlington reporting on Gibsonville Progress and History. “It’s no longer the days of three churches and four saloons.”
1950 – 1953: Korean War.
Sept 11, 1950: Gibsonville became regional news when a significant rail accident occurred in downtown. Due to a jammed switch, a locomotive exploded. Locally this shook houses, smashed six lead cars, turned over 18 other cars, and left an additional 22 cars stranded on the tracks behind. Overall, this unfortunate event killed two people, disrupted rail service for 16 hours, and drew 30,000+ visitors interested in this carnage. More information is available on the Detailed Histories section of our website.
1951: Cone Mills discontinued reduced cost rental housing for Minneola Mill employees. This was due to a significant Textile Workers Union of American (TWUA) labor dispute. Blocks of residential homes (60+) were sold and moved. This forced employees to find homes outside of city limits further moving people out of the town. As a result, the Town’s population decreased from 1,866 persons (1950) to 1,784 persons (1960). This was Gibsonville’s only decade of population decrease in its history. In 1960, Gibsonville only had 179+ persons more than the town had in 1930, thirty years earlier.
1950 – 1960s: After WWII, the Gibsonville population did not follow general US trends of the increasing Baby Boomer generation. Part of the reason for this is that after the war ended, many of those who went to war did not return to our small town. Employment in the larger metros was more appealing and offered these individuals more opportunity. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Interstate 40 was constructed across North Carolina. This new, larger interstate took the traffic off of three lane Highway 70 and allowed for easier access to and between the larger area metros or Raleigh / Durham and Greensboro / High Point.
1955 – 1975: Vietnam War
1958 – 1960: After over 40 years, Mrs. Burke’s Gibsonville PTA office closed around 1958. She had “the honor” of turning the first shovel full of dirt for the planned new construction offices at 3501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh. On April 27, 1960, she attended the dedication ceremony for the new State Office of NC Congress of Parents and Teachers. Mrs. Burke delivered an address and was honored by the dedication of a room in her name.
1970: The Town’s population breaks 2,024 persons, per the Census. Despite small gains, Gibsonville remained a small town throughout the 20th century.
1971: The History of the Town of Gibsonville is written by Melvin O. Wyrick. Mr. Wyrick was Gibsonville’s longest serving town manager with 43+ years of service to our community. In 1999, Mr. Wyrick was named one of the Top 150 People whom help shaped Alamance County’s first 150 years.
Circa 1970: Local education facilities are updated. In 1965, the Gibsonville Elementary School was built at 401 East Joyner Street. In 1974, Eastern High School was built. Middle school grades were transferred to this same location after a middle school was built adjacent. This began the closure of the historic Gibsonville School, which was later put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
1988: Closure of the Cone Mills plant in downtown. This facility became a multi-tenant location with many businesses rather than just the one larger employer. This defining building occupies 60% of our downtown’s commercial space.
2000: There were 4,372 people, 1,707 households, and 1,206 families in Gibsonville, per the Census. In only thirty years, the town doubled it’s population.
2003 – 2011: Iraq War.
2010: Gibsonville grows to 6,410 persons, per the 2010 US Census. The growth of 2,000+ persons in a ten year period is the largest single population increase in Gibsonville’s history. This population increase alone is equivalent to the entire towns population in 1970.
2019: Gibsonville has an estimated 7,339 persons and continues to grow. Residential developments continue to build on the towns borders. This is specifically on Highway 70, in northern Gibsonville, and also out Highway 61.
2001 – 2021: Mayor Lenny Williams becomes Gibsonville’s longest serving Mayor. He had 18 years of service when elected for another four year term in 2019. This exceeds the prior record of 20 years served by Mayor D.M. Davidson from 1913 – 1933.
Feb 18, 2021: Gibsonville’s 150th anniversary.
Present Day: For current town information, see the Town’s website at www.gibsonville.net. ‘Our small town’ continues to grow and is projected to hit 10,000+ persons in the next few years. Just as we celebrate our history to date, we welcome Gibsonville’s new families. Together, we all create Gibsonville’s future
Interested in More: Additional information is available in Press & Publications or Detailed Histories on this website.
Your Additions: Did we miss something in the above summary? Do you have a donation, fact, or a story you want included in our archives? Please let us know by emailing the GMHSI at info@gmhsi.org. We would love a comprehensive timeline and appreciate all assistance towards this end.