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 July in Jonesboro Historic District

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

July 10, 2026

TGIF Summer Concert Series: The Sounds of Morganton

Downtown Morganton Historic Courthouse Square • Vendors at 6:00 PM, music at 7:00 PM

This free, lively Friday evening concert transforms downtown into a community gathering filled with live Motown/R&B. It’s perfect for Jonesboro Historic District residents seeking local food, music, and a family-friendly night out.

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July 17, 2026

TGIF Summer Concert Series: Almost Vintage

Downtown Morganton Historic Courthouse Square • Vendors at 6:00 PM, music at 7:00 PM

Another free concert night in the TGIF series with party rock music, offering residents a fun summer outing right in the heart of their city within walking distance.

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July 24, 2026

TGIF Summer Concert Series: JJL Band

Downtown Morganton Historic Courthouse Square • Vendors at 6:00 PM, music at 7:00 PM

Yet another vibrant TGIF concert—party rock again—great for neighbors and families in Jonesboro to enjoy live music and local vendors as July winds down.

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July 24, 2026

Oak Hill Community Farm Incubator Open House

Oak Hill Community Park & Forest (820 NC 126, Morganton) • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

An opportunity to learn about a local farm incubator program and see farmland and community trails. Residents can explore agricultural initiatives and outdoor space just minutes outside downtown Morganton.

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Weekly through July 2026

Saturday Morganton Farmers Market

300 Beach Street (behind Sidetracked Brewery) • 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

A weekly Saturday farmers market offering fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, and crafts—ideal for residents of Jonesboro looking for local food and community connection on weekend mornings.

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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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