Ruth, North Carolina

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Population in 2019: 413 (98% urban, 2% rural).
Population change since 2000: +25.5%
Males: 181  (44.0%)
Females: 232  (56.0%)
Median resident age:

47.7 years
North Carolina median age:

39.1 years

Zip codes: 28139.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $44,485 (it was $32,083 in 2000)
Ruth:

$44,485
NC:

$57,341

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $19,467 (it was $16,402 in 2000)

Ruth town income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $143,892 (it was $62,500 in 2000)
Ruth:

$143,892
NC:

$193,200

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $148,905; detached houses: $151,285; mobile homes: $119,585

Median gross rent in 2019: $623.

March 2019 cost of living index in Ruth: 79.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 24.5%
(23.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 7.3% for Black residents, 24.6% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 36.5% for two or more races residents)

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  • Races in Ruth, NC (2019)
    • 43873.2%White alone
    • 6911.5%Hispanic
    • 528.7%Black alone
    • 406.7%Two or more races

Races in Ruth detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth

Recent articles from our blog. Our writers, many of them Ph.D. graduates or candidates, create easy-to-read articles on a wide variety of topics.
Ruth, NC forum
Recent posts about Ruth, North Carolina on our local forum with over 2,200,000 registered users. Ruth is mentioned 716 times on our forum:
Old JC Penny at North Hills  (24 replies)
FYI Angus Barn Thanksgiving dinner - already full  (95 replies)
Greenville Area Developments  (11452 replies)
Charlotte vs. Raleigh?  (8515 replies)
Suggestion for restaurant for holiday team luncheon  (9 replies)
Ruth's Chris -which location for dinner?  (17 replies)

Latest news from Ruth, NC collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: American (30.9%), European (12.6%), Brazilian (5.9%), English (5.6%), German (4.4%), Scottish (3.8%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 1034 feet

Land area: 0.44 square miles.

Population density: 941 people per square mile   (low).

Ruth, North Carolina map

35 residents are foreign born (4.1% Latin America, 1.9% Europe).

This town:

5.9%
North Carolina:

8.0%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $1,283 (0.8%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $589 (0.4%)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Asheville, NC (37.1 miles , pop. 68,889).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Charlotte, NC (64.1 miles , pop. 540,828).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Philadelphia, PA (490.0 miles , pop. 1,517,550).

Nearest cities:

Rutherfordton, NC (1.2 miles ),
Spindale, NC (1.4 miles ),
Forest City, NC (2.3 miles ),
Bostic, NC (2.5 miles ),
Caroleen, NC (3.3 miles ),
Ellenboro, NC (3.3 miles ),
Henrietta, NC (3.5 miles ),
Cliffside, NC (3.7 miles )

Latitude: 35.38 N, Longitude: 81.94 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 828

Distribution of median household income in Ruth, NC in 2019
Distribution of house value in Ruth, NC in 2019
Ruth satellite photo by USGS
Unemployment in November 2020:
Here:

7.4%
North Carolina:

6.1%
Most common industries in Ruth, NC (%)
Both Males Females
Most common industries in 2000
  • Textile mills & textile products (14.6%)
  • Construction (11.4%)
  • Educational services (8.2%)
  • Health care (7.6%)
  • Administrative & support & waste management services (5.7%)
  • Metal & metal products (5.1%)
  • Social assistance (5.1%)
Most common industries for males in 2000
  • Construction (20.3%)
  • Textile mills & textile products (19.0%)
  • Metal & metal products (10.1%)
  • Wood products (8.9%)
  • Administrative & support & waste management services (8.9%)
  • Miscellaneous manufacturing (5.1%)
  • Motor vehicle & parts dealers (3.8%)
Most common industries for females in 2000
  • Health care (15.2%)
  • Educational services (13.9%)
  • Textile mills & textile products (10.1%)
  • Social assistance (10.1%)
  • Accommodation & food services (8.9%)
  • Department & other general merchandise stores (7.6%)
  • Apparel (5.1%)
Most common occupations in Ruth, NC (%)
Both Males Females
Most common occupations in 2000
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (12.0%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (7.0%)
  • Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers (5.1%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4.4%)
  • Child care workers (3.8%)
  • Painters and paperhangers (3.8%)
  • Registered nurses (3.8%)
Most common occupations for males in 2000
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (16.5%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (7.6%)
  • Retail sales workers, except cashiers (6.3%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6.3%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (6.3%)
  • Painters and paperhangers (5.1%)
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5.1%)
Most common occupations for females in 2000
  • Registered nurses (7.6%)
  • Child care workers (7.6%)
  • Secretaries and administrative assistants (7.6%)
  • Other production occupations, including supervisors (7.6%)
  • Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (6.3%)
  • Health technologists and technicians (6.3%)
  • Assemblers and fabricators (6.3%)

Average climate in Ruth, North Carolina

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Ruth, North Carolina average temperatures Ruth, North Carolina average precipitation Ruth, North Carolina humidity Ruth, North Carolina wind speed Ruth, North Carolina snowfall Ruth, North Carolina sunshine Ruth, North Carolina clear and cloudy days
Air pollution and air quality trends
(lower is better)
AQI Ozone PM2.5
Air Quality Index

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2015 was 64.9. This is about average.

City:

64.9
U.S.:

74.2
Ozone Level

Ozone [ppb] level in 2015 was 30.4. This is about average. Closest monitor was 18.9 miles away from the city center.

City:

30.4
U.S.:

33.3
Particulate Matter Level

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µg/m3] level in 2015 was 7.51. This is about average. Closest monitor was 21.2 miles away from the city center.

City:

7.51
U.S.:

8.46

Tornado activity:

Ruth-area historical tornado activity is near North Carolina state average. It is 15% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 5/5/1989, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 11.5 miles away from the Ruth town center killed 2 people and injured 35 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 5/5/1989, a category F4 tornado 21.3 miles away from the town center killed 4 people and injured 52 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity:

Ruth-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above North Carolina state average. It is 7% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 89.3 miles away from the city center
On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi) earthquake occurred 282.8 miles away from Ruth center
On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 109.0 miles away from Ruth center
On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 117.1 miles away from the city center
On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 224.4 miles away from Ruth center
On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 217.8 miles away from the city center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters in Rutherford County (13) is near the US average (15).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 8
Emergencies Declared: 3

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 3, Hurricanes: 3, Storms: 3, Tornadoes: 2, Blizzard: 1, Drought: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Snowfall: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Ruth topographic map

Hospitals and medical centers near Ruth:

  • VOCA-WOODLAND (Hospital, about 1 miles away; RUTHERFORDTON, NC)
  • RUTHERFORD HOSPITAL INC Acute Care Hospitals (about 2 miles away; RUTHERFORDTON, NC)
  • WILLOW RIDGE OF NC LLC (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; RUTHERFORDTON, NC)
  • WHITE OAK MANOR - RUTHERFORDTO (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; RUTHERFORDTON, NC)
  • HOSPICE OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY (Hospital, about 5 miles away; FOREST CITY, NC)
  • CAROLINA HOME CARE (Home Health Center, about 5 miles away; FOREST CITY, NC)
  • VOCA-ROLLINS GROUP HOME (Hospital, about 7 miles away; FOREST CITY, NC)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Ruth:

  • Isothermal Community College (about 4 miles; Spindale, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,165)
  • Gardner-Webb University (about 19 miles; Boiling Springs, NC; FT enrollment: 4,241)
  • Cleveland Community College (about 27 miles; Shelby, NC; FT enrollment: 2,541)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate (about 27 miles; Spartanburg, SC; FT enrollment: 4,994)
  • Western Piedmont Community College (about 28 miles; Morganton, NC; FT enrollment: 2,205)
  • Limestone College (about 29 miles; Gaffney, SC; FT enrollment: 2,758)
  • Spartanburg Community College (about 29 miles; Spartanburg, SC; FT enrollment: 4,309)

Points of interest:

Click to draw/clear town borders

Churches in Ruth include: The Bible Tabernacle (A), Southern Church (B). Display/hide their locations on the map

Rutherford County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential
Average household size:
This town:

2.5 people
North Carolina:

2.5 people

Percentage of family households:
This town:

63.8%
Whole state:

66.7%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This town:

8.5%
Whole state:

5.9%


Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households)
  • Lesbian couples: 0.6% of all households
  • Gay men: 1.1% of all households

For population 15 years and over in Ruth:

Marital status in Ruth, NC
  • Never married: 20.8%
  • Now married: 51.0%
  • Separated: 3.1%
  • Widowed: 11.9%
  • Divorced: 13.2%

For population 25 years and over in Ruth:

  • High school or higher: 73.3%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
  • Unemployed: 1.3%
  • Mean travel time to work (commute): 26.4 minutes
Educational Attainment in 2019
School Enrollment by Level of School in 2019
Education Gini index (Inequality in education)
Here:

13.2
North Carolina average:

11.8

Presidential Elections Results

Graphs represent county-level data. Detailed 2008 Election Results

Religion statistics for Ruth, NC (based on Rutherford County data)

Religions Adherents in 2010
Religions Adherents - Change between 2000 and 2010
ReligionAdherentsCongregations
Evangelical Protestant39,251133
Mainline Protestant6,64937
Black Protestant3,38721
Catholic8771
Other3962
None17,469-
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 17
Here:

2.70 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:

2.05 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Rutherford County:

0.16 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:

0.14 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 4
This county:

0.64 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:

0.92 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 48
This county:

7.63 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:

4.75 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 46
This county:

7.31 / 10,000 pop.
North Carolina:

7.57 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Rutherford County:

11.0%
North Carolina:

9.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Rutherford County:

27.7%
North Carolina:

28.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:

15.2%
North Carolina:

15.6%

Health and Nutrition:

Healthy diet rate:
Here:

52.5%
State:

48.9%

Average overall health of teeth and gums:
Here:

50.1%
State:

46.1%

Average BMI:
This city:

28.4
North Carolina:

28.8

People feeling badly about themselves:
Here:

19.1%
North Carolina:

20.7%

People not drinking alcohol at all:
Here:

9.7%
State:

10.7%

Average hours sleeping at night:
Here:

6.9
State:

6.8

Overweight people:
Ruth:

33.0%
North Carolina:

33.7%

General health condition:
This city:

58.8%
North Carolina:

55.8%

Average condition of hearing:
Ruth:

79.1%
State:

79.7%

More about Health and Nutrition of Ruth, NC Residents
Local government employment and payroll (March 2017)
Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll
Other Government Administration 0$0 4$1,839
Totals for Government 0$0 4$1,839

Ruth government finances - Expenditure in 2017 (per resident):

  • Current Operations - Central Staff Services: $79,000 ($191.28)
    Regular Highways: $36,000 ($87.17)
    Solid Waste Management: $26,000 ($62.95)
    Local Fire Protection: $25,000 ($60.53)

Ruth government finances - Revenue in 2017 (per resident):

  • Charges - Solid Waste Management: $4,000 ($9.69)
  • Miscellaneous - Sale of Property: $7,000 ($16.95)
    General Revenue - Other: $5,000 ($12.11)
  • State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $16,000 ($38.74)
    Highways: $15,000 ($36.32)
  • Tax - Property: $83,000 ($200.97)
    General Sales and Gross Receipts: $35,000 ($84.75)

4.73% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($44,493 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

4.73%
North Carolina average:

7.88%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:
from Cleveland County, NC  0.67% ($37,154 average AGI)
from Buncombe County, NC  0.23% ($31,854)
from Henderson County, NC  0.23% ($35,958)


4.47% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($39,786 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

4.47%
North Carolina average:

7.23%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:
to Cleveland County, NC  0.69% ($30,238 average AGI)
to Spartanburg County, SC  0.33% ($42,486)
to Mecklenburg County, NC  0.23% ($14,646)

Strongest AM radio stations in Ruth:

  • WWOL (780 AM; daytime; 10 kW; FOREST CITY, NC; Owner: HOLLY SPRINGS BAPTIST BROADCASTING CO., INC.)
  • WCAB (590 AM; 1 kW; RUTHERFORDTON, NC; Owner: ISOTHERMAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC)
  • WFGW (1010 AM; 50 kW; BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC; Owner: BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORP.)
  • WGMA (1520 AM; daytime; 1 kW; SPINDALE, NC; Owner: MOONGLOW BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WAGY (1320 AM; 1 kW; FOREST CITY, NC; Owner: WAGY, INC.)
  • WLFJ (660 AM; daytime; 50 kW; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
  • WCSZ (1070 AM; 50 kW; SANS SOUCI, SC; Owner: WHYZ RADIO, L.P.)
  • WJFJ (1160 AM; 10 kW; TRYON, NC; Owner: COLUMBUS BROADCAST CORPORATION, INC.)
  • WHKY (1290 AM; 50 kW; HICKORY, NC; Owner: LONG COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.)
  • WBCU (1460 AM; 50 kW; UNION, SC)
  • WKJV (1380 AM; 25 kW; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST OUTREACH MISSIONS)
  • WBT (1110 AM; 50 kW; CHARLOTTE, NC; Owner: JEFFERSON-PILOT COMMUNICATNS CO. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
  • WBRM (1250 AM; 5 kW; MARION, NC; Owner: WBRM, INC.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Ruth:

  • WAGI-FM (105.3 FM; GAFFNEY, SC; Owner: GAFFNEY BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • WTPT (93.3 FM; FOREST CITY, NC; Owner: UPSTATE BROADCASTING, LLC)
  • WMIT (106.9 FM; BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC; Owner: BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
  • WNCW (88.7 FM; SPINDALE, NC; Owner: ISOTHERMAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE)
  • WSPA-FM (98.9 FM; SPARTANBURG, SC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC)
  • WFBC-FM (93.7 FM; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC)
  • WQNQ (104.3 FM; OLD FORT, NC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
  • WKSF (99.9 FM; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • WMYI (102.5 FM; HENDERSONVILLE, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • WESC-FM (92.5 FM; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)
  • W220CD (91.9 FM; ENKA, NC; Owner: CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.)
  • WSSL-FM (100.5 FM; GRAY COURT, SC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • WBAV-FM (101.9 FM; GASTONIA, NC; Owner: INFINITY RADIO SUBSIDIARY OPERATIONS INC.)
  • WPEG (97.9 FM; CONCORD, NC; Owner: INFINITY RADIO SUBSIDIARY OPERATIONS INC.)
  • WYFG (91.1 FM; GAFFNEY, SC; Owner: BIBLE BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.)
  • WLNK (107.9 FM; CHARLOTTE, NC; Owner: JEFFERSON-PILOT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY OF NORTH CAROLINA)
  • WNKS (95.1 FM; CHARLOTTE, NC; Owner: INFINITY RADIO SUBSIDIARY OPERATIONS INC.)
  • WLYT (102.9 FM; HICKORY, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • WECR-FM (102.3 FM; BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC; Owner: RONDINARO BROADCASTING, INC)
  • W237AR (95.3 FM; HAZELWOOD, ETC., NC; Owner: WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO)

TV broadcast stations around Ruth:

  • WASV-TV (Channel 62; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: MEDIA GENERAL BROADCASTING OF SOUTH CAROLINA HOLDINGS, INC.)
  • WBTV (Channel 3; CHARLOTTE, NC; Owner: JEFFERSON-PILOT COMMUNICATIONS/WBTV, INC.)
  • WCNC-TV (Channel 36; CHARLOTTE, NC; Owner: WCNC-TV, INC.)
  • WJZY (Channel 46; BELMONT, NC; Owner: WJZY-TV, INC.)
  • WWWB (Channel 55; ROCK HILL, SC; Owner: WWWB-TV, INC.)
  • WHNS (Channel 21; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: MEREDITH CORPORATION)
  • WSQY-LP (Channel 66; SPARTANBURG, SC; Owner: ASHEVILLE MEDIA GROUP, LLC)
  • WSPA-TV (Channel 7; SPARTANBURG, SC; Owner: MEDIA GENERAL BROADCASTING OF SO. CAROLINA HOLDINGS, INC.)
  • WRET-TV (Channel 49; SPARTANBURG, SC; Owner: SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONAL TV COMMISSION)
  • National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics
  • 2Number of bridges
  • 13ft / 3.8mTotal length
  • 15,300Total average daily traffic
  • 1,320Total average daily truck traffic
Houses and condos Apartments
Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos in Ruth, NC
  • 60.1%Electricity
  • 15.2%Utility gas
  • 14.5%Bottled, tank, or LP gas
  • 5.8%Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
  • 2.9%Wood
  • 1.4%No fuel used
Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments in Ruth, NC
  • 48.1%Electricity
  • 28.8%Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.
  • 21.2%Utility gas
  • 1.9%Bottled, tank, or LP gas


Ruth compared to North Carolina state average:

  • Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.
  • Hispanic race population percentage above state average.
  • Renting percentage below state average.
  • House age above state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.
Cost of Living Calculator