Rockingham County, North Carolina

Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,096. 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 of the Piedmont Triad metro region.

History

Settling and founding

Between 1728 and 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 of 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 , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.

The Dan River and Haw River drain the county.

State and local protected areas

* Courtland Park and Bird Sanctuary
* Haw River State Park (part)
* Knight Brown Nature Preserve
* Mayo River State Park
* Woodland Community Park

Major water bodies

* Belews Lake
* Buffalo Creek
* Dan River
* Giles Creek (Haw River tributary)
* Haw River
* Hogans Creek
* Huffines Mill Creek
* Jacobs Creek
* Jones Creek
* Lake Hunt
* Lake Reidsville
* Little Jacobs Creek
* Little Troublesome Creek (Haw River tributary)
* Matrimony Creek
* Massy Creek
* Mayo River (Dan River tributary)
* Quaqua Creek
* Reedy Creek (Dan River tributary)
* Rockingham Lake
* Smith River
* Town Creek
* Troublesome Creek (Haw River tributary)
* Wolf Island Creek

Adjacent counties

* Henry County, Virginia – north
* Pittsylvania County, Virginia – north
* Caswell County – east
* Alamance County – southeast
* Guilford County – south
* Forsyth County – southwest
* Stokes County – west

Major highways

* (Small designated section from Exit 123 to the Guilford County line)
* (Concurrency with US 220)
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Major infrastructure

* Rockingham County NC Shiloh Airport. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010. 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.

Demographics

The county's population has been stagnant since the 1980s.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 91,096 people, 38,462 households, and 25,717 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 91,928 people, 36,989 households, and 26,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 162 people per square mile (63/km²). There were 40,208 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial identities of the county were 77.33% White, 19.57% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other race identities, and 0.83% from two or more races. 3.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino identified of any race specific phenotype.

There were 36,989 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,784, and the median income for a family was $40,821. Males had a median income of $30,479 versus $22,437 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,120. About 10.20% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Rockingham County is a member of the regional Piedmont Triad Council of Governments.

In 2011, the new Rockingham County Justice Center was opened. The $47 million facility replaced a more than century-old courthouse in Rockingham County and includes courthouse, jail, and sheriff's office. The new facility is the first judicial center in the state of North Carolina seeking certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating System. The three-story building will be able to accommodate 359 employees and 300 inmates.

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.

Economy

Historically, Rockingham County's economy was largely based around textiles and tobacco. Textiles was largely based in the north of the county, while tobacco was centered in the south, particularly around Reidsville. The textile industry diminished amidst a national decline in the 1980s and 1990s, while a cigarette plant in Reidsville underwent layoffs in the 1990s before shutting down in 2020.

Attractions

Attractions in Rockingham County include the state parks of the Dan and Mayo rivers, near Mayodan; 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 only county historical museum and is located in the Rockingham County Courthouse in Wentworth, the county seat since 1787. The museum features exhibits and artifacts related to Rockingham County history as well as including the restored historic 1816 Wright Tavern (also historically known as Reid House or Reid Hotel) opposite the museum and 1910 Old Jail next door.

Communities

Cities

* Eden (largest city)
* Reidsville

Towns

* Madison
* Mayodan
* Stoneville
* Wentworth (county seat)
* Stokesdale (part)

Townships

* Huntsville
* Madison
* Mayo
* New Bethel
* Price
* Reidsville
* Ruffin
* Stoneville
* Wentworth
* Williamsburg

Census-designated place

* Ruffin

Unincorporated communities

* Bethany
* Monroeton
* Oregon Hill

See also

* List of counties in North Carolina
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Rockingham County, North Carolina
* North Carolina State Parks
* List of future Interstate Highways

References

External links

Rockingham County government official website


NCGenWeb Rockingham County
– free genealogy resources for the county

Rockingham County, North Carolina's North Star

Rockingham County Business & Technology Center

The Shiloh/Rockingham County Airport

WGSR TV47/Reidsville

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1785 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1785