Location

36.0971 N, 79.5121 W

Area

3.9 sq miles

Population (2010 census)

9,419

City Website

http://www.elonnc.com/

Citty Motto

"Heritage. Character. Progress."

Zip Code

27244

Established

1881

 

 

Elon is a town in Alamance County located about 20 miles to the East of Greensboro and easily accessed by route 70 or I-85/I-40. The town is home, most notably, to Elon University.  Part of the Burlington Metropolitan statistical area, Elon has an area of 3.9 square miles and a population of 9,419 according to the 2010 census.  

History

The town was started as a railroad depot called "Mill Point" as it was to be a shipping point for local cotton mills. Due to the rapidly growing population, a post office was built in 1888. In 1889 the local Christian assembly designated an institution of higher learning in a wooded area of town. They named it "Elon" after the Hebrew word for oak. The town came to be known as Elon College after the institution, then finally changed it to just Elon when the school became a university.

Town Services and Utilities

Water and trash collection are provided for through the town.  Electricity can be obtained through Duke Energy, and gas through Piedmont Natural Gas.  Time-Warner is the local cable provider. There is a post office located on the corner of Trollinger and Williamson Avenues. The town's public schools are part of the Burlington-Alamance school system and include Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary, Elon Elementary School, Western Middle, and Western Alamance High.  

Points of Interest