Raven Rock, North Carolina facts for kids

Raven Rock is a small, rural community located in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. It sits along U.S. Route 421, just west of the town of Lillington. It's a place where people live but isn't officially a town or city.

The Story of Raven Rock's Beginnings

The history of Raven Rock goes back to the late 1700s. A man named Gilbert Patterson was traveling by canoe on the Cape Fear River. He crashed his canoe near some large rocks and was stuck for three days! He managed to get to a huge rock that towered over him. People started calling this big rock "Patterson's Rock."

Later in the 1700s, the Samuel Northington Sr. family moved to this area from Virginia. They built a small village close to the Cape Fear River. Mr. Northington set up a plantation, a mill for grinding grain, a general store, and even a ferry to cross the river.

By 1838, the Northington family moved away to Alabama. Many other families then moved into the area. One important family was the Felix and Evelyn Josephine Cranor McKay family. They arrived in the early 1850s and owned land there for a long time.

The McKay family sold their land to the state in 1968. This land then became the Raven Rock State Park in 1969, a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy nature.

How Raven Rock Got Its Name

During the time of the American Civil War until 1909, there was a post office in the community called Norval. This name came from the Northington family. After the post office closed, the community's name changed to Raven Rock. This new name came from the many ravens that would often rest on the large rock, which was once called Patterson's Rock.

Important Families and Community Life

Over the years, many families have lived in the Raven Rock area. Some of the well-known families include the McLean, McNeill, McKoy, McKay, Cummings, Worrell, Fuquay, and Arnold families. These families helped build the community and have been a part of its history for generations.

Places of Worship

Today, there are two main churches in the Raven Rock area. These are the Raven Rock Presbyterian Church and the Rock Springs Free Will Baptist Church. They serve as important gathering places for the community.

Historical Burial Sites

Within the Raven Rock community, there are a few old cemeteries. The Northington Family Cemetery and a slave cemetery are located near the path leading to Raven Rock itself. Another cemetery, Northington's Ferry Cemetery, is close to the Cape Fear River. Many people who lived in the area long ago were buried there. The last known burial at this cemetery was in 1937. There is also the Arnold Family Cemetery on land once owned by Ephraim Lanier Arnold and R. A. McNeill.