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Location
Stem is a small community in the piedmont of North Carolina, located in Granville County and near the towns of Butner, Creedmoor, and Oxford. Near Interstate I85, it is only 25 minutes from Durham.
History
The town of Stem was established as a separate and distinct entity from Tally Ho township in 1888 by William Thomas Stem. The Stem family were co-proprietors of a general store in the Tally Ho township and owners of the land where a new spur of the Richmond and Danville Railroad terminated. Stem was built around this new rail station. The town was incorporated in 1911.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, Stem had 463 people living in 194 households


Government
Stem was incorporated as a municipality in 1911 by the North Carolina General Assembly. Its charter defines its governing body to consist of a Mayor and Board of Commissioners.
The Mayor is elected and has a term of 2 years. The Board of Commissioners consists of five elected officials, each of which has a term of 4 years.
The Stem government provides the following functions:
The Mayor and Board of Commissioners appoint a Town Clerk and Town Attorney.
The Town Clerk is responsible for giving meeting notices, keeping meeting Minutes and other public records.
The Town Attorney is responsible for providing routine legal services to the Town Board.
The Town Board may create subsidiary boards for advice and administration, such as the Planning Board.
Schools
The town of Stem is assigned to the following schools:
- Elementary School (K-5) – Butner-Stem Elementary School; Mount Energy
- Middle School (6-8) – Butner-Stem Middle School
- High School (9-12) – Granville Central High School