Our Town’s History
Ranlo began as a Gaston County mill village named for industrialists John Calvin Rankin and William Thomas Love. On July 29, 1963, residents incorporated the Town of Ranlo so the community could chart its own course. The timeline below follows that story from the textile era to today.
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A mill village takes shape
Rex Spinning Company opened in 1915, followed by Ranlo Manufacturing Company in 1916 and Priscilla Spinning Company in 1921. Nearby, the Smyre community grew around A. M. Smyre Manufacturing Company (1917). Cotton mills and worker housing defined the area that would become Ranlo.
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Mill housing and community life
Row houses built for mill workers still stand in parts of town. The companies originally rented the homes to employees; over time they passed into private ownership as the village matured into a lasting residential community.
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Town of Ranlo incorporated
On July 29, 1963, Ranlo and Smyre were incorporated as the Town of Ranlo after residents worked with Raleigh on a charter. Neighboring cities were considering annexation, and local leaders chose self-government instead. Amos Flowers became the first Mayor, with Bill Tate as Mayor Pro Tem. First Commissioners included J.G. England, J.M. Bradley, W.G. Craig (Treasurer), and O.G. Paysour. Ralph Phillips served as Town Attorney and Secretary. The first Board meeting was held August 20, 1963. The founding officials served without pay at first while the new town established its tax base.
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Building the basics
Mayor Flowers served five consecutive two-year terms. Early milestones included:
- March 1964: Town accepted 4.83 miles of roads from the N.C. Department of Transportation
- June 1964: Town Hall opened at 2766 E. Ozark Avenue, rented from Hoyle Efird for $25 per month
- July 1964: Duke Power installed street lights
- 1960s: Ranlo established its own police department
- July 1968: Town formed its own sanitation crew
- July 1969: Construction began on a municipal building
- April 1970: Ranlo Volunteer Fire Department was formed
- 1971: New municipal building completed
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Parks, recreation, and gathering places
Bill Tate, who had served eight years as a Commissioner, was elected Mayor in 1973. Recreation became a priority: softball and baseball fields, a basketball court, and a tennis court were established in 1974. In 1975 the tax rate stood at 35 cents and later rose only two cents to 37 cents, a point of local pride at the time. The first mini park opened on Park Drive in 1976; a second park on Redland Drive followed in 1984. Walking and jogging tracks were built on Spencer Mountain Road (1979) and Park Drive (1982). The house beside the Park Drive park became the Ranlo Community Building in 1981. In 1983, Ti-Caro presented the Rex Lodge to the Town. Through the 1970s the Town also built out its public works capacity. Grassy Meadows subdivision was approved in 1989.
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Growth and new leadership
Joe Lawing was elected Mayor in 1989 and served three terms. A July 1, 1993 annexation helped bring the population to 2,114. In 1992, George H.W. Bush stopped in Ranlo while campaigning, a visit later mayors have often recalled. Joan L. Harbin was elected Mayor in 1995 after serving as commissioner. Steve Alexander followed in 1997 for four consecutive two-year terms. Don Clemmer was elected Mayor in 2005 and served two terms. By 2011 the population was reported at about 3,450, with continued growth from subdivisions such as Mountain View and Spencer Heights.
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A growing hometown
The 2020 Census counted 4,511 residents. Ranlo remains a small town with a strong sense of community: mill-village roots, local government built from scratch in 1963, and ongoing investment in parks, utilities, and neighborhood life. Town staff continue to serve residents with pride and dignity.