Broadway

History

According to the book, Broadway North Carolina: 1870-1970, Broadway was settled in 1870 and incorporated as a town in 1907. The name "Broadway" comes from a broad level opening in the region's vast pine forest where the town was established. Among the early settlers of the area which is now Broadway were Hugh Matthews, Grisham Thomas, Tilmon Thomas, M.M. Watson, and Captain J.O.A. Kelly. African American families that settled in the area included the Buchanans, Camerons, McLeans, Minters, and Womacks. Broadway celebrated the centennial of its settlement in October 1970. During this event men and women had a street dance and dressed as they did in the 1870s. Broadway celebrated the centennial of its incorporation as well as the centennial of Lee County in 2007. Broadway recently celebrated "Broadway Our Way" in April 2009. A few years into the 21st century, many citizens of Broadway town proper paid a visit to New York to see a Broadway show, and in return Broadway, New York, came to Broadway, North Carolina. A show was put on at Broadway Elementary School with Sandy Duncan, actress of television and stage leading the way.

Geography

Broadway is located in eastern Lee County. It is east of Sanford, the county seat. U.S. Route 421 passes south of the town limits, leading west to Sanford and east to Lillington. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Broadway has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.55%, are water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,338
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  3,105
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,031
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  2,939
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,732
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  2,662
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,314
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,310

Largest nearby schools

• Lee County High
  High · Sanford · 1,508 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• Southern Lee High School
  High · Sanford · 1,234 students · 16.5:1 ratio
• SanLee Middle School
  Middle · Sanford · 809 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• West Lee Middle
  Middle · Sanford · 607 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• WB Wicker Elementary
  Elementary · Sanford · 575 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
  High · Sanford · 547 students · 14:1 ratio
• Tramway Elementary
  Elementary · Sanford · 545 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• J Glenn Edwards Elementary
  Elementary · Sanford · 532 students · 13.6:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2019-03-26
  8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina
• M 2.58 — 2015-11-15
  10 km S of Denton, North Carolina
• M 2.9 — 2011-03-21
  9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina