| Official Name: | Mill Bridge, North Carolina |
| Settlement Type: | Populated place |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Rowan |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Atwell, Steele |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Population As Of: | 2000 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 787 |
| Coordinates: | 35.6469°N -80.6369°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Area Code: | 704 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Mill Bridge is an unincorporated community and populated place officially registered as Mill Bridge in 1874. It is located primarily in Atwell Township and Steele Township in Rowan County, North Carolina, United States. With part extending into Mount Ulla Township. The prominent features include the Kerr Mill, Thyatira Presbyterian Church, and Millbridge Speedway.
While there have been farmers and large plantations in the area since the mid-1700s, the community of Mill Bridge was not officially registered until 1874. The Mill Bridge post office existed from July 23, 1874, to September 30, 1903, with Mary E. McCubbin as the first postmaster. In the 1880s, Mill Bridge was a small prosperous agricultural community, centered around it historic Thyatira Presbyterian Church. After the Civil War, many freed slaves remained in the region, where there community was centered around the church, Oakland Presbyterian Church, which was established by the Northern Presbyterian Church.[1] [2] [3] [4]
While Mill Bridge has never been used as a U.S. Census or demographic location, it has been used as a postal location and the population has never been more than a few hundred people based on available maps. The nearby historic sites, including Kerr Mill, Owen-Harrison House, and Thyatira Presbyterian Church have defined the community.[5] [6]
All of the postmasters of Mill Bridge were women:[7]
The 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Rowan County lists a postal route for Miranda. This post office existed from September 12, 1827 to January 25, 1871 and from February 9, 1886 to September 30, 1903. The Miranda post office was located near Mill Bridge or may have been a predecessor before 1871 for Mill Bridge. According to the 1860 U.S. Census, there were 440 free persons enumerated in the Miranda post office, including 70 families in 70 houses. Most were farmers by occupation. Other occupations included school teachers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, buggy makers, carpenters, and two millers (George Hendrix and Green Eller).[1]
During the 1820s, Joseph Kerr was one of the largest and wealthiest plantation owners in Rowan County. His plantation included 1,500 acres between Sills and Cathey's Creeks and thirty to forty slaves. The community surrounding his plantation was registered as Kerrsville in 1827 when a post office was established at the Kerr plantation. Joseph died in 1829. The post office lasted only one year and was changed to Miranda, the plantation of John and James McConnaughy.[8] [2] [9]