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Ayden is located in central Eastern
North Carolina, 30 minutes from I 95, 90 minutes form
the Research Triangle, and a day’s drive to two-thirds
of the nation’s population.
The local market measures roughly
133,800 consumers in Pitt County, with a tremendous
growth rate of 24% during the last decade. 210,000
people live in a 25-mile radius around Ayden; this
includes Pitt County, Lenoir County, Beaufort County,
and Craven County residences. Ayden is the third
largest Town in Pitt County, with a population of 2,624
citizens.
Ayden’s history roots back to
1891, when the town was incorporated. During the
last century Ayden mainly lived from farming.
After the decline of this income source, Ayden actively
engaged in recruiting other industries.
Consequently, the Town now is home to some of the major
industrial employers in Pitt County, like Weyerhaeuser,
Inc., Minges Bottling Group, and Carolina Catfish, Inc.
In order to meet light industry needs, the Worthington
Industrial Park has been developed and is now the
location of Phoenix Fabrications. The
manufacturing industry is the second largest (after
public schools) employer in Ayden.
Neither Ayden, nor Pitt County
levies an income tax. North Carolina levies a
moderate 4.5% retail sales tax. Pitt County also
levies a 2.5% retail sales tax, of which half the
revenues are allocated for public schools.
Ayden’s property tax was just reduced by 2 cent to .52
cent, effective in 2004.
Ayden’s utilities, water,
wastewater, natural gas, and electricity facilities are
owned and operated by the Town. The utility
rates in Ayden are very competitive, and our power
supply is very dependable. A proof of the quality
of Ayden’s Electric Department is assuring, can be
found during the time after Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
People In Pitt County lost much more than their power,
yet in Ayden, lengthy power outages were not one of the
problems citizens had to deal with during the flood.
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Destination
Ayden
– Big Town connections, Small Town flair
Ayden is strategically located in
central eastern North Carolina. Its proximity to
Greenville and the location in Pitt County situates
Ayden in a very strong, attractive local market.
Highways
The
region’s highway system offers quick and easy access
to the entire region and beyond. NC 11, a
four-lane highway, connects Ayden with Kinston,
Winterville, and Greenville. A newly proposed
South-West By-Pass will put Ayden right on the spot to
be. The South-West By-Pass will be a limited
access four-lane Highway connecting Ayden non-stop with
Wilson and continuing to Raleigh. Regional business
travelers are able to reach destinations in Washington,
Wilson, Rocky Mount, New Bern, and Goldsboro in less
than one hour.
Airports
Ayden
also is located close to the North Carolina TransPark
facilities in Kinston, equipped with the longest
commercial runway in North Carolina and a free trade
zone.
An alternative Airport is located in Greenville, only 15
minutes away. US Airways offers daily passenger
connections from Greenville to Charlotte.
Railroad
Alternative
Transportation is also available in immediacy to Ayden.
Two railway tracks run through Pitt County: Norfolk
Southern (north-south) and CSX rail (east-west) lines,
both come together in Greenville.
Ports
Ayden is also
less than two hours driving distance from two major
ports that are situated in the middle of North and South
Atlantic shipping lanes. The Moorhead City
and Wilmington ports both service on all major
international trade lines.
Demographics
Market Size
Sex and Age
4,622 people in Ayden (Census 2000)
Male...................2,038 133,798
in Pitt County (Census2000)
Female...............2,584
Under
5 years..... 282
5 to 14 years..... 698
15 to 24 years..... 667
25 to 44 years.....1,192
45 to 59 years..... 854
60 to 74 years..... 639
75 to 84 years..... 716
85 years and over...104
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