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About Mount Airy

History of Mount Airy

From incorporation in 1885 to granite, furniture and tobacco, the story of the Granite City.

City facts

  • The Town of Mount Airy was incorporated in 1885.
  • The granite quarry began large-scale production in 1889.
  • The first furniture factory began work in 1895, and tobacco factories followed across town.
  • The official city seal, adopted in 1977, depicts furniture, textiles and the granite quarry.
  • On July 15, 1976, the Town of Mount Airy became the City of Mount Airy.
  • The Municipal Building at 300 South Main Street was completed in 1978.

The first town officials

Approximately 732 people voted in the first election after incorporation. Officials on record for September 3, 1889 include Mayor H.C. Brown; Commissioners James H. Sparger, W.E. Patterson, John L. Worth, R.T. Nutt and Anderson Creed; Chief of Police T.F. Dunnagan; and Secretary and Treasurer John L. Worth.

Recognition

  • All America City Award, 1994.
  • First city in the nation to win the STAR award for its safety program.

Acknowledgements

The City thanks Barbara Summerlin, editor of "Collections and Recollections," published by the Mount Airy Restoration Foundation, Inc., for historical information used on this page.

Next steps

Past mayors and city managers (PDF) (external site)Excerpt from the first town charter (PDF) (external site)

Content checked against City of Mount Airy History of Mount Airy (external site). Confirm time-sensitive details on the official page.