Roxboro is a city in Person County, North Carolina, in the United States. It is also the main town, known as the county seat. In 2020, about 8,134 people lived here.

Roxboro is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Durham. It is part of a larger area called the Durham–Chapel Hill Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area is also part of the even bigger Raleigh–Durham–Cary Combined Statistical Area.

History of Roxboro

Old pumps at Stuart's Family Grill - "Dog House"

Roxboro gets its name from a town in Scotland called Roxburgh. Even though they are spelled differently, they sound the same. Before it was officially called Roxboro, the community was known as "Mocassin Gap."

The city of Roxboro became an official town on January 9, 1855. It is still the only city in Person County.

Several historic buildings in Roxboro are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Holloway-Jones-Day House, the Person County Courthouse, and the Roxboro Cotton Mill.

Geography and Climate

Roxboro is located at 36°23′30″N 78°58′55″W / 36.39167°N 78.98194°W / 36.39167; -78.98194.

The city covers about 6.3 square miles (16.3 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part is water.

Roxboro's Weather

Roxboro has a mild climate, which means the weather is generally pleasant. Spring, fall, and winter are usually mild. However, summers can be hot and humid.

In winter, temperatures are often between 20s°F and 50s°F (-2°C to 13°C). Spring and fall days are usually in the 70s°F (low 20s°C). Summer days often reach the upper 80s and low 90s °F (30-35°C) with lots of humidity.

Roxboro usually gets about 7.2 inches (183 mm) of snow each winter. Sometimes, there are ice storms. People sometimes call Roxboro the "Snow Capital of the Triangle" because it often gets the most snow in central North Carolina during snowstorms.

Local Businesses

Roxboro has many different types of businesses. These include companies that make LED lighting, textiles, and aerospace parts. There are also law firms, food processing plants, and businesses related to cars and tobacco farming.

Roxboro is also close to North Carolina's Research Triangle area. This region is home to many high-tech companies.

Major Employers

Some of the biggest employers in Roxboro are:

Duke Energy
Eaton Corporation
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
GKN Driveline
Person County Schools
Person Memorial Hospital (connected with Duke University Health System)
Polywood

Healthcare Services

Roxboro has several places where people can get medical care:

Person Memorial Hospital, which is linked to the Duke University Health System.
Roxboro MedAccess
Person County Medical and Dental

Population Information

Roxboro's Population in 2020

In 2020, the city of Roxboro had 8,134 people living there. There were 3,348 households and 1,739 families.

Roxboro racial composition
Group	Number of People	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	3,210	39.46%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	3,700	45.49%
Native American	58	0.71%
Asian	28	0.34%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	351	4.32%
Hispanic or Latino	786	9.66%

Education in Roxboro

For more details on schools, you can check the Person County, North Carolina page.

Piedmont Community College is located here, offering higher education.

Culture and Fun

Museums to Visit

Person County Museum of History – This museum has seven historic buildings. Each building shows different exhibits about the area's past. You can see old homes, a general store, and a doctor's office.

Entertainment and Sports

Roxboro Motorsports Dragway – This is a track where cars, trucks, and bikes race. It opened in 1960 and hosts events in spring, summer, and fall.
Rock Sportsplex – This place has five baseball fields and a batting cage for sports lovers.

Farmers Markets

Person County Farmers Market – Here you can find fresh, local produce and other goods.
Roxboro Farmers Market on Depot Street – Also located in Uptown Roxboro, offering fresh produce.

Festivals and Events

Roxboro hosts many fun festivals and events throughout the year:

Personality Festival – A two-day festival in October with street dancing, games, music, food, and rides.
Lake Mayo Canoe/Kayak Festival – An event for paddlers and watchers held each spring on Lake Mayo.
Willow Oak Blue Grass Festival – Held in June and September, featuring national and local bluegrass bands.
Flem Whitt Beach Music Festival – Usually in August at Hyco Lake, with beach music bands.
Clash of the Carts – Teams build funny, human-powered carts and race them downhill in Uptown.
Mayo Lake Cyclysm – Over 100 cyclists ride through North Carolina and Virginia. You can choose different distances.
Relay For Life – A fundraising event to fight cancer, held at Person High School Stadium.
Flat River Antique Engine and Tractor Show – A two-day event in September showing off old farm equipment.
July 4 parade and fireworks – A parade on Main Street with old cars and horses, followed by fireworks at Person High School Stadium.
Alive After 5 – Music fans gather to listen to local bands. This summer event happens twice a year.

Performing Arts

Kirby Civic Auditorium – This old movie theater now hosts live plays, dance shows, and concerts. Famous artists like Branford Marsalis and Doc Watson have performed here.
Roxboro Little Theater – This group has been putting on plays for over 30 years. They've performed shows like The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music.
Merritt Commons Pavilion – This outdoor stage in Uptown Roxboro also hosts local music and plays.

Public Library

Person County Public Library

Person County Public Library reading room

The Person County Public Library is in Roxboro. It offers many programs for children and adults. Over 26,000 people have library cards here.

Parks and Recreation

The Person County Parks and Recreation Department offers many ways to have fun outdoors. There are playgrounds, walking tracks, picnic areas, and sports courts. The county has over 6,735 acres (27.25 km2) of park land.

Some of the parks include:

Allensville Park
Bushy Fork Park
Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex
Mayo Park
Optimist Park

Other fun places to visit:

Hyco Lake
Mayo Lake
Piedmont Community College Nature Trail – A system of seven trails with an observatory.
Roxboro City Lake
Roxboro Country Club – An 18-hole golf course.

Transportation and Utilities

Getting Around

Air Travel

Person County Airport is about 8 miles (13 km) south of Roxboro.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 42 miles (68 km) south.
Piedmont Triad International Airport is 72 miles (116 km) southwest.

Railroads

Norfolk Southern has train lines for moving goods.
Roxboro does not have passenger train service. You can find Amtrak trains in nearby Durham.

Main Roads

Major highways that go through Roxboro include:

U.S. Route 158
U.S. Route 501
N.C. 49
N.C. 57
N.C. 157

Public Transportation

Person Area Transit System (PATS) runs local bus routes within Roxboro.

City Services

The city's electricity is provided by Duke Energy and Piedmont Electric Membership Cooperative. Phone services come from companies like CenturyLink, AT&T Mobility, and Verizon Wireless. Internet and cable TV are available from CenturyLink and Charter Communications.

Media and News

Newspapers

Newspapers that serve Roxboro and the surrounding area include:

The Courier-Times
The Herald-Sun

Radio Stations

Roxboro has two local radio stations:

96.7 FM WKRX plays Country music.
1430 AM WRXO plays Oldies music.

Television

Roxboro is part of the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville TV market.

WFMY-TV from Greensboro, NC, is available on DirecTV.
WSET-TV from Lynchburg, Virginia, is also on DirecTV.

Famous People from Roxboro

Many notable people have come from Roxboro, including:

Jamie Barnette, a former football player.
Robert L. Blackwell, a soldier who received the Medal of Honor in World War I.
Margie Bowes, a country music singer.
Anderson Clayton, who leads the North Carolina Democratic Party.
Mary Jayne Harrelson, a middle-distance runner who won championships in college.
Frank Kimbrough, a jazz pianist.
Carl Long, a NASCAR driver.
Tom Long, a business leader.
Wendy Palmer, a former WNBA basketball player and coach.
James Ramsey, a politician and lawyer.
Enos Slaughter, a famous Major League Baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Henry Slaughter, a gospel musician.
Jim Thorpe, a professional golfer.
Luke Torian, a politician in Virginia.
George Yarborough, a soldier in World War I who received two high honors.

Images for kids

Old pumps at Stuart's Family Grill - "Dog House"

Roxboro, North Carolina facts for kids

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