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Raeford, North Carolina facts for kids

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Raeford, North Carolina
Downtown Raeford, 2019
Downtown Raeford, 2019
Official seal of Raeford, North Carolina
Seal
Location of Raeford, North Carolina
Location of Raeford, North Carolina
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Hoke
Government
 • Type City Council
Area
 • Total 4.31 sq mi (11.15 km2)
 • Land 4.28 sq mi (11.10 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
256 ft (78 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,559
 • Density 1,064.19/sq mi (410.87/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
28361, 28376
Area codes 910, 472
FIPS code 37-54580
GNIS feature ID 2404587

Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County.

History

John McRae and A.A. Williford operated a turpentine distillery and general store, respectively. Each took a syllable from his name and came up with the name Raeford for the post office they established. The McRae family, who lived at the "ford of the creek", was at one time made up primarily of old Highland Scot families. Likewise, the Upper Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina was, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest settlement of Gaelic-speaking Highland Scots in North America. Today, many of these old families continue to live in the area, though their presence is noticeably diminished by the great numbers of newcomers to the area as a result of Fort Liberty. Since World War II, many Lumbee Indian families have moved northward from Robeson County and now constitute a significant element of the population that is otherwise European and African American.

The Hoke County Courthouse and Raeford Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Raeford is located in central Hoke County and is bordered to the northeast by Rockfish Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the Cape Fear River. The southern part of the city drains to Toneys Creek, a south-flowing component of the Lumber RiverPee Dee RiverWaccamaw River watershed.

U.S. Route 401 runs through the north and west sides of Raeford, leading east 22 miles (35 km) to Fayetteville and southwest 20 miles (32 km) to Laurinburg. U.S. 401 Business passes through the center of town as Harris Avenue and East Central Avenue. North Carolina Highway 20 leaves the center of Raeford as St. Pauls Drive, leading southeast 19 miles (31 km) to St. Pauls. North Carolina Highway 211 runs through the center of Raeford, entering from the south on Main Street and leaving to the west on Prospect Avenue; NC-211 leads south 30 miles (48 km) to Lumberton and northwest 17 miles (27 km) to Aberdeen.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.53%, is covered by water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 580
1920 1,235 112.9%
1930 1,303 5.5%
1940 1,628 24.9%
1950 2,030 24.7%
1960 3,058 50.6%
1970 3,180 4.0%
1980 3,630 14.2%
1990 3,469 −4.4%
2000 3,386 −2.4%
2010 4,611 36.2%
2020 4,559 −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Raeford racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,707 37.44%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,793 39.33%
Native American 201 4.41%
Asian 40 0.88%
Pacific Islander 2 0.04%
Other/Mixed 225 4.94%
Hispanic or Latino 591 12.96%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,559 people, 1,909 households, and 1,086 families residing in the city.

Notable people

  • Diamond and Silk — conservative Internet personalities
  • George Floyd — born near Raeford October 1973; killed in Minneapolis in May 2020, during arrest by four police officers
  • Eric Maynor — selected 20th overall by Utah Jazz in 2009 NBA draft
  • Gil McGregor — selected 89th overall by Cincinnati Royals in 1971 NBA draft
  • Terrell McIntyre — retired professional basketball player; two-time All-Euroleague First Team selection; reached Euroleague Final Four in 2008 with Montepaschi Siena
  • Jim McMillian — selected 13th overall by Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 NBA draft
  • Kathy McMillan — former Olympic long jumper representing the United States
  • Detrez Newsome, former NFL running back
  • Ted Thomas Sr. — cleric with the Church of God in Christ
  • Earl Wolff — football safety for NFL's Washington Redskins; played college football at North Carolina State; selected by Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft
  • Merchel Menefield - Doctoral Admissions Advisor at Franklin University.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Raeford (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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