text:
Talk:Northampton

Millenium cities
I seem to remember that Northampton applied unsuccesfully to become one of the "millenium cities" but lost out to Wolverhampton, am I right? G-Man 21:16, 2 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Perhaps. I think that it also lost out to swindon. It is also mentioned that Milton Keynes is not a city, I always thought that it was even if not 'officially',Andham2000

 * Milton Keynes likes to pretend that it is a city. I think its population is smaller than that of Northampton. John Campbell 13:57, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

 * Irrespective, Reading (232,662) and Dudley (194,919) are still larger towns by population than Northampton (189,474). Medway Towns (which, whilst grouped together by National Statistics actually comprises the settlements of Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester etc, has a total population of 231,659) is larger in total for the conurbation, but Milton Keynes (pop 184,506) is definitely smaller. - Census 2001 DWaterson 23:54, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

 * City status isn't usually granted to urban areas or to urban sub-areas, but to boroughs, though. I haven't reverted, but I've clarified that the claim relies upon several very dodgy definitions.  Morwen - Talk 16:23, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

 * OK, I'm happy to accept this change; it's certainly correct, and better than the original version. You're right that city status is usually applied to a Local Authority (whether it be called a Borough, Metropolitan Borough, London Borough, or District) rather than a settlement itself. DWaterson 21:08, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Leisure and Culture section
I'm not sure about parts of the Leisure and Culture section, such as: "...to follow in the footsteps of giants like Deep Purple, Madness and My cat dillion." Deep Purple didnt play at the Racehorse, right? --Jeffthejiff 20:03, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Yep, Deep Purple did many moons ago in the Back room, it was a venue similar to the Irish Centre back in the early 90's or the Roadmender previously (remember?). I wondered if I was a bit 'chatty' in that section though Andham2000 23:40, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC) Madness played in the 90's on their incognito tour.

Alright then, i just couldnt find anything else about them playing there. Maybe you might have been a bit too chatty and vague. I also cleaned up your My Cat Dillion article and renamed it with capital letters. jeffthejiff 11:43, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I couldn't agree more Jeff, This section is just name-dropping famous music acts that have absolutely no connection with Northampton other than they have played gig's there!! I suggest this paragraph is removed, possibly just leaving in reference to the genuine Northampton but not very famous My Car Dillion (sic). --80.177.124.44 13:59, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC) Ade_myers. So removed paragraph for now, --80.177.124.44 18:15, 15 Jun 2005 (UTC) ade_myers

Is Nothampton not larger than Dudley now, contradictory to what it says on the page? Sh4wz0r 07:28, 18 Sep 2008 (UTC) Sh4wz0r —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.11.22.3 (talk)

 * Probably (and equally I wouldn't be surprised if MK is more populous than Northampton), but let's wait for some official statistics to verify this. Matthew (talk) 11:14, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

Could someone write something about the Twinfest? That would be a part for Culture and the Twinning. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.248.172.22 (talk) 11:45, 17 July 2017 (UTC)

Roadmender
Has the roadmender actually shut now? It's a shame if it has. Mattyw 10:53 2 Dec 2005
 * Funding pulled by the Council last week - liquidation before Xmas ) Brookie: A collector of little round things 14:11, 2 December 2005 (UTC)
 * It was on the front of the chron and echo - it was shut down immediately yesterday.  jeffthejiff  ( talk ) 14:35, 2 December 2005 (UTC)
 * That's shame. I moved out to go to uni a few years back. I loved that place. have the council said what they plan on doing with the building? --Mattyw 14:11, 3 December 2005 (UTC)

Roadmender Reopened in october, Trust me I live here.

Northants TV
Is anyone sure that Northants TV was ever on terrestrial? It seems highly unlikely to me. John Campbell 13:57, 7 October 2005 (UTC)
 * It was, yes, I think only for a year or so. Oxford had a similar local terrestrial channel too I believe. Tom- 14:48, 7 October 2005 (UTC)
 * *a bit late in commenting* but it definetly was. I remember the excitement. Aah. But then they tried to make the reception better and ended up making it worse. Then it mysteriously closed down. Anyone know what the hell happened to it? That sentence i wrote in this article seems to be the largest source of information about Northants TV on the web. Has anyone got any other information about it? -- jeffthejiff  ( talk ) 14:33, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Aha, after a bit of delving, I can bring you... the Northants TV website! Or an archived version, at least. Ah... the memories of really quite crap local TV.
 * I heard they had plans to launch a full news operation with bulletins, but then they vanished off the face of the Earth. have a contact for someone who used to do some presenting there, so I may try to find out :) Tom- 21:06, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Oooh, i think i found a version on archive.org quite a while ago, but i could only get to the front page. ta. Although, there isnt much of worth there anyway, being a "temporary site". i tried to find the former HQ of Northants TV once, and nothing related to it was there. I wonder if that telephone number still works... Ooh, I found the logo though, hurrah. -- jeffthejiff  ( talk ) 21:55, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * I'm guessing they had a Restricted service licence, as do/did about 30 other local TV stations across the UK. --Kiand 16:25, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Peter Purves
He is listed as living in Cogenhoe. However, the Peter Purves article says he lives in Suffolk. Does he have two homes? Or is there a mistake somewhere? --A bit iffy 12:35, 20 November 2005 (UTC)
 * Not sure - I thought that he was still at Cogenhoe - will look into it. 08:15, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Kinky Boots
Is it worth mentioning this film, to my knowlege it is the only mainstream film ever to be made in the town, so perhaps worth a mention.andham2000

There have been some that use rural Northants - who can forget 'Clockwise' starring John Cleese ? I seem to remember bits of the Goldeneye James Bond film were filmed near Harlestone ? --195.137.93.171 (talk) 05:56, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

New town
For some reason it was specifically claiming Northampton was never designated a new town. This is not actually true, and so I've changed it. Morwen - Talk 17:13, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

 * My recollection was that the New Town Commission set up the Northampton Development Corporation, which was responsible for the expansion in the Eastern District, as well as planned expansion in the West and South. However Northampton Borough Council continued, and the town as a whole did not receive the central funding that it would have it it had been designated as New Town. Milton Keynes in contrast was a New Town and gained a fully developed infrastructure. However I can't verify this, and the web references seem to indicate the contrary. I do wonder though if Northampton was gazetted as a New Town, but then never came fully on stream. Or was it that the expansion area under Northamton Development Corporation counted as a New Town? Can anyone help? John Campbell 13:40, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

In East Anglia?
Surely this is incorrect, particularly when you click on the East Anglia link. It shows a completely different area of the country.
 * Well spotted - Ive changed it Jameswilson 03:09, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

 * Northampton is in the very edge of the East Midlands but has East Anglia TV

 * ..and Northampton is in the recruiting area of the Royal Anglian Regiment, the Northamptonshire Regiment having amalgamated with the Lincolnshire Regiment, and then subsequently merged into the Royal Anglians.Cloptonson (talk) 05:50, 9 May 2014 (UTC)

The Anglian Regiment isn't East Anglian. The Royal Leicestershire Regiment also became part of it. Leicestershire is defenitely East Midlands. "Anglian" could refer to any part of England that was settled by Angles rather than Saxons or Jutes and therefore really any part of England north of the Thames. It could even refer to the south eastern part of Scotland. Northamptonshire has Anglia Television, receives Anglian Water (along with most of East Anglia) and is part of the East Midlands Rugby Union (along with Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire.) It is also in the East Midland Regional Area so far as national governmnent is concerned. Spinney Hill (talk) 12:11, 28 December 2016 (UTC)

Layout
I recently made some changes to the layout which were reverted with a "No that doesn't work". The changes I made and reasoning behind them were as follows: Comments on why this doesn't work welcome. MartinRe 19:52, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
 * Put infobox at top of article - that is where I would expect (and have seen) infoboxes for all other articles.
 * Moved Guildhall Building image to section that mentions it.
 * Removed "See picture left/on top" as I don't think this reads well, and there is the extra problem of keeping the image layout and text in sync.

 * Well the problems with it was that It squashed all the images into one small area, which didn't fit very well. Also many articles have images at the top such as Birmingham or Leicester for example, personaly I think It's good to have an introductory picture at the top of an article (my personal preference). The see picture thing could be turned into a link to the image perhaps. G-Man  * 20:08, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Abington park
From Abington park...

The Park also hosts a high-class tearoom/restaurant "The Park Cafe" (formerly known as the 'The Old Oak'). It serves a menu of specialty coffees, a very wide selection of meals, and a special childrens menu. It has been under ownership of Tony Ansell since 1981.

Seems more like an advert to me. Not sure what makes it high-class, why we need to know it has achildrens menu or who runs it. Perhaps something that could be removed????

80.5.196.32 21:01, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

I agree. Should this be deleted? A-Nottingham16:36, 16 July 2007 (UTC)

Notable residents
I have added Lorna Fitzgerald back into the list. A Google search for 'Lorna Fitzgerald' returned 234,000 results, as opposed to Joan Hickson's 168,000. Joshua Issac (talk) 14:26, 16 June 2008 (UTC)

Education
I would appreciate it if people would stop linking scandalous accusations to St Peter's Independent School, these comments are not helpful, and anyone considering sending their children to a school will research OFSTED reports anyway, without being linked directly to them. The page has a link to OFSTED, so why does St. Peter's have a 'special' link - if you're going to do that, link to every other school's most recent OFSTED report. This school has had a good reputation for 30 years, and I have experienced over a decade of that. "Until 2004 the county operated a three-tier system involving primary, middle and secondary schools." Shouldn't it be three-tier system involving lower, middle and upper schools. That's what they were called. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.22.211.246 (talk) 12:45, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

That is correct..

 * These are verifiable facts which are germane to the subject. Just because you find the matter distasteful is not a reason that an encylcopedia article should be censored. Crafty (talk) 10:37, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

I tend to agree with Numbers. This school seems to have been singled out for criticism. A) None of the other schools have ANY comments next to them, they're merely a list. B) The article vaguely states "subject of several controversial issues", but then all the links that it provides appear to point to one allegation which prompted an Ofsted visit. I note also that while the references quite happily point out that a charity commission investigation was launched, the result of the report is sadly absent. None of that seems particularly encyclopaedic to me. Factual accuracy and neutrality is not the same as censorship. d a n n o 11:58, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

The OSTED report is there and states: "St Peter’s Independent School does not meet all the regulations for independent schools, and in particular the overall provision for pupils’ welfare, health and safety is inadequate. This is primarily because safeguarding procedures are inadequate. The failure to properly safeguard pupils means that the overall effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation Stage is inadequate. "A link stating The Headteacher has been cleared is also there" (current ref 19). The headteacher has now resigned. If this was a school like Eton there would be no question that these sort of links would be of major national interest. In this case is is of local interest only, though I wouldn't say major. One does wonder what the motives are of those who want to censor this information.Cj1340 (talk) 12:42, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * If the article was about the school I'd agree. But it's about Northampton. Does it make the article more encyclopedic? Do I gather that none of the schools had anything positive to be said about them? That this is necessary to give the article good overall balance? That this is a relatively current event that must be in an encyclopedic article about Northampton, as opposed to other current events which are not? I don't think so. Dougweller (talk) 13:33, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Firstly, I would like to thank those who agree that this is not the place to publically denounce the school. It is merely a list of independent schools in the area, and it should stay that way. By editing, I am not censoring the information - it is available freely for people to view. The OFSTED report also stated that children in the school 'were happy, free from bullying and enjoyed coming to school' - that's a fact. The 'safeguarding issue' was in reference to a policy that had not been updated, and this was immediately rectified by the school, in accordance with OFSTED. The school is now in line with all OFSTED procedures for the safeguarding of children (as per the later OFSTED inspection), however those with malicious motives prefer to twist the facts to try and publically defame a very good school and the hard-working teachers and pupils within it. The headteacher did not resign, he has retired.

Thank you.

88.107.78.95 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 17:43, 7 July 2009 (UTC).
 * I concur with 88.107.78.95, but per WP:UNDUE rather than removal of "scandal". While it is a fact that there was an OFSTED investigation, there is nothing otherwise notable about the school (at least it has not been wikilinked) and notability is not conferred by a single event. If the school fails the notability test then there is no reason to WP:COATRACK the article about the area to include a matter which is unlikely to be germane in a few years. Also, since this is a content dispute I would remind EVERYONE that WP:3RR is a clear line and not an entitlement. LessHeard vanU (talk) 20:10, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * For what's it worth I concur with the IP, but they have been repeatedly reverting this for five days without sanction. I'm amazed. ninety:one 20:23, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * For the same time the ip has been reverted without anyone bothering to discuss the matter - I, cynically, am not amazed. I have now reverted the last non ip editor and then fully protected the article while the ip is blocked; I wonder if any of the article revert warriors fancy their chances in taking me to ANI? I welcome it! LessHeard vanU (talk) 20:33, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * That's always a constructive attitude, daring editors to run to ANI. I must disagree with your decision. Reverting to the version without the offending sentence, a version that still requires consensus, and then protecting the page, is not the right thing to do. ninety:one 20:42, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * You are absolutely correct - mind you, nor is ignoring the obvious consensus on this page to keep reverting the ip until they get blocked and then reverting the last ip edit as "vandalism". Two wrongs may not make a right, but unless people start talking and quoting policy and guideline for the inclusion of the material then they are going to have to take the lumps as they are doled out. LessHeard vanU (talk) 20:46, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Thank you. I apologise for the constant reverting, but I'm sure you can sympathise that you wish to protect something when it's close to your own heart. Thank you for removing the 'offending' sentence - as has been mentioned by others, surely it is a list and should stay that way?

Thanks once again.

88.107.78.95 (talk) 20:51, 7 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I have unprotected the article. I very strongly urge that this page is used to arrive at consensus for why the material should be included - quoting the relevant policies and guidelines. Please note that I am against inclusion per WP:UNDUE and WP:COATRACK and I am certain only should it be proven that these policies are not appropriate, and that the inclusion is encyclopedic and in keeping with relevant policy that it will be again included. Until it does, I emphasise that it should not be included in the article.
 * To the ip editor, please only refer to WP policy and guidelines - WP is not censored to remove embarrassing content, but inclusion is based upon encyclopedic principles only. LessHeard vanU (talk) 21:01, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Geography?
Interesting that this article is supposed to be part of the Wiki Geography project, yet there doesn't seem to anything remotely connected to it! Peter Shearan (talk) 19:00, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

Pagan capital of the world?
Teens to wed in Pagan wedding

“We’re planning to one day go to Northampton in England which is like the pagan capital of the world to do our ‘10 years and a day’ handfasting.”

If Northampton is the pagan capital of the world a mention might be interesting. I could not find anything to confirm it one way or an other. Did he mean Northamptonshire?Geo8rge (talk) 18:18, 11 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Sounds like nonsense to me.... Matthew (talk) 20:33, 11 March 2010 (UTC)
 * 'like' makes the statement sound indecisive (unlike if they had said "is the pagan capital of the world") and POV on the part of the speaker. There are many pagan faiths in the world whose readers and followers may not have heard of Northampton.Cloptonson (talk) 14:16, 20 August 2021 (UTC)

Maps too big in the infobox
I think that the infobox looks too big with the Northants and UK maps in it. Anyone else agree? And, if so, do you know enough about these maps/templates to know if there's anything that would combine the two and take up only half the space? Matthew (talk) 20:48, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

Dubious 21st century population figures
In the "21st century" section, there is a statement that Northampton's population will be at 300,000 by 2018. A few lines later it gives a figure of 1,000,000 for the same year. The first figure I can almost imagine happening, although it's a bit of a stretch given the recession. The second is outright preposterous. Ignoring the fact that the town centre couldn't handle that traffic and the fact that Northampton's proximity to Milton Keynes makes that kind of growth very unlikely, the giving of two different figures for the same period is very poor for a Wikipedia article. Can anyone clarify for me the source of these figures or if either of them have any truth to them? Tom walker (talk) 18:17, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

 * The first figure I've seen several times before, and refers to the town's population. The second figure I haven't seen before, but it seems to be referring to the catchment area of the 300,000-sized town, and hence doesn't seem as unrealistic as you might be thinking (would be interested to see what the figure currently is for comparison!).  You're right, though: both need citations. Matthew (talk) 17:34, 19 July 2010 (UTC)
 * There is nothing on the WNDC website that supports these wild claims. It reads like a spoof to me so I'm going back to tag them as 'dubious'. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 12:07, 26 August 2010 (UTC)
 * They're patent nonsense. I've removed them. Possibly the 1 million figure might be for some sort of wider Northampton/MK/Bedford region, but that is not a Northampton population figure in any meaningful sense, and MK is designated as the primary core for the region. Postlebury (talk) 21:15, 10 November 2010 (UTC)

Northants
Can we please have a reference about Northants? What is it, an abbreviation? Is it equivalent to Northampton? Better? Worse? Older? Newer? Preferable? More formal? Less formal?

Thanks. 205.228.108.58 (talk) 07:58, 3 August 2010 (UTC) It's an abbreviation for Northamptonshire, the county and is used for all counties ending in 'shire'; thus Beds=Bedfordshire Hants=Hampshire etc Cj1340 (talk) 10:23, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Pronunciation
Is /nɔrˈθæmptən/ the tradition pronunciation? I say /nɔːθˈhæmptən/ but that might be a modern spelling pronunciation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Derbyadhag (talk • contribs) 11:32, 5 August 2010 (UTC)
 * You can tell a Northamptonian from a blow-in by the pronunciation. We locals say Nor-tham-ton. If you hear North-Hampton then you know you are listening to a blow-in.

Move "Northampton" to a disambig page
Northampton Massachusetts is a well-known small city in America. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.28.30.167 (talk) 22:40, 21 December 2010 (UTC)

I concur. Coming from Northampton (UK) I have personally been confused a couple of times by reading about "Northampton" and it turns out to be Mass. I think there's one is Australia as well.. being an anonymous IP, I know my argument holds much weight here :/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.159.222.230 (talk) 02:59, 12 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, Northampton England has been around a LOT longer than Northampton, Mass. Furthermore, it can't be argued that Northampton, Mass. is better known worldwide (which is why Boston is the page for Boston, Mass rather than the older Boston, England. There are lots of these cases: there is a formal policy something like WP:NAME but I don't have time to check.  They all begin This article is about XXXXX in YYYYY. For other XXXXXs, see XXXXX (disambiguation). Like lots of things in Wikipedia (and the world) its a compromise. Nobody likes when their favourite topic doesn't make pole position. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 23:09, 14 January 2012 (UTC)
 * I refer everyone to a similar discussion surrounding Birmingham and Birmingham, Alabama. Northampton is ten times the size of the Massachusetts one in terms of population and has a much longer history. It may not be better known in the US but the American one isn't better known in the UK and worldwide the UK one is more significant. Likewise as JMF says the UK Boston is less significant, so the US one gets the main page in that case, as is the case with Washington and countless others. Tom walker (talk) 13:08, 15 January 2012 (UTC)

tempeter
you need to redo the layout of northampton tempeter because you need to add the record of the maximum tempeter it has reached and the records lowest it has went to — Preceding unsigned comment added by Skype565 (talk • contribs) 10:24, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

Delapre Abbey - Ambiguous sentence
Under section Buildings, Delapre Abbey (a place I myself have not seen, having only once visited Northampton) is introduced in this confusing sentence - it appears more than one building is being talked about:

 * Just south of the town centre Delapré Abbey, a former Cluniac nunnery, the County Records Office and site of the second Battle of Northampton, which was founded by Simon II de Senlis, the son of first Earl of Northampton, in 1145.

For benefit of people who have never seen it, please clear it up. The information may be better expressed in more than one sentence.Cloptonson (talk) 05:57, 9 May 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 1 one external link on Northampton. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20150603123806/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/community/discover-northampton-s-own-lost-castle-1-2874922 to http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/community/discover-northampton-s-own-lost-castle-1-2874922

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true to let others know.

Cheers. —cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 18:33, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

Inclusive?
"Northampton is also home to Northampton Outlaws, the first inclusive rugby team and the 9th gay-friendly team in the United Kingdom."

What is an "inclusive rugby team"? Inclusive of what? 2.24.119.101 (talk) 22:57, 11 March 2016 (UTC)

Check my reference correction
Edit Edit 767691408 added two lots of named refs britishhistory2 which seems to be to britishhistory and andrewmartin2 which seems that it should be to andrewmartin. I have changed the refs

Unfortunately, I don't have access to either of these sources, so it would be great if someone who does could check.

Newystats (talk) 03:12, 23 May 2017 (UTC)

Table of historic population
May I suggest that it be converted to a bar chart, rather than a long table with loads of white space as at present. Like this one for MK, perhaps? Alternatively, make the table collapsible (and collapsed by default)? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 15:35, 27 November 2018 (UTC)

Population as at 2011 census
According to NOMIS (the official census portal): "This report covers the characteristics of people and households in Northampton Built-up area in East Midlands (GSS code E34004611). Figures are sourced from the 2011 Census key statistics. There were 215,963 usual residents as at Census day 2011"," This population figure is larger than is given in the article and also the GSS code is different. I suspect that someone has used the 1970-something boundary The figures given are for "Northampton District" (the Northampton Built-up Sub-area), which excludes the modern expansion of the town Collingtree. This does not make a lot of sense to me. Before I change the article, is there a convincing reason not to do so? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 21:50, 20 July 2019 (UTC)
 * I have invited discussion on this whole issue (which affects more than Northampton) at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject UK geography. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 11:45, 27 July 2019 (UTC)

Most historic?
'Northampton's market square is one of Britain's largest and most historic' - what on earth does that mean? What are degrees of historicalness? 109.158.15.191 (talk) 06:14, 28 May 2020 (UTC) I think it might be intended to mean the oldest site for a market which is not true. I think the 13th century is quite late for a market square. Professor Hoskins I think wrote in his history of the Leicestershire landscape that Leicester Market Place goes back to Roman times. It might also be intended to mean that a great many historic events took place there,but the article only mentions one (a riot.) It might mean that there are more old buildings around it than in other places,but with one exception there can be only one building older than the 1680s and most are newer. I think York, Norwich and Stamford could probably beat that. Whatever it was intended to mean I don't think anybody will complain too much if you alter it.Spinney Hill (talk) 08:43, 28 May 2020 (UTC)

Graph that shows Northampton's population should be made smaller
In my opinion, the graph that shows Northampton's population should be made smaller because at its current size the graph is spoiling the alignment of the text in the article, making it look unprofessional in my opinion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Xboxsponge15 (talk • contribs) 11:11, 14 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Looks fine to me. --David Biddulph (talk) 11:29, 14 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Looks ok on mobile too. Layout is unpredictable, it depends on the user's screen size and font size preferences. It is a little unusual in being on the left rather than the right. The article has far bigger problems than that. Why, for instance, is there a little non-sequitur about the Easter floods in this section? Surely it belongs in Geography? Overall, the article could do with a wholesale restructure. IMO anyway. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 13:39, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

"Large" town
There is a discussion at talk:Milton Keynes that may be of interest to editors of this article (since it also uses the phrase "large town"). --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 11:07, 12 January 2021 (UTC)

The discussion above concluded that we shouldn't use the term 'large' because we have no objective or independent definition of it. So another way round has to be found, such as "the largest town in Northamptonshire"? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 08:34, 16 September 2021 (UTC)

In fact a "way round" has been used a little further down where it says it is one of the largest towns in England which is not a citySpinney Hill (talk) 11:03, 16 September 2021 (UTC)

 * With a population of over 225,100 (2018 estimates), shouldn't Northampton be listed as a 'large market town' rather than simply just a 'market town', as seen with other places such as Reading? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Toppyboy79 (talk • contribs) 16:45, 27 May 2022 (UTC)
 * This issue has been discussed at length at talk:Milton Keynes and WP:WikiProject UK Geography and, in the continued absence of any reliably sourced definition of "large" in a UK context let alone world-wide, the term is a violation of WP:no original research and cannot be used. Thank you for pointing out that the term had crept back into the Reading article: I have removed it with the same explanation.
 * BTW, I had to move your contribution because you put it in the wrong section? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 19:17, 27 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Okay, no worries. Yes, apologies about this being in the wrong section I haven't used this talk section before so was slightly mistaken. Thank you for editing the Reading article accordingly, I did find it odd how Reading (and Swindon) were specified as 'large towns' and Northampton wasn't. Thank you for explaining as to why neither Northampton or any other town in England should be specified as a large town. Toppyboy79 (talk) 19:44, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Edit war over IPA rendition of name
As you both well know, the talk page is where disputes should be resolved, not revert wars in main space. Meanwhile, WP:STATUSQUO applies: the article should stay as it was before the dispute began. In any case, you are both wrong: the local dialect pronunciation is closer to Nawf_amp_ʔon.

Vabadus91, not that it is relevant in this case but it is not correct to say that British English has a specific rhoticity because it depends. England west of Bristol, Scotland and Northern Ireland have a different pronunciation to the rest of England. Not sure about Wales. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 17:59, 4 April 2022 (UTC)

 * Standard BrE is indeed non-rhotic, despite there being rhoticity in some British dialects. And if we were going by local pronunciations alone, then Northampton is pronounced non-rhotically by locals. Vabadus91 (talk) 09:24, 5 April 2022 (UTC)
 * So has a British equivalent of the Academie Française been established? Maybe you mean English English? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 17:14, 5 April 2022 (UTC)
 * The article Received Pronunciation explains why there is no such thing. Even in that article, the term "BBC English" means "as spoken in London"; BBC Scotland is also BBC English but the pronunciation is not the same but equally valid. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 18:13, 5 April 2022 (UTC)

Distance from London
I don't know if there is a general rule about the basis for this figure, but according to Google Maps the road distance is 68.2 miles from Charing Cross; according to the Engineer's line reference, the rail distance is 65 miles from Euston. Either way, definitely not 60. 𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 21:27, 29 November 2022 (UTC)

 * @JMF. Good to see you've raised this. 60 miles is the correct straight line distance from Northampton town centre to Charing Cross as measured by Google/Bing maps distance calculator measuring tool. I don't think its use amounts to WP:OR; I take the view it's a calculation. This is the most appropriate measurement to use across articles. Many places do not have railways and even if they do there can on occasion be more than one route to the same destination. The same applies with roads. If it's thought desirable to put the (shortest?) distance by rail or road it should go in the Transport section. When checking distances in articles I've found many inconsistencies. Recently, I pointed out an example on Talk:Manchester. With Manchester being a featured article, I didn't have the confidence to change the discrepancies myself. It may be a discussion for WP:UKGEO, unless there's a "higher" authority that specifies the basis on which distances between places are calculated or sourced. Rupples (talk) 02:52, 9 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I think it will have to go the UKGEO. A long time ago, I had both "as the crow flies" distances and the "Google Maps calculated road distance" reverted in the past as not reliable, but I have certainly seen them in other articles. A clear policy is needed. 𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 10:54, 9 January 2024 (UTC)

Settlements outside the town boundaries that are sometimes considered suburbs of Northampton
The (mostly) reliable source for what is or is not part of "Greater Northampton" is the Office for National Statistics. So if the area concerned is not on this map then some serious citation finding is needed. Sorry but "it's obvious from looking at a map" qualifies as WP:Original research.

NB this is the status as at the 2011 census: the maps for 2021 have not been published yet. 𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 16:53, 23 August 2023 (UTC)

New article for Northampton parish
I was wondering if it might be a good idea to create an article for the civil parish of Northampton, (e.g. Northampton (civil parish)) as it is defined differently from the urban area/former borough which this main article is predominantly about. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? G-13114 (talk) 18:57, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

 * Can you give some idea of what would be included in the proposed article to help assess whether there would be much overlap with the existing Northampton article. Also, why such content would be better placed in a new article rather than added to the existing one? Rupples (talk) 22:35, 29 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I was thinking of demographic data pertaining to the parish like population, which is different from the urban area, the fact it's the most populous parish, some history of why it came about etc. G-13114 (talk) 17:46, 30 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I kind of see what you're getting at. There's a significant difference between the urban area's population and that of Northampton parish. However, it might be confusing to have separate articles for Northampton and Northampton (civil parish). The population of the parish is noted in the Northampton Town Council article and relevant demographics could be added in as well; both are of direct relevance to the council article. That's what I would do but let's see what others think. Rupples (talk) 19:33, 30 January 2024 (UTC)
 * The usual convention is to have 1 single article for a parish and a settlement of the same name even if the boundaries are different. Districts are normally split but not parishes. Just add the population data for the parish in this article.  Crouch, Swale  ( talk ) 19:14, 13 June 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Northampton


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Carolina Beach State Park

Carolina Beach State Park is a North Carolina state park in New Hanover County, North Carolina. It covers 761 acre on Pleasure Island. The state owns 420 acre of the park in fee simple, and the remainder of park land is leased from the Department of the Army. The park is located along the Cape Fear River and Snow's Cut (part of the Intracoastal Waterway).

Pocosin wetlands, a type of wetland that supports rare carnivorous plant species, are found in the park. Carnivorous plants found at this park include Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, butterworts and bladderworts.

The park features six miles of hiking trails. Other amenities include a marina, campsites, picnic area, and a visitor's center featuring natural history exhibits.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Carolina Beach State Park


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Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is a North Carolina state park near Seven Springs, North Carolina, in Wayne County covering 1097 acre along the southern banks of the Neuse River. It has a swimming area, camp sites, hiking trails, fishing areas, and picnic areas. The park's museum features exhibits about the geology and natural history of the cliffs and the park. Extending for 600 yd, the series of cliffs rise 90 ft above the water. Layers of sand, clay, seashells, shale and gravel form the multicolored cliff face, a rainbow of white, tan, yellow and brown.

History
The cliffs were formed when a fault in the Earth's crust shifted millions of years ago. The Neuse River followed this fault line and, over time, cut its course through layers of sediment deposited by shallow seas that had earlier covered the coastal plain. A portion of the river took a bend against its bank and the water's erosive action slowly carved Cliffs of the Neuse.

Much of the human history of the area centers around the river. The Tuscarora and Saponi Indian tribes once occupied much of the land between the Neuse and Pamlico rivers. What is now the park used to be a ceremonial ground and a gathering place for hunting expeditions. The river was also used for travel into the surrounding wilderness.

In 1944, local landowner Lionel Weil, a founder of Goldsboro's historic Oheb Shalom synagogue and uncle of Gertrude Weil, proposed that the cliffs area along the Neuse River be preserved as a state park. The park was established in 1945 when land on the south side of the river was donated by Lionel Weil and other individuals through the Wayne Foundation. An additional contribution of approximately 200 acre extended the boundary east of the river. Additional purchases and donations increased the park to its present size of 892 acre.

Wildlife
A range of habitats contributes to the variety of plants in the park. River margins, flood plains, rolling uplands and ravines are home to a large mixture of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. More than 420 species of plants have been recorded in the park.

Opossums, raccoons, foxes, and squirrels are common in the campground and along hiking trails, while river otter and muskrat can be seen swimming along the waterways. Reptiles and amphibians are equally at home in the wetland and aquatic habitats. Most of the snakes are nonvenomous, although copperheads are present. Small nocturnal rodents and white-tailed deer live in the area but are discreet and seldom seen. Sightings of black bears and a coyote have taken place at the park.

Birds are abundant in the park during any season. The northern parula nests in clumps of Spanish moss while the prothonotary warbler lives along the river. Fall and winter bring a host of migratory waterfowl to the area to join the native wood duck.

title: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park


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Crowders Mountain State Park

Crowders Mountain State Park is a 5217 acre North Carolina state park in Gaston County, North Carolina in the United States. It is near Kings Mountain, North Carolina and on the outskirts of Gastonia, North Carolina, it includes the peaks of Crowder's Mountain and The Pinnacle. Crowders Mountain is named for Crowders Creek which originates near its base. The cliffs are a popular destination for rock climbers.

Features
The mountain itself is a monadnock, an isolated erosional remnant that rises abruptly from the surrounding plain. Geologically, neither Crowders Mountain nor The Pinnacle are true mountains. Crowders Mountain sharply rises some 800 ft above the surrounding countryside, and presents sheer rock cliffs that are 100 - 150 ft in height. The mountain rises to 1625 ft above sea level. The peak is believed to be the remnant of a much higher mountain which formed some 400 - 500 million years ago and was gradually worn down by the elements. The park sets at the northeast end of the Kings Mountain Range, a 16 mi long range of low peaks which include the site of the Battle of Kings Mountain of the American Revolution.

The park contains two named peaks:
 * Crowders Mountain, 1,625 feet (495 m), is in the northeastern section of the park. 35.23235°N, -81.27644°W
 * The Pinnacle, 1,705 feet (520 m), is in the western section of the park. 35.20782°N, -81.31263°W

The park features a Visitors Center.

History
Buffalo herds grazed much of the land, which was prairie, before European settlers arrived. The Cherokee Indians had a trading route that crossed Crowders Mountain, and the peaks marked boundaries between the hunting lands of the Catawba and Cherokee Indians.

In the early 1970s, a mining company conducted exploratory sampling on the mountain as preparation to purchase the mineral rights. Thanks to grassroots efforts by local citizens, educational institutions, and organizations, the state government was convinced that the area should be set aside and protected due to significant natural communities, plants and animals, intrinsic beauty, and unique recreational opportunities. In 1973, the State of North Carolina officially designated the area as Crowders Mountain State Park, and it opened to the public in 1974. The Pinnacle was added to the park in 1987. Another 2000 acre was added in the year 2000 and officially connected the park with Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park, both in South Carolina.

Trails
Three hiking trails and one vehicle access trail lead to the summit of Crowders Mountain, and from the summit it is possible on a clear day to see the skyscrapers of Charlotte, North Carolina to the east.

 * Crowders Trail - Strenuous, 2.5 mi. This trail winds along the base of Crowders Mountain from the Visitor Center in the southwest and ultimately leads to the Backside Trail and the top of the mountain in the northeast of the park.
 * Backside Trail - Strenuous, 0.8 mi. From the Linwood Road Access Area this trail leads around the north side of the mountain where it first connects to the Crowders Trail and eventually to the top where it connects to the Rocktop Trail.
 * Rocktop Trail - Strenuous, 1.4 mi. Admittedly the most difficult and technical trail in the park. It travels along the ridge of Crowders Mountain from the southwest where it splits from the Crowders Trail at Sparrow Springs Road. Each side has steep drop offs and unseen cliffs.
 * Tower Trail - Strenuous, 1.8 mi. This trail begins at the Linwood Road Access Area and ends at the radio towers on Crowders Mountain. The trail is an old roadbed that begins with a gentle climb that becomes quite steep towards the end. Only official park vehicles can drive on this trail.

Two hiking trails lead to The Pinnacle.

 * Pinnacle Trail - Strenuous, 2.0 mi. This trail begins at the Visitor Center and moves southwest to end at the summit of The Pinnacle, the highest point in Gaston County at 1,705 feet.
 * Ridgeline Trail - Strenuous, 6.2 mi. Hikers must register before hiking this trail. The longest trail in the park, it starts below The Pinnacle off of Pinnacle Trail, following the ridgeline south all the way to the South Carolina State line. The Ridgeline trail then continues for 2.5 miles into South Carolina through Kings Mountain State Park, and terminates at the 16 mile Kings Mountain National Recreation Trail that goes through Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park.

Other park hiking trails.

 * Family Camping Trail - Easy, 1.0 mi. This trail is accessed from the Pinnacle Trail and gives campers access to the family backpack camping area.
 * Group Camping Trail - Easy, 1.1 mi. This trail is accessed from the Pinnacle Trail and gives campers access to the group backpack camping area.
 * Fern Trail - Easy, 0.8 mi. This loop trail begins at picnic shelter number 1, connects with a portion of the Turnback Trail and follows a creek for some portions of the trail.
 * Lake Trail - Easy, 0.8 mi. This loop trail circles the park lake and connects to Fern Trail.

Nearby state parks
The following state parks and state forests are within 30 mi of Crowders Mountain State Park:
 * Kings Mountain State Park, South Carolina
 * Mountain Island Educational State Forest
 * South Mountains State Park

title: Crowders Mountain State Park


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Eno River State Park

Eno River State Park is a 4319 acre North Carolina state park in Durham and Orange Counties, North Carolina. Together with the adjoining West Point on the Eno city park, the two parks preserve over 14 miles (22.5 km) of the Eno River and surrounding lands.

There are five public access areas with features including twenty-four miles of hiking trails, canoe launches, picnic areas, and historic structures.

Buckquarter Creek
Beginning at the parking lot for the Piper-Cox Museum, the Buckquarter Creek Trail goes up the river at Few's Ford. A staircase takes visitors to a view of the Eno River rapids down below. This 1.5 mi loop is marked by red blazes. Holden Mill loop and the Ridge Trail branch off from the Buckquarter Creek Trail.

Cabelands
The Cabelands Trail is 1.2 mi long and is marked by red blazes. The trail passes through the few remains of the Cabe Mill. The stretch of the river is very rocky and is usually known as Cabe's Gorge.

Cox Mountain
The Cox Mountain Trail is marked by blue blazes. The 3.75 mi trail passes a picnic area and crosses the suspension foot bridge. The trail goes up 270 ft in elevation and at one point follows Hillsborough Coach Road. When getting closer to Cox Mountain, the trail can get fairly steep. The trail connects to Fanny's Ford trail.

Eno Quarry
Eno Quarry Trail is marked by blue blazes and is a 0.42 mi loop. In the 1960s, stone was removed from the Eno Quarry Trail to aid in construction of Interstate 85. The quarry is now the site of a 4 acre pond. The trail has several spots that are good for fishing.

Eno Trace
Eno Trace is a nature trail with several information kiosks pointing out wildlife. There is a short set of steps and at one point the trail follows alongside the river.

Fanny's Ford
Fanny's Ford Trail is a 1.01 mi loop and is mostly made up of flat ground and gentle hills. The trail is around the Cox Mountain trail and Hillsborough Coach Road, and at one point passes through the Few Mill's race. The trail is marked by purple blazes.

Holden Mill
The Holden Mill trail is a combination of two loops and is 2.6 mi long. The larger eastern loop follows the river bank for almost a mile, before climbing a 250 ft rise in elevation. The smaller loop is a hike around the remains of Holden's Mill, but also follows the river at parts. It is marked by yellow blazes.

Shakori
The Shakori Trail is a scenic 1.04 mi hike marked by yellow U-shaped blazes. Hikers can view the remains of a 19th-century house and an old saw mill site. There is a 200 ft elevation change.

Laurel Bluffs
This trail starts at an intersection with the Pump Station Trail and goes east to Guess Road. It is 2.49 mi long and generally stays close to the river except for short sections where cliffs and bluffs force it up and around on ridges. The trail passes the chimney and foundation of an old hunting lodge, the mostly-intact Guess Mill Dam, enters the millrace and comes out at the chimney at the Guess Mill site. Future plans are for Laurel Bluffs Trail to extend west to Cabelands Trail and to connect with West Point on the Eno city park trails. This connection will be a component of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Pump Station
The Pump Station Trail is known as the best spring wildflower trail in the park. It begins at the Nancy Rhodes Creek bridge on Rivermont Road and makes a 1.5 mi loop. It is generally an easy hike with only a few gentle hills. The foundations of Durham’s first water pumping station are near the river at the northeast section of the loop.

History
Native Americans of the Eno, Shakori and Occoneechee tribes lived along the river prior to European settlement. Some of the tribes merged in the late 17th century and established a village near present-day Durham.

Settlers moved to the area later to set up farms and gristmills. More than thirty mills were located on the Eno River. By the 1940s the last of the mills ceased operations.

Efforts to protect the Eno River started in 1965 when the city of Durham proposed building a reservoir in the river valley. Margaret Nygard, a British resident of the area, rallied concerned citizens to campaign and save the Eno. They formed the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, typically known as the Eno River Association. The association proposed the establishment of a state park and after battling with developers and planners for nearly a decade, the state of North Carolina approved the idea in 1973. In 1975, the state—with help from the Eno River Association and the Nature Conservancy—acquired more than 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land for the park.

The Eno River Association
The Eno River Association was established in 1966 and played an important role in creating the park. Since its inception it has purchased more than 4900 acres (20 km²) for the park. As a part of its conservation role the group engages in public outreach, notably producing the annual Festival for the Eno.

The Festival for the Eno brings an average 30,000 visitors during three days in July. The festival includes music, crafts, food, and promotes environmental awareness. The proceeds are a major source of funding for the Eno River Association.

title: Eno River State Park


text:
Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state park in Durham and Wake counties, North Carolina in the United States. Near Wake Forest, North Carolina, it covers 5,035 acre along the shores of 12,410 acre Falls Lake.

History
Prior to 1978, flooding of the Neuse River caused extensive damage to public and private properties including roadways, railroads, industrial sites and farmlands. The Falls Lake Project was developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to control damaging floods. Construction of the dam began in 1978 and was completed in 1981. In addition to recreation opportunities, Falls Lake now provides flood and water-quality control, water supply, and fish and wildlife conservation.

In 1992, the NC Division of Parks and Recreation took control of the James Mangum House as part of Beaverdam Recreation Area.

Rock Cliff Farm is owned by the federal government, and part of a large acreage managed by the state of North Carolina as the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Hiking
Falls Lake hiking trails on the south side are part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail which stretches from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Camping along the Falls Lake portion of the trail is only available at Shinleaf Recreation Area in Wake County and Rolling View Recreation Area in Durham County. Trails are easy to moderate on some steep ridges.

Mountain biking
The Beaver Dam bike trails at Falls Lake are easy to intermediate and have trails for everyone. Trail heads are accessible from the park entrance at Beaverdam Recreation Area only.

Kayak and canoeing
Falls Lake is accessible by kayaks and canoes from two boat launches at Highway 50 and Beaver Dam Lake.

In literature
Falls Lake is one of the settings in the spy thriller novel Crisis Four by Andy McNab.

title: Falls Lake State Recreation Area


text:
Dick Ebersol

Duncan "Dick" Ebersol (born July 28, 1947) is an American television executive and a senior adviser for NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large-scale television events such as the Olympic Games and National Football League broadcasts.

Early life
Ebersol was born in Torrington, Connecticut, the son of Mary (née Duncan) and Charles Roberts Ebersol, a former chairman of the American Cancer Society. He and Josiah Bunting III are half-brothers. In 1967, aged 20, Ebersol began his long history with the Olympics when he temporarily dropped out of Yale University to join Roone Arledge and ABC Sports as television's first-ever Olympic researcher.

Move to NBC
In 1974, he joined NBC as Director of Weekend Late Night Programming. In 1975, at the suggestion of Paramount Pictures executive Barry Diller, Ebersol and NBC president Herbert Schlosser approached Lorne Michaels for help in creating a show to fill the Saturday night time slot. Michaels's idea for a variety show featuring high-concept comedy sketches, political satire, and music performances eventually became Saturday Night Live.

Named as Vice President of Late Night Programming at age 28, Ebersol became NBC's first vice president under the age of 30. After a brief departure, he returned to SNL in 1981 as executive producer and remained until 1985, spanning the Eddie Murphy and Billy Crystal eras. In 1983, Ebersol formed No Sleep Productions, an independent production company that created Emmy Award-winning NBC shows Friday Night Videos and Later with Bob Costas. Together with Vince McMahon, Ebersol produced Saturday Night's Main Event. When Ebersol left SNL in 1985, he devoted his time to his production company until rejoining NBC in 1989. He served as senior vice president of NBC News.

NBC Sports
Ebersol became president of NBC Sports in 1989, and was promoted to chairman, NBC Sports & Olympics in June 1998. He served as executive producer for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, his first Olympics since Munich in 1972 for ABC.

His early tenure at NBC Sports was highlighted by a string of sports-property acquisitions and renewals, including the NFL, NBA, Notre Dame football and MLB, through the formation of the joint-venture Baseball Network. During the 1995–96 television season, for the only time in history, the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals and Summer Olympics were telecast by the same network. It was following this run in 1996 that The Sporting News named Ebersol the "Most Powerful Person in Sports." By January 1998, NBC had become the home of four Super Bowls in six years.

In 1993, he secured the rights to the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

In August 1995, he acquired the rights for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It marked the first time that rights for consecutive Olympics were awarded at the same time. Later that same year, he spearheaded NBC Sports' acquisition of the exclusive media rights for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2006 Winter Olympics. The agreements marked the first time that the same network had been awarded the rights to five consecutive Olympics.

In 2003, Ebersol led NBC to acquire the exclusive U.S. media rights to the 2010 Winter Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In December 2003, Ebersol agreed to a nine-year contract to continue running NBC Sports & Olympics through 2012. He assumed the title as Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics in May 2004 when NBC and Universal merged.

Ebersol produced:
 * the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 (the most-watched event in U.S. television history with a record 215 million viewers)
 * the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in 2010 (second-most watched Winter Olympics in history with 190 million viewers)
 * Super Bowl XLIII in February 2009 produced, at the time, the largest-single audience in U.S. television history with a record 152 million viewers.

It is currently the second-most viewed program of all time. The Super Bowl milestone was made possible in 2005 when Ebersol spearheaded the effort to return the NFL to NBC by negotiating a six-year agreement that included moving the NFL primetime broadcast package from Monday night to Sunday night, flexible scheduling for the first time ever, and Super Bowls in 2009 and 2012.

On May 19, 2011, Ebersol resigned from NBC Sports. The New York Times stated that he intended to stay at NBC through the end of June 2011. It was later reported that Ebersol would return to NBC Sports in time for the beginning of the 2011 NFL season to serve in a senior adviser role.

Alliance of American Football
Ebersol served on the board of directors of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), a professional American football league co-founded by his son Charlie and Bill Polian. Ebersol and his son were both ousted from the board of directors when Thomas Dundon purchased the league.

Awards and honors
Ebersol has often been in the top 10 honorees on The Sporting News' annual list of the 100 most powerful sports figures, including in 1996 when he was named the Most Powerful Person in Sports. In 1992, Ebersol was awarded the Olympic Order, an honor periodically bestowed by the International Olympic Committee to recognize remarkable contributions to the Olympic Movement.

In 2005, Ebersol was inducted into both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

In 2008, NBC won the Peabody Award for its coverage of the Beijing Opening Ceremony along with Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who served as the event's creative director. At the 2009 SportsBusiness Journal awards ceremony, Ebersol won Sports Executive of the Year and NBC Sports won Best in Sports Television.

On April 27, 2009, the six "Commissioners of American Sport" – Roger Goodell (NFL), David Stern (NBA), Bud Selig (MLB), Gary Bettman (NHL), Tim Finchem (PGA Tour) and Brian France (NASCAR) – were part of a presentation that concluded with Muhammad Ali awarding Ebersol the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

In May 2010, Ebersol was the commencement speaker at Sacred Heart University for its graduating class of 2010. He was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters by University President Anthony J. Cernera.

Ebersol is the 2014 recipient of the Paul White Award, the highest award presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Personal life
Ebersol was previously married to former Wheel of Fortune hostess Susan Stafford from 1976 to 1981. They had no children. He has been married to actress Susan Saint James since 1981. They have three sons together, Charlie, Willie, and Teddy, who died in a plane crash in 2004. Saint James has two children from a previous marriage.

2004 plane crash
On November 28, 2004, a private charter jet, a Bombardier Challenger CL-600, carrying Ebersol and two of his sons, Charlie and Teddy, crashed during an attempted takeoff from Montrose Regional Airport in Colorado. The jet's captain, Luis Polanco, flight attendant Warren T. Richardson III, and Teddy Ebersol were killed. Dick and his older son, Charlie, along with the first officer, survived, though seriously injured. Charlie was thrown clear of the plane and rushed back inside and managed to pull his father to safety.

On June 10, 2006, Teddy Ebersol Field was dedicated along the Charles River in Boston.

Selected list of shows produced by Ebersol

 * Football Night in America
 * Friday Night Videos
 * Midnight Special
 * Later with Bob Costas
 * Saturday Night Live
 * History of Saturday Night Live (1980–1985)
 * Saturday Night's Main Event
 * 2008 Summer Olympics

title: Dick Ebersol


text:
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is a 287 acre North Carolina state park in New Hanover County, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Kure Beach, North Carolina, it includes Fort Fisher, site of a major naval engagement during the American Civil War. The recreation area also served as a home for the Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill. Harrill lived in a bunker and shared his beliefs about "common sense" with thousands of visitors every year while surviving on what he could gather from the surrounding salt marsh and oyster beds.

Today, the recreation area consists of the remains of the earthen Fort Fisher and a museum at Fort Fisher State Historic Site, an oceanfront beach pavilion, a large lagoon popular with windsurfers, and a long stretch of beach that is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The beach is an important nesting ground for sea turtles, and state park rangers regularly patrol the beach to identify recently built turtle nests. Once they are identified, they are clearly marked and surrounded with a mesh fence to prevent vehicles from driving over the eggs. The openings in the mesh are large enough to allow newly hatched turtles to pass through and return to the sea.

History
The city of Wilmington on the Cape Fear River was an important port of entry for the Confederacy during the Civil War. And, by late 1864, it was the last southern port open to trade. Fort Fisher, built in 1861, served to protect this valuable port from Union ships. In 1864, the first of two Union attacks on Fort Fisher took place. The fort held strong during the first battle and Union forces withdrew, but the Confederacy was not so fortunate the next time. The First Battle of Fort Fisher, during the American Civil War, was the largest naval bombardment and land-sea battle fought in any war up to that time.

In early 1865, a fleet of 56 ships bombarded the fort prior to a land assault by a force of more than 3,300 infantry. Fort Fisher was captured and the Confederate supply line was broken. Approximately three months after the fall of Fort Fisher, the Civil War came to an end.

In the late 19th century, a long rock jetty called "The Rocks" was built west of Fort Fisher to aid navigation by stopping shoaling in the Cape Fear River. Completed in 1881, The Rocks closed the former New Inlet, once used by Confederate blockade-runners to avoid the U.S. Navy, and created a lagoon, now called "The Basin". Today, The Rocks and The Basin are part of the Zeke's Island component of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, an 1160 acre area of outstanding estuarine and ocean resources with extensive marshes and tidal flats.

During World War II a series of concrete fortifications was built along the coast of North Carolina. A grass landing strip was built through the earthworks of the fort, and it was used to resupply aircraft that patrolled the coast. The Fort Fisher visitor center was built in the middle of the landing strip, and the north end of the landing strip was paved for the visitor center parking lot. The outline of the original landing strip is still clearly visible, especially when viewed from aerial photos.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, beach erosion continued to wear away at the coastline near the fort. Much of the civil war era fort was lost to the sea. In 1999, construction began on a large seawall to prevent the fort from further erosion. The seawall was controversial because they tend to shift erosion to other parts of the beach, however it was completed in 2000 and it effectively stopped erosion in the area of the fort.

title: Fort Fisher State Recreation Area


text:
Fort Macon State Park

Fort Macon State Park is a North Carolina state park in Carteret County, North Carolina, in the United States. Located on Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach, the park opened in 1936. Fort Macon State Park is the second most visited state park in North Carolina, with an annual visitation of 1.3 million, despite being one of the smallest state parks in North Carolina with 424 acre. Fort Macon was built as part of the Third System of US fortifications, and was preceded by Fort Hampton of the Second System.

The Battle of Fort Macon was fought there during March and April 1862. Fort Macon is made up of 2,379,546 bricks—more than any other U.S. fort.

In addition to the fully restored fort, the park offers visitors both soundside and surf fishing, nature trails, ranger guided tours, a protected swim area, a refreshment stand, and a bathhouse. The park is open year-round, but during the non-summer months the protected swimming area, refreshment stand, and bathhouse are not available.

Fort Macon State Park also surrounds United States Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. The main gate is located directly across from the park office and barracks.

History
Five-sided Fort Macon is constructed of brick and stone. Twenty-six vaulted rooms (also called casemates) are enclosed by outer walls that are 4.5 ft thick.

In modern times, the danger of naval attack along the North Carolina coast seems remote, but during the 18th and 19th centuries the region around Beaufort was highly vulnerable to attack.

Blackbeard and other infamous pirates were known to have passed through Beaufort Inlet at will, while successive wars with Spain, France and Great Britain during the Colonial Period provided a constant threat of coastal raids by enemy warships. Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge "QAR" is thought to have been discovered in shallow water right off the park in the Atlantic Ocean and is being recovered. Beaufort was captured and plundered by the Spanish in 1747 and again by the British in 1782.

Fortifications
North Carolina leaders recognized the need for coastal defenses to prevent such attacks and began efforts to construct forts. The eastern point of Bogue Banks was determined to be the best location for a fort to guard the entrance to Topsail inlet now identified as the Beaufort Inlet. In 1756 construction of Fort Dobbs began. Fort Dobbs was commissioned as a small fascine fort but was never fully completed leaving the Topsail inlet undefended during the American Revolution. During the same time frame and with an escalating Indian War on the western frontier of North Carolina; another fortification was being constructed in the piedmont region of the state near Statesville, North Carolina. Fort Dobbs was constructed to specifically provide defense on the edge of the western frontier during the French and Indian War.

Second System
The Embargo Act of 1807 was a general embargo enacted by the United States Congress against Great Britain and France for actions during the Napoleonic Wars under Great Britain's Orders in Council (1807), and the second attempt at building a fort to protect the town and port at Beaufort, North Carolina began as a part of the United States Government's program to build a national defense chain of coastal fortifications. This program was later called the Second System of US fortifications. Thus construction began on Fort Hampton, a small masonry fort with a horseshoe-shaped parapet facing the channel. The parapet was seven feet high and made using oyster shell cement called tabby, or tapia. The parapet wall was fourteen feet thick at its base, tapering down to eight feet as the wall rose to its top. Located behind the parapet was a gun platform 23 feet wide where there were to be five 18-pounder cannons mounted. Each cannon could fire an 18-pound iron shot with an estimated effective range of just under one mile.

At the rear of this fort at the two prongs of the horseshoe were located, the walls were eighteen inches thick at the top and were loopholed for riflemen to fire their rifles through. Connecting the two prongs and enclosing the fortification's rear was a two-story barracks roughly 82 feet long and 30 feet wide. Each story contained five 13×16-foot rooms, three laid out for enlisted men and two for the fort's officers. The barracks could accommodate a single company consisting of fifty men. Beside the barracks on the right-hand prong was a small 15×16-foot brick building for a gunpowder magazine. From rear wall to front the fort was 90 feet long, 123 feet wide and had a perimeter of about 440 feet.

In July, the United States engaged in the War of 1812 and Fort Hampton's soldiers withdrew the fort's garrison to other service for the war. However, North Carolina Governor William Hawkins ordered four local militia companies to occupy the fort and the surrounding harbor area in anticipation of an English attack. When no attack ensued, the militia was withdrawn until November 1812 when the 10th US Infantry was garrisoned there and remained for 9 months until reassigned in June 1813. In July 1813 the British assaulted Ocracoke Inlet at which time North Carolina Militia was re-instated to protect Beaufort and the interests of the state. The fort's armament was increased with the addition of two 6-pounders and a 4-pounder cannon to supplement the main battery of 18-pounders cannon already in place at the fort. In 1814 after much internal struggle the State of North Carolina convinced the United States Department of War to secure the fort with Federal Troops. The War Department garrisoned elements of the 43rd US Infantry where they remained until the end of the war.

Third System
By 1820 and 1821 engineers surveying the fort noted that the high tide mark had advanced to the point of lapping the base of the fort's rounded front. Still, there was limited interest in Fort Hampton because by now the federal government had begun the construction of a chain of permanent forts for a new system of Seacoast defense in the United States known as the Third System. Fort Hampton for reasons of an eroding facade and beach at Bogue Point. During a survey in February, 1826, the high tide mark lay over 200 feet to the rear of the spot where Fort Hampton stood. By 1834, Fort Hampton lay in now Beaufort inlet along the line of a 12-foot deep ship channel.

Initially the new fort at Bogue Point was designated by the engineers to be 130 feet SW of Fort Hampton, by 1826 with Fort Hampton in the channel, the US Army Corps of Engineers elected to move 300 yards west of Fort Hampton where Fort Macon now stands.

The War of 1812 demonstrated the weakness of existing coastal defenses of the United States coastline and prompted the United States government to develop an improved coastal defenses through a chain of coastal fortifications. The present fort, Fort Macon, was a part of this chain. Fort Macon's purpose was to guard Beaufort Inlet and Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina's only major deepwater ocean port.

Named after a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina, Nathaniel Macon, who procured the funds to build the facility, Fort Macon was designed by Brig. Gen. Simon Bernard and built by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Construction began in 1826 and lasted eight years, under the Third System of US fortifications. The fort was completed in December, 1834, and it was improved with further modification during 1841–46. The total cost of the fort was $463,790. In the 1840s, a system of erosion control was initially engineered by Robert E. Lee, who later became general of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. At the beginning of the Civil War, North Carolina seized the fort from Union forces. The fort was later attacked in 1862, and it fell back into Union hands. For the duration of the war, the fort was a coaling station for navy ships. Often an ordnance sergeant acting as a caretaker was the only person stationed at the fort.

Civil War
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, and only two days elapsed before local North Carolina militia forces from Beaufort arrived to seize the fort for the state of North Carolina and the Confederacy. North Carolina Confederate forces occupied the fort for a year, preparing it for battle and arming it with 54 heavy cannons.

Early in 1862, Union forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside swept through eastern North Carolina, and part of Burnside's command under Brig. Gen. John G. Parke was sent to capture Fort Macon. Parke's men captured Morehead City and Beaufort without resistance, then landed on Bogue Banks during March and April to fight to gain Fort Macon. Col. Moses J. White and 400 North Carolina Confederates in the fort refused to surrender even though the fort was hopelessly surrounded. On April 25, 1862, Parke's Union forces bombarded the fort with heavy siege guns for 11 hours, aided by the fire of four Union gunboats in the ocean offshore and floating batteries in the sound to the east.

While the fort easily repulsed the Union gunboat attack, the Union land batteries, utilizing new rifled cannons, hit the fort 560 times. There was such extensive damage that Col. White was forced to surrender the following morning, April 26, with the fort's Confederate garrison being paroled as prisoners of war. This battle was the second time in history new rifled cannons were used against a fort, demonstrating the obsolescence of such fortifications as a way of defense. The Union held Fort Macon for the remainder of the war, while Beaufort Harbor served as an important coaling and repair station for its navy.

Post-Civil War
During the Reconstruction Era, the US Army actively occupied Fort Macon until 1877. During this time, because there were no state or federal penitentiaries in the military district of North Carolina and South Carolina, Fort Macon was used for about 11 years as a civil and military prison. The fort was deactivated after 1877 only to be garrisoned by state troops once again during the summer of 1898 for the Spanish–American War. Finally, in 1903, the US Army completely abandoned the fort.

In 1923, Fort Macon was offered for sale as surplus military property. However, at the bidding of North Carolina leaders, a Congressional Act on June 4, 1924, sold the fort and surrounding reservation for the sum of $1 to the state of North Carolina to be used as a public park. This was the second area acquired by the state for the purpose of establishing a state parks system.

During 1934–35, the Civilian Conservation Corps restored the fort and established public recreational facilities, which enabled Fort Macon State Park to officially open May 1, 1936, as North Carolina's first functioning state park.

At the outbreak of World War II, the US Army leased the park from the state and actively manned the old fort with Coast Artillery troops to protect a number of important nearby facilities. The fort was occupied from December 1941 to November 1944. During the occupation some unsuspecting soldiers rolled cannonballs into the fireplaces as andirons, mistaking them for solid iron shot. The powder-filled balls exploded, killing two men and injuring others- thus firing the "last shot of the Civil War". On October 1, 1946, the Army returned the fort and the park to the state. A conclusive history of Fort Macon and Fort Macon State Park can be found in Paul R. Branch Jr's book, Fort Macon: A History. (ISBN 1-877853-45-3). Paul R. Branch is Fort Macon's on-site historian and has been part of the Park Ranger staff for over 20 years.

Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 mi of Fort Macon State Park:
 * Hammocks Beach State Park (Onslow County)
 * Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area (Carteret County) - Managed by Fort Macon State Park

Park hours
November–February, 8 a.m. − 6 p.m. March, October, 8 a.m. − 7 p.m. April, May, September, 8 a.m. − 8 p.m. June–August, 8 a.m. − 9 p.m. Fort, 9 a.m. − 5:30 p.m. Closed Christmas Day 8 a.m. − 5 p.m. daily Closed state holidays
 * Park hours:
 * Swimming Area: 10 a.m. − 5:45 p.m.
 * Park office hours

title: Fort Macon State Park


text:
Goose Creek State Park

Goose Creek State Park is a North Carolina state park near Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina in the United States. It covers 1,672 acre just off of Pamlico Sound, in North Carolina's Coastal Plain. Goose Creek State Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife that make their homes in the extensive salt water marshes, inlets and creeks on the northern side of the sound. Goose Creek State Park is open for year-round recreation, east of Washington, two miles (3 km) south of U.S. Route 264 on Camp Leach Road.

History
The land in and surrounding Goose Creek State Park has long provided an abundance of natural resources for the people of the area. The first recorded inhabitants of the area were members of the Secota and the Pamlico, two Eastern Woodlands tribes. They were victims of widespread disease brought to colonial North Carolina by settlers from Europe during the 17th century. Most of the Indians that did not succumb to disease were killed or driven off during the Tuscarora War (1711–1715). Goose Creek and Pamlico Sound also provided shelter for pirates such as Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet.

Since the end of the pirate era, the area in and surrounding Goose Creek State Park has been centered on timber production, commercial fishing and small scale, subsistence farming. Lumber companies, such as the Eureka Lumber Company and later Weyerhauser Corporation, acquired extensive tracts of land along the creeks and harvested vasts stands of old growth bald cypress and longleaf pine. Much of the land that is now part of Goose Creek State Park was clear cut. Evidence of the timber industry remains at the park today. Visitors to the park can see the remains of piers and loading docks up and down Goose Creek and an old railroad bed crosses the park.

After the lumber companies had cleared the forests and left the land, citizens of Beaufort County sought to have the land along Goose Creek protected under North Carolina state law. At this time the state was looking for land along the Pamlico River on which to build a park. It was soon determined that Goose Creek would be an ideal setting for a state park. Local citizens showed their support for the effort by sending a resolution to North Carolina governor, James Holshouser. The state purchased 1,208 (4.88 km2) acres of land, at a cost of $1,115,000 from Weyerhauser, for the park and Goose Creek State Park was opened to the public in September 1974.

In 1980, Goose Creek State Park Natural Area was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

Recreation
Goose Creek State Park is open for year-round recreation offering camping, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and environmental education.

Boating and fishing
A boat ramp is on the west shore of Goose Creek at Dinah's Landing. Motorboating, sailing and windsurfing are all permitted at the park. All boaters must follow the rules and regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. Visitors that are interested in exploring the creeks of the park in canoes must bring their own. Access to the creeks is provided at Dinah's Landing and near the campground. The streams of the park offer opportunities for canoeists to view a wide variety of wading birds that make the park their home.

Fishing is permitted in the waters of Goose Creek State Park. The most popular species of game fish are white and yellow perch, largemouth bass and bluegill.

Camping and hiking
The campground at Goose Creek State Park is located on a stretch of land between Goose Creek and Flatty Creek. It is a primitive campground with twelve tent sites. The campground is in a grove of longleaf pines that are covered with Spanish moss. Goose Creek State Park is home to six hiking trails.

Flatty Creek Trail is a one-mile (1.6 km) loop trail that begins and ends at the parking area near the campground. Much of the trail is on boardwalks over the fresh water and brackish water wetlands of the park.

Goose Creek Trail is a 1.9-mile (3.06-km) trail that passes through a cypress swamp.

Ivey Gut Trail runs from the main park road to the campground through two miles (3.22 km) of forest.

Live Oak Trail is a 0.4-mile (0.64-km) trail that passes an old cemetery.

Palmetto Boardwalk Trail is a 0.7-mile (1.13-km) boardwalk trail that connects the Environmental Education Center with the Ivey Gut Parking area, passing through a hardwood swamp.

Mallard Creek Trail is a 1.26 (2.03 km) trail that follows Mallard Creek and an overlook that offers a view of the Pamlico River.

Picnicking and swimming
There are two pavilions at Goose Creek State Park and several picnic tables in a pine and oak forest near the swimming area. The swimming area is on a sandy beach along the Pamlico River on the southern side of the park.

Ecology
Goose Creek State Park is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species that thrive in the various habitats in place at the park. Sedges, sawgrass and black needle rush can be found in the brackish marshes near the Pamlico River. These tall grasses provide cover and nesting sites for the many wading birds of the park, including, marsh wren, rails, herons and egrets.

The marshes of the park recede in swamps. These swamps are home to bald cypress, loblolly pine and red cedar trees. Many of the trees are covered in Spanish moss. The swamps are home to a wide variety of wildlife including barred owls, frogs, turtles, snakes, minks, turkeys, muskrats and raccoons. Larger animals include white-tailed deer, bobcats, black bear and gray foxes.

The waters of Goose Creek and the Pamlico River are visited by a wide variety of migratory birds. Tundra swans and Canada geese winter at the park as do bufflehead, mallard and wood ducks.

title: Goose Creek State Park


text:
Gorges State Park

Gorges State Park is a 7709 acre North Carolina state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the United States and along with other conservation lands is part of a 100,000+ acre conservation corridor stretching some 80 miles along the NC/SC state line. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is adjacent to part of the Pisgah National Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Toxaway Game Land. Gorges State Park provides the principal access to the Horsepasture River on these adjoining public lands.

History
The land of Gorges State Park is a thriving second growth forest. It has recovered from the interference of man to provide a thriving and unique habitat.

One of the most damaging interferences to the Gorges environment occurred in 1916 when the dam containing Lake Toxaway broke. Record amounts of water gushed southward down the Toxaway River, destroying the communities in its path, scouring the gorges and leaving piles of debris 15 to 20 ft high.

Following the flood, local citizens eventually sold large land tracts in the Gorges to Singer Sewing Machine Company, which logged most of the land. Then, in the 1940s and 1950s, Singer sold the land to Duke Energy Corporation. The corporation purchased the land for its steep topography and high rainfall, which offered opportunities for development of hydropower projects.

Conservation studies, in Jocassee Gorge, began in the late 1970s. In the late 1990s, Duke Energy decided that it no longer needed large portions of the Gorges for future hydropower and offered the land for sale to natural resources agencies in North and South Carolina. The NC Division of Parks and Recreation stepped up to create, with the support of local citizens and the North Carolina General Assembly, one of the newest state parks in 1999.

Recreation
Gorges State Park is open for year-round recreation, including, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. Primitive camping is available in several different natural environments. The Ray Fisher Place campground was closed in 2020 and a new campground with 16 tent sites, 13 RV sites and 5 Camper Cabins was opened in November 2022. Each RV site has sewer and electrical hookups and all sites have a fire ring, picnic table and lantern hook. It was a hike-in campground with six primitive campsites, each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook, and it was a 0.75 mi hike from the Rainbow Falls Trail-head. Another camping area is near the shores of Lake Jocassee, along the Foothills Trail. These campsites are also primitive and hike-in. Dispersed camping is also permitted in the adjoining Pisgah National Forest, and backpackers may register and leave their vehicles in the park. Lake Jocassee is a deep man made lake which forms much of the park's southern boundary, and it is open to trout and bass fishing. The streams of Gorges State Park are all designated Wild Trout Waters. Many miles of trails are open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

The Grassy Ridge Access off North Carolina Highway 281 in Sapphire is the park's primary access. This area is most well known for providing the principle access to Rainbow Falls and Turtleback Falls on the Horsepasture River. These falls are in the Pisgah National Forest, but it is not uncommon for visitors to mistakenly think the falls are inside the park because the park provides the only easy, legal access to them. Upper Bearwallow Falls is located in the access area, and it currently is the only waterfall in the park with a maintained trail leading to it.

The Frozen Creek Access off Frozen Creek Road in Rosman is the park's secondary access, and the park's longest trails are reached from it. Both the Auger Hole and Cane Break trails start at the access, and they end at different points along the Foothills Trail. The Auger Hole Trail is the park's only multi-use trail and it is open to hikers, horse-back riders, and mountain bicyclists.

Temperate rain forest
The average yearly rainfall at Gorges State Park is over 80 in creating a temperate rain forest. The rainfall is a result of orographic lift which occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. The land at Gorges State Park rises over 2,000 ft in just 4 mi. As the air mass gains altitude it expands and cools adiabatically. This cooler air cannot hold the moisture as well as warm air can, which effectively raises the relative humidity to 100%, creating clouds and frequent precipitation.

Ecology
Gorges State Park is home to a wide variety of habitats due to its differing geologic formations, elevation, and climate. It is located between the Tennessee Valley/Gulf of Mexico and the Savannah River/Atlantic Ocean drainage basins. Five streams flowing through Gorges State Park carry water over the Blue Ridge Escarpment, gradually at first, before plummeting over waterfalls into a series of gorges.

Gorges State Park is home to roughly 125 rare plant and animal species and 12 endangered or threatened plant and animal species. Many of these rare plants species would typically be found only in the tropic regions of the world. Scientists are unsure of how these plants, including Pringle's aquatic moss and Carolina star-moss, have come to grow in the Appalachian Mountains far from their usual homes. Some scientists believe that spores blew in from the tropics. Others think that the species have remained from a time period when the surrounding area was much warmer.

Gorges State Park is also home to an abundance of plant and wildlife that is more typical to the southern Appalachians. Plant species include, mountain laurel, rhododendron, white pine, red oak, and hickories. Oconee bells are very rare flowering plants are abundant in the gorges of the park. These flowers are endangered and populations of the plant have been found.

The most common animal species of Gorges State Park are white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, coyote, fox, and wild boar. The park is also home to North Carolina's largest known population of green salamanders. The rare Swainson's warbler and three rare fish, the turquoise darter, rosyface chub and redeye bass are found in Gorges State Park as well.

Nearby state parks
The following state parks and state forests are within 30 mi of Gorges State Park:
 * Black Rock Mountain State Park (Georgia)
 * Caesars Head State Park (South Carolina)
 * Devils Fork State Park (South Carolina)
 * DuPont State Forest (North Carolina)
 * Headwaters State Forest (North Carolina)
 * Horsepasture State Natural River (North Carolina)
 * Jones Gap State Park (South Carolina)
 * Keowee-Toxaway State Park (South Carolina)
 * Oconee State Park (South Carolina)
 * Oconee Station State Historic Site (South Carolina)
 * Paris Mountain State Park (South Carolina)
 * Pisgah View State Park (North Carolina)
 * Poe Creek State Forest (South Carolina)
 * Table Rock State Park (South Carolina)

title: Gorges State Park


text:
Hammocks Beach State Park

Hammocks Beach State Park is a North Carolina state park in Onslow County, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Swansboro, along the Southern Outer Banks, or Crystal Coast, the state park covers 1611 acre and consists mainly of Bear Island. The park also owns three smaller islands, Dudley, Huggins and Jones, located in the nearby mouth of the White Oak River. After a recently completed deal, 319 acre acres on the mainland were added to the park.

Bear Island
Bear Island is four miles long with a south-facing beach. It is characterized by an extensive dune system, a pocket of maritime forest, and a shrub thicket and marsh on the northern sound side, of the island. It is popular with daytrippers, boaters, kayakers and campers. While it serves a recreational function, with a new bathhouse and primitive camping sites, the vast majority of the island is wild and undisturbed. Most of the animals on Bear Island flew or swam through tidal creeks and marshes to make their home on the island. Fresh water is scarce and only found in a few ponds in the forest between some dunes. Recent hurricanes have had a considerable impact on the oceanfront beach/dune system.

A ferry service runs from the Hammocks Beach State Park headquarters on the mainland to Bear Island via Cow Channel. While the ride, which some 200,000 people a year take, is only 15 minutes long, it is narrow and winding. The channel has increasingly become more difficult to navigate at low tide since 1996 due to sand migration in the estuary and a series of hurricanes. Shoaling in the channel has been constant since ferry operations began in the early 1960s and has worsened in recent years due to hurricane activity, particularly in the half-mile stretch of the channel nearest the island. During low tides, the park has used 11-passenger skiffs to ferry passengers rather than its 40 ft, 28-passenger boats. The ferry service was temporarily curtailed in 2002 because at low tide, the water was "extremely low" in a 200 ft section of the channel. It was shut down completely for several months in early 2007 for an emergency dredging project in the channel route to the island. As of 2009 Hammocks Beach State Park now offers a ferry that can hold up to 49 passengers.

In 1980, Bear Island was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

Huggins Island

Nearby Huggins Island, which sits just inland from Bear Island between it and the mainland, largely consists of a 110 acre thick maritime forest with many large live oak trees. The island is mostly flat with no sand dunes and is about a quarter of the size of Bear Island. At the western end of the island, from which the town of Swansboro can be seen, is a large marsh. Huggins Island is only accessible by private boat, and there are no facilities, and camping is not permitted on this island.

An even smaller island near Huggins is known in the area for its collection of sharks teeth, which wash in with the tide on the eastern tip, giving it the name Sharks Tooth Island, but it is not part of Hammocks Beach State Park. Huggins Island became a part of Hammocks Beach State Park in 2000.

Jones Island
Jones Island lies seven miles northeast of Bear Island at the mouth of White Oak River. Prominently situated in the middle of the river about a mile off the town of Swansboro, Jones Island is the dominant landmass in the Lower White Oak. It is characterized by low upland rises at the southeast and northwest ends and its marshes and small ponds along its eastern shore. The northwestern third of the island supports coastal fringe evergreen forest, which is considered to be a rare coastal ecosystem type. Loblolly pine and live oak trees are prominent on the property and eastern painted bunting have been seen nesting on the island. Breeding populations of this sparrow-sized member of the finch family are rare in North Carolina. In October 2007, 17 acre of the island permanently became part of Hammocks Beach State Park. The island, which is considered a regionally significant natural heritage area, was zoned for residential development and will now be protected for years to come.

Dudley Island
Dudley Island is located between Bear Island and Huggins Island. The island was offered to the state as a donation that will be completed in phases over a three-year period. The state accepted the first phase of the donation in December 2015.

History
Dugout canoes once traveled the vast coastal waterways as woodland Native Americans journeyed between the mainland and surrounding islands. These Native Americans participated in the Tuscarora wars against colonists in 1711 and 1713. Hostilities continued from hideouts around Bear Island until the middle of the 18th century when the Native Americans migrated northward. Dugout canoes soon gave way to pirate ships. The inlets along the coast and the shallow waterways behind the barrier islands were havens for pirates. Here they could prey upon merchant vessels and hide while repairing their ships. Among the pirates who frequented the area was the notorious Blackbeard. Spanish privateers also terrorized the colonists. For protection, the colonists built several forts, including one near Bear Inlet, which was erected in 1749 and has since disappeared.

Due to its location, Bear Island and Huggins Island have often played a role in the protection of the mainland. During the Civil War, Confederate troops on Bear Island defended it against Union forces occupying Bogue Banks. The island again assumed military importance nearly a century later when, during World War II, the Coast Guard used it to secure the coast and monitor German U-boat activity. Huggins Island also featured in the Civil War. Confederate Brigadier General Walter Gwynn, in charge of coastal defenses from New Bern to the South Carolina line, working with North Carolina Adjutant General Richard Gatlin, proposed to erect a six-gun battery on the southern tip of Huggins Island to protect Bogue Inlet. Construction of the fort was completed in December 1861 with labor supplied by local slaves working alongside the troops detailed for that purpose. Captain Daniel Munn's company was then stationed at the fort to man the cannons for one year. They were then ordered to join General Lawrence Branch's Brigade at New Bern and took the cannons with them as they marched out of Swansboro. Several of the cannons were captured by Union troops during the Battle of New Bern on March 14, 1862. On August 19, a Union force commanded by Colonel Thomas G. Stevenson of the 24th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry made a reconnaissance to Swansboro. During the expedition the fort at Huggins’ Island was burned, the barracks and ammunition magazine collapsing into ashes. Only the earthen embankment remains as evidence of the fort's existence. Those earthworks, however, have dodged development and erosion, and are now the only unspoiled example of Confederate earthwork fortifications surviving on the North Carolina coast.

Early in the 20th century, Dr. William Sharpe, a neurosurgeon of New York, came to Bear Island to hunt. His love of the island prompted him to acquire it for his retirement. Sharpe intended to will the property to John Hurst, his longtime hunting guide and friend, but Hurst persuaded him to donate it to the North Carolina Teachers Association, an organization of African American teachers. In 1950, the group assumed the deed to Bear Island and attempted to develop the property. Limited funds and the island's remoteness rendered their efforts unsuccessful. In 1961, the association donated the island to the state of North Carolina for a park. Initially planned as a park for minorities, Hammocks Beach State Park opened for all people following the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 mi of Hammocks Beach State Park:
 * Fort Macon State Park (Carteret County)
 * Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area (Carteret County)

title: Hammocks Beach State Park