Morganton

Jonesboro Historic District, Morganton Neighborhood

Morganton presents a peaceful community characterized by calm streets and a slower-paced atmosphere, making it an attractive place to settle. The neighborhood offers a varied housing stock, including single detached homes, small apartments, and mobile homes, with many properties built between the 1960s and 1980s, showcasing unique architectural features. Access to essential amenities like pharmacies and several grocery stores helps meet daily needs conveniently by car. Elementary schools are located within easy reach, providing educational options close to home. Dining options include multiple nearby restaurants, and parking availability throughout the area makes mobility convenient for residents in all types of housing.

Home buyers who prefer a calm ambience will enjoy Morganton. The noise levels in Morganton are low, as the streets tend to be reasonably peaceful - although there are still several noisier sections, especially closer to I-40, the railway line or one of the 2 airports (Clyde Valley,Silver Creek).

Highlights of Jonesboro Historic District

Parks, schools, dining, and what makes this neighborhood special

🏠 Philo G. Harbison House site (early‑20th‑century residence)

Once the modest 2‑story frame home of prominent Black contractor Philo G. Harbison, this now‑absent residence stood tucked off W. Concord Street and exemplified the vernacular vernacular cottages and rural character that define Jonesboro as Morganton’s oldest intact African‑American neighborhood, with homes dating from ca. 1895 to ca. 1935.

⛪ Gaston Chapel A.M.E. Church (100 Bouchelle Street)

Built 1900–1911 by Philo G. Harbison, this distinctive Gothic Revival brick church with unequal corner towers served Jonesboro’s African‑American congregation and remains a landmark embodying both the community’s faith and local craftsmanship.

🌾 Informal garden plots and open ravine landscape

Throughout the district—especially along Jones Street and South Anderson Street—large open spaces and garden plots amid gently winding streets and ravines contribute to the semi‑rural visual character that distinguishes Jonesboro from the more urban grid of central Morganton.

🛤️ Historic street layout (dirt end of South Anderson Street)

On the far end of South Anderson Street, the road remains unpaved and leads to two shotgun houses hidden in a ravine, reflecting the district’s organic development and the sense that homes were sited before streets were formalized—rare in modern neighborhoods.

🏡 Vernacular shotgun and bungalow residences

Scattered across Jones Street, West Concord Street, Bay Street, and South Anderson Street are contributing vernacular residences—shotgun houses, cottages, and bungalows—that showcase architectural diversity in modest, community‑built homes central to Jonesboro’s historic identity.

Jonesboro Historic District

This September in Jonesboro Historic District

Things to do, events, and what's happening this month

September 11–12, 2026

44th Annual Morganton Festival

Downtown Morganton (Courthouse Square & Union Streets) • Friday 12:00 PM–11:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM–10:00 PM

This long-running street festival is right in downtown Morganton near Jonesboro Historic District, offering free live music, arts & crafts, food vendors, kid zones and community entertainment that locals will enjoy.

Weekly in September 2026

Morganton Farmers Market (Wednesday Mini-Market & Saturday Market)

Wednesdays at 111 N Green Street; Saturdays at 300 Beach Street • Wednesdays 10:00 AM–2:00 PM; Saturdays 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

Residents can shop for fresh local produce, homemade goods, and support local growers and artisans minutes from Jonesboro Historic District throughout September.

September 22, 2026

From Our Seats to the Streets (CRBA Event)

Burkemont Baptist Church, Morganton • 6:00 PM

A community-focused gathering organized by the local Baptist association, offering residents a chance to connect with neighbors and local organizations close to home.

September 30, 2026

Heritage Apple Presentation

Morganton Public Library • 6:00 PM

An engaging adult program learning about heritage apples from a local orchard manager—great for food and farming enthusiasts living nearby.

September 18–19, 2026

Book Sale at Collett Street Recreation Center

Collett St. Recreation Center, Morganton • Friday 4:30 PM–7:00 PM (members preview); Saturday 9:00 AM–12:30 PM (public), Bag Sale 1:00 PM–3:00 PM

A local book sale offering great bargains for families and readers, just a short drive from Jonesboro Historic District and offering something for all ages.

From the Neighborhood

Stories, updates, and things to know in Jonesboro Historic District

Know Your Neighborhood

Local characteristics and demographics for Jonesboro Historic District

Neighborhood Characteristics

Full Guide →

Demographics

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