The Keyauwee As early as 1701, the
Keyauwee people were living in a village in this region. They enjoyed the area's mild climate, abundant natural resources, and the fertile hunting grounds along the
Deep and
Uwharrie rivers. Part of a loose confederacy of 20 or more tribes, it is believed that by the 1760s, the Keyauwee had moved south, close to the boundary between the two
Carolinas, where they were likely absorbed by the
Catawba tribe.
Quaker settlement By the late 18th century, European settlers came to Jamestown. Many were
Quaker families who moved to the area from
Pennsylvania in search of productive farmland. Among the original settlers was James Mendenhall, who established a farmstead near present-day Jamestown in 1752. Though Mendenhall moved to
Georgia in 1775, his son George remained, and by 1816, he founded the village of Jamestown in honor of his father. The Mendenhall family, who owned and operated the area's first
grist and lumber mills, also owned much of the town's original land. Today,
High Point City Lake is situated where the original family farmhouse and land was located. In 1781, during the
Revolutionary War, British General
Cornwallis' army camped near the settlement and commandeered provisions from local farms and mills prior to his engagement with
Nathanael Greene's troops at New Garden, in modern-day Greensboro.
19th century By 1800, Jamestown was a bustling settlement of 150 residents with its own post office, inn and
Freemasons' lodge. Around this same time, gold was discovered near Jamestown, and several
mines profited until the
California Gold Rush frenzy shut down local efforts. In 1811, James Mendenhall's son Richard, a local
tanner, built the Mendenhall Plantation homestead, a highlight of any tour of Jamestown today. In addition to farming and related industries, Jamestown was home to a gun factory, which manufactured a sturdy and accurate
muzzle-loading gun known as the "Jamestown Rifle", the mainstay of Jamestown's industry through the latter half of the 19th century and a highly prized collectible among gun enthusiasts today. During the
Civil War, Jamestown's Quakers, who opposed war and violence, attempted to remain neutral. However, the
Confederacy demanded that those who were able to make shoes, uniforms, or weapons continue to do so or pay heavy taxes. Records indicate that Confederate President
Jefferson Davis and his entourage passed through Jamestown during their hasty retreat to the south after the Civil War ended. Prior to the war, Jamestown was a known "stop" along the
Underground Railroad, which helped fugitive slaves reach freedom in the North. According to local historical records, many Quaker homes in this area had a
trap door leading to the basement to help slaves escape. Further, according to records, the Mendenhall and Beard families were instrumental in assisting in emancipation efforts. Built in 1856, the railroad bisects Jamestown, and still provides a vital link for freight and some passengers between the port cities to the east and interior destinations.
20th century By April 1947, the
North Carolina General Assembly granted Jamestown
incorporation. Several months after incorporation, Jamestown adopted
zoning districts and began construction of a municipal water system. T. C. Ragsdale Sr. served as the town's first mayor, and Charles P. Turner was the first
town manager. In the 1950s, with a population of approximately 750, the town boasted such improvements as street lighting, water service, and a fire department. During the 1960s, Jamestown grew quickly. Several residential neighborhoods sprang from old farmland. An
ABC board was formed and a liquor store was constructed, enabling the town to pay off debt incurred for water lines as well as fund a sanitary sewer system, storm sewers, paved residential streets, the building of Town Hall in 1967, and the Jamestown Park and Golf Course in 1974. High Point's ABC board opened their first liquor store in 1976, ending Jamestown's remarkable flow of revenue. The
Former Jamestown High School,
Gardner House,
Jamestown Historic District,
McCulloch's Gold Mill,
Richard Mendenhall Plantation Buildings,
Oakdale Cotton Mill Village, and
Ragsdale Farm are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. ==Education==