Bahama, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bahama, North Carolina
Unincorporated community
Bahama post office
Bahama, North Carolina Location in North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Durham
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)

Bahama is a small, unincorporated community in northern Durham County, North Carolina, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live together, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of the larger county.

History of Bahama

Before Europeans settled here, the land where Bahama is now was home to Native American tribes. These included the Eno, Shakori, and Adshusheer peoples. They lived near the Neuse River basin.

The community of Bahama started with a simple log building. This building was a meetinghouse, probably built in the early 1780s. It was the first home for what is now Mount Bethel United Methodist Church. Over time, the settlement had different names. It was known as Balltown, Round Hill, and Hunkadora. The names Round Hill and Hunkadora were used for the area around the post office. This post office was started by William Horner in 1832.

In 1891, the town, then called Hunkadora, got its current name: Bahama. This name is a portmanteau, which means it's a word made by blending parts of other words. Bahama comes from the names of three important families in the area: the (Ba)ll family, the (Ha)rris family, and the (Ma)ngum family. Later, a new railroad station became the main center of activity, even more important than the post office.

People in Bahama

According to the 2000 census, Bahama's ZIP Code area (27503) had a population of 3,304 people. About half of the people were male (50.2%) and half were female (49.8%). Most of the population was white (87.7%), with 10.3% being African-American.

The average household income in Bahama was $55,272. About 4.7% of the people lived below the poverty line. This means their income was below a certain level, making it hard to afford basic needs.

Education in Bahama

Bahama has its own school called Mangum Elementary School. It used to be called Mangum Primary School. This school is part of the Durham Public School system. It teaches students from Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Historic Markers in the Area

Mount Bethel Methodist Church, a historic site in Bahama.

Around Bahama, you can find special signs called "highway markers." These markers tell you about important historical places or people. Here are some of them:

• Mount Bethel Church - NC Highway Marker G-65
  • This marker tells about a meeting house built around 1784. It became a Methodist church by 1808. It was also the home church of Washington Duke, a famous businessman.
• Willie P. Mangum - NC Highway Marker G-28
  • This marker is about Willie P. Mangum. He was a member of the United States Senate for 18 years. He also served as a Congressman and was a leader in the Whig political party. His home and grave are about 10 miles northeast.
• Stephen B. Weeks - NC Highway Marker G-50
  • Stephen B. Weeks was a historian and professor. He collected many books and papers about North Carolina. He taught at Trinity College (now Duke University) from 1891 to 1893. His grave is about 6 miles northeast.
• William B. Umstead - NC Highway Marker G-68
  • This marker honors William B. Umstead. He was the Governor of North Carolina from 1953 to 1954. He also served as a U.S. Senator and Congressman. His birthplace is about 6.5 miles northeast, and his grave is 5.5 miles northeast.
• Trading Path - NC Highway Marker G-32
  • This marker points to a very old trading route. It dates back to the 1600s. This path went from Petersburg, Virginia, all the way to Native American tribes like the Catawba and Waxhaw in Carolina.

Historic Places to See

Several places in Bahama are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites that are protected. Some of these include:

• Adolphus W. Umstead House
• George Poland House
• Hampton-Ellis Farm
• D.C. Umstead Store and House
• Hardscrabble
• Marcus Tilley House
• Little River High School
• Walnut Hall

Famous People from Bahama

Some well-known people have connections to Bahama:

• William B. Umstead - He was a U.S. Senator and later the governor of North Carolina.
• Washington Duke - A famous farmer and businessman who was also a generous giver to good causes (a philanthropist).
• Scott Riggs - A professional NASCAR race car driver.
• Layne Riggs - Also a NASCAR race car driver.
• John P. Kee - An American gospel music artist. He often says he was born "outside the county line" of Durham, North Carolina.

See also

In Spanish: Bahama (Carolina del Norte) para niños