Ruffin, North Carolina facts for kids
Ruffin is a small community in Rockingham County, North Carolina. It's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own city government like a town or city. Ruffin is located northeast of Reidsville, North Carolina and southwest of Danville, Virginia. You can find it near US 29, which will become Interstate 785 someday. About 419 people call Ruffin home.
Contents
Life in Ruffin
Ruffin is surrounded by other communities like Reidsville, Eden, and Wentworth. This community was home to the very first volunteer fire department in Rockingham County. People in Ruffin grow crops like tobacco, vegetables, and strawberries. Long ago, there was even a gold mine in the area! You can also find churches like Ruffin United Methodist Church and Ruffin-Stacey Baptist Church here.
Ruffin's History
Early Growth
In 1864, a very important railway called the Piedmont Railroad was finished. This helped the small village of Ruffin start to grow. Ruffin became a key place for trade for both Rockingham and Caswell counties. However, Ruffin didn't become a huge, busy town. Instead, a smaller place nearby called Reidsville grew much faster.
Why Ruffin Didn't Grow Bigger
People say that Ruffin didn't grow because the big landowners there wanted to keep their large properties. They didn't want to sell land for new businesses or homes. This meant a big town couldn't really develop.
Ruffin as an Incorporated Town
Even though it didn't become a big city, Ruffin was officially a town with its own mayor from 1887 to 1897. The last mayor of Ruffin was Victor M. Holderby. He was an active member of the Ruffin Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Who Was Thomas Ruffin?
The community of Ruffin is named after a man named Thomas Ruffin (1787–1870). He was a very important judge in America. He served as a Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court for many years, from 1829 to 1852, and again from 1858 to 1859. He was even the Chief Justice of that court from 1833 to 1852. Thomas Ruffin lived in the community for a short time.
Recent Weather Event
On April 15, 2018, Ruffin experienced an EF1 tornado. This tornado was part of a larger group of storms that happened across the southeastern United States around that time. An EF1 tornado is considered a weak tornado, but it can still cause damage.
See also
In Spanish: Ruffin para niños
