Vass

History

Vass originated as a stop on the Seaboard Railway as a station called Bynum. It was primarily a place with a siding to load lumber, turpentine and resin from the local area. In 1877, the town's name was changed from Bynum to Winder, in honor of Major John C. Winder, general manager of the Seaboard Railroad. In 1892 its name was again changed to Vass, honoring Major William Worrell Vass, who was at that time paymaster for the Seaboard Railroad. Vass remained as only a stopping place for the local train until 1907, when it was incorporated with Mr. Alex Gunter as mayor. During the 1910s the town took on new life, and through the efforts of men such as Mr. Angus Cameron the town began to grow into a thriving community. Cameron, who arrived in the settlement in the 1870s from his home in Harnett County, and remained until his death in 1928, is acknowledged as the community's leading benefactor. He was on the first road commission, and was able to accomplish much in the way of better roads; he served on the Board of County Commissioners and years later as mayor of Vass. He was on the local school board for around half a century and built the first school building. Cameron erected the first brick buildings in Vass; he organized the Vass Cotton Mill Company and put up the mill building. The Leslie-Taylor House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Several other structures are eligible for the National Historic Register including: the Borst House, the Angus Cameron House, the John Cameron House, the Walter Graham House, the Vass Commercial Historic District, the Vass Cotton Mill, the Village Historic and the Walter Leslie House.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Pinecrest High
  High · Southern Pines · 2,221 students · 22:1 ratio
• Union Pines High
  High · Cameron · 1,438 students · 19.7:1 ratio
• STARS Charter
  Other · Vass · 809 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• New Century Middle
  Middle · Cameron · 625 students · 16.9:1 ratio
• McDeeds Creek Elementary
  Elementary · Southern Pines · 625 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Southern Pines Elementary
  Elementary · Southern Pines · 612 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Crain's Creek Middle
  Middle · Carthage · 592 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• Vass-Lakeview Elementary
  Elementary · Vass · 460 students · 14.4:1 ratio