Elon

History

Elon began in 1881 as a North Carolina Railroad depot in between the stations of Goldsboro and Charlotte, called "Mill Point” because it was envisioned to be a shipping point for area cotton mills. Locals called it “Boone’s Crossing.” Because of a growing population, a post office was built, which established a more permanent residency in 1888. In 1889, the local Christian Assembly created an institution of higher learning called the “Graham Normal College”. The founders of Elon College named the school “Elon”, because they understood that to be the Hebrew word for oak, and the area contained many oak trees. The town was called "Elon College" until the college known as Elon College became Elon University. The town then changed its name officially to Elon.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.23%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Southern Alamance High
  High · Graham · 1,360 students · 18.4:1 ratio
• Walter M Williams High
  High · Burlington · 1,343 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• Western Alamance High
  High · Elon · 1,036 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Hugh M Cummings High
  High · Burlington · 981 students · 16.9:1 ratio
• Turrentine Middle
  Middle · Burlington · 929 students · 19:1 ratio
• Graham High
  High · Graham · 913 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• Western Alamance Middle
  Middle · Elon · 822 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• Broadview Middle
  Middle · Burlington · 797 students · 26.6:1 ratio