Rockingham County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockingham County
|
|
|---|---|
Rockingham County Courthouse in Wentworth
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
|
|
 North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1785 |
| Named for | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham |
| Seat | Wentworth |
| Largest city | Eden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 573 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Land | 566 sq mi (1,470 km2) |
| • Water | 7.2 sq mi (19 km2) 1.2%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
91,010 |
| • Density | 166/sq mi (64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 10th |
Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 93,643. Its county seat is Wentworth. The county is known as "North Carolina's North Star."
Rockingham County is included in the Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Settling and founding
Between 1728-1733, the Dan River Valley was surveyed by William Byrd II. He soon thereafter purchased 20,000 acres of the land, attracting prospective farmers. The region's first western settlers came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia and were of German, English, Scottish, and Irish descent. The county was officially formed in 1785 from Guilford County. It was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, British Prime Minister from 1765 to 1766 and again in 1782. Rockingham's administration was dominated by the American issue. Rockingham wished for repeal of the Stamp Act 1765 and won a Commons vote on the repeal resolution by 275 to 167 in 1766. This made him a popular figure among British colonials in America, who would later become known as "Americans". People in North Carolina were still fond of him in the years following the independence of the United States.
Development of industry
By the early 19th century a network of grist mills had been established along the Dan and Smith rivers. The textile industry was founded in 1813 with construction of the first cotton mill at the junction of the Dan and Smith rivers. Founded by John M. Morehead, it was one of the first cotton mills in the state. The county was the location for the Searcy & Moore arms factory, which was at Hogans Creek, a small village 20 miles northwest of Greensboro. The factory produced firearms called the "N.C. Rifle" for the Confederate States of America forces during the Civil War. Owned by Alexander M. Searcy and Dr. J. S. Moore, the small factory made hundreds rifles for the South between 1862 and 1863. The town of Stoneville was incorporated in 1877. Francis Henry Fries later establish several mill sites in the region, with the construction of the Mayo Mills plant in 1895 in the village of Mayodan and another site in what became the town of Avalon in 1899. In 1911 a large fire destroyed the Avalon Mill. The town was soon thereafter abandoned and its workers were transferred to Mayodan, while some of the other residents relocated to Stoneville. The 60 or so Avalon company houses were put on logs and rolled by mules and horses to Mayodan, where some still stand. The only remains in Avalon are the mill's powerhouse, railroad tracks, and the dam works. The Mayo Mill, which was later called the Washington Mills-Mayodan Plant, closed in 1999.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 566 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 7.2 square miles (19 km2) (1.2%) is water.
The Dan River and Haw River drain the county.
Rockingham County has a municipal airport eight miles (13 km) northwest of Reidsville called Shiloh Airport, which has a paved 5,000-foot (1,500 m) runway, a fixed-base operation, and hangar space.
Adjacent counties
- Pittsylvania County, Virginia - northeast
- Caswell County - east
- Alamance County - southeast
- Guilford County - south
- Forsyth County - southwest
- Stokes County - west
- Henry County, Virginia - northwest
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 6,211 | — | |
| 1800 | 8,277 | 33.3% | |
| 1810 | 10,316 | 24.6% | |
| 1820 | 11,474 | 11.2% | |
| 1830 | 12,935 | 12.7% | |
| 1840 | 13,442 | 3.9% | |
| 1850 | 14,495 | 7.8% | |
| 1860 | 16,746 | 15.5% | |
| 1870 | 15,708 | −6.2% | |
| 1880 | 21,744 | 38.4% | |
| 1890 | 25,363 | 16.6% | |
| 1900 | 33,163 | 30.8% | |
| 1910 | 36,442 | 9.9% | |
| 1920 | 44,149 | 21.1% | |
| 1930 | 51,083 | 15.7% | |
| 1940 | 57,898 | 13.3% | |
| 1950 | 64,816 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 69,629 | 7.4% | |
| 1970 | 72,402 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 83,426 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 86,064 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 91,928 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 93,643 | 1.9% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 91,010 | −2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
|||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 64,218 | 70.49% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 16,611 | 18.23% |
| Native American | 282 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 493 | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander | 29 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 3,377 | 3.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6,086 | 6.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 91,096 people, 38,462 households, and 25,717 families residing in the county.
Transportation
Airports
Rockingham County NC Shiloh Airport is a public-use airport owned by Rockingham County. It is located in the town of Stoneville, eight nautical miles (15 km) northwest of the central business district of the city of Reidsville.
Major highways
I-73
US 29
US 158
US 220
US 311
NC 14
NC 65
NC 68
NC 87
NC 135
NC 150
NC 700
NC 704
NC 770
Attractions
Attractions in Rockingham County include the state parks of the Dan and Mayo rivers, near Madison; the historic downtown areas of Leaksville, Draper and Spray in Eden; the Chinqua-Penn Plantation in Reidsville; the Deep Springs Plantation in Stoneville, High Rock Farm in Williamsburg, Mulberry Island Plantation in Stoneville, and the historic Penn House, located in Reidsville. One of the most famous attractions of the Reidsville area is Lake Reidsville. Various historic shops are found in the county, as well.
The Museum & Archives of Rockingham County (the MARC) is the county historical museum and is located in the Rockingham County Courthouse in Wentworth, the county seat. The museum features exhibits and artifacts related to Rockingham County history.
Communities
Cities
Towns
- Madison
- Mayodan
- Stoneville
- Wentworth (county seat)
Townships
- Huntsville
- Madison
- Mayo
- New Bethel
- Price
- Reidsville
- Ruffin
- Stoneville
- Wentworth
- Williamsburg
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Monroeton
- Bethany
Education
All public schools in Rockingham County are a part of Rockingham County Schools. The area includes government elementary, middle, and high schools including 25 different schools which include: The elementary are Bethany School, Moss Street, Central, Leaksville-Spray, Dillard, Monroeton School, Douglass, Draper, South End School, Lawsonville Avenue, Stoneville, Lincoln, Wentworth, Huntsville, Williamsburg, and a magnet school New Vision. The middle schools are Bethany Charter (Rockingham County's only charter school), Holmes, Rockingham County, Reidsville, and Western Rockingham. The high schools are Dalton L. McMichael High School, John Motley Morehead High School, Reidsville High School, and Rockingham County High School. There is also the S.C.O.R.E. Center. There are currently 10 School Board members with one other board member seat being vacant currently. Other schools are Rockingham County Early College (for high school students only), and Rockingham Community College, located in Wentworth.
