Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
City | |
 | |
 Location of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates: 36°27′16″N 77°39′17″W / 36.45444°N 77.65472°WCoordinates: 36°27′16″N 77°39′17″W / 36.45444°N 77.65472°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Halifax |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Emory G. Doughtie |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Carl Ferebee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.95 sq mi (25.77 km2) |
| • Land | 9.91 sq mi (25.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 15,754 |
| • Estimate (2019)[4] | 14,320 |
| • Density | 1,444.57/sq mi (557.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 27870 |
| Area code(s) | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-56900[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1022310[3] |
| Website | www |
Roanoke Rapids (/ˈroʊəˌnoʊk/) is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census.[5] It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA, with a total population of 297,726 as of 2018.[6]
Geography[]
Roanoke Rapids is located in northern Halifax County at 36°27′16″N 77°39′17″W / 36.45444°N 77.65472°W (36.454528, -77.654822),[7] bordered to the north by Northampton County, with the county line following the Roanoke River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (25.9 km2), of which 10.0 square miles (25.8 km2) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.36%, are water.[5]
The town is located at the eastern edge of the North Carolina Piedmont, on the Roanoke River at the fall line, which marks the area where an upland region (continental bedrock) and a coastal plain (coastal alluvia) meet. The fall line is typically prominent where a river crosses it, for there will usually be rapids or waterfalls. Because of these features, river boats typically could not travel any further inland. Because settlements needed a port and a ready supply of water power, they often developed where the river crosses the fall line. The Roanoke River and its falls inspired the development of Roanoke Rapids; businessmen such as Sam Patterson and other textile manufacturers used the river to power their mills.
The most prominent example of fall line settlement was the establishment of the cities along the eastern coast of the United States where the Appalachian Rise and the coastal plains meet.
The seven-mile-long (11 km) Roanoke Rapids Canal trail starts at the Roanoke dam and ends roughly a mile after passing the historic aqueduct. The trail is fairly narrow, which limits access to walkers, runners, and bikers.
Climate[]
| hideClimate data for ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC, 1991-2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 49.5 (9.7) |
52.5 (11.4) |
59.8 (15.4) |
70.1 (21.2) |
77.8 (25.4) |
85.3 (29.6) |
89.4 (31.9) |
87.5 (30.8) |
81.7 (27.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
61.1 (16.2) |
52.7 (11.5) |
69.9 (21.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39.8 (4.3) |
42.1 (5.6) |
48.6 (9.2) |
58.2 (14.6) |
67.2 (19.6) |
75.3 (24.1) |
79.6 (26.4) |
77.7 (25.4) |
71.7 (22.1) |
60.8 (16.0) |
50.4 (10.2) |
43.3 (6.3) |
59.5 (15.3) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 30.0 (−1.1) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
37.4 (3.0) |
46.3 (7.9) |
56.6 (13.7) |
65.4 (18.6) |
69.7 (20.9) |
67.9 (19.9) |
61.8 (16.6) |
50.2 (10.1) |
39.8 (4.3) |
33.8 (1.0) |
49.2 (9.6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.66 (93) |
2.93 (74) |
4.32 (110) |
3.60 (91) |
3.43 (87) |
5.05 (128) |
5.37 (136) |
5.23 (133) |
5.49 (139) |
3.59 (91) |
3.32 (84) |
3.50 (89) |
49.49 (1,257) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.4 | 9.1 | 10.3 | 9.3 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 112.6 |
| Source: NOAA[8][9] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[]
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,009 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,670 | 65.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,369 | 101.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,403 | 1.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,545 | 151.1% | |
| 1950 | 8,156 | −4.6% | |
| 1960 | 13,320 | 63.3% | |
| 1970 | 13,508 | 1.4% | |
| 1980 | 14,702 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 15,722 | 6.9% | |
| 2000 | 16,957 | 7.9% | |
| 2010 | 15,754 | −7.1% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 14,320 | [4] | −9.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 15,754 people, 6,437 households, and 4,180 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,019.7 people per square mile (776.1/km2). There were 7,085 housing units at an average density of 908.3 per square mile (347.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 63.6% White, 31.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.
There were 6,437 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 19, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.84 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.51 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,388, and the median income for a family was $51,548 (2012 dollars). About 15.9% of families and 19.9% of individuals were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Industry[]
The city was first settled as a mill town, being home to multiple textile mills. Crystal Lee Sutton (Jenkins), was a worker and union organizer for the J.P. Stevens & Co. mill in Roanoke Rapids, upon whose union activities the movie Norma Rae was based. All the textile mills are now closed and nearly 3,000 employees eventually lost their jobs. Roanoke Rapids is now home to a KapStone Paper and Packaging paper manufacturing facility.
Attractions[]
Roanoke Rapids is known for a number of historical sites. The original Roanoke Rapids High School building or Senior building as it is sometimes referred, opened in 1921 and is still in use. The building embodies many elements of Elizabethan Gothic and Tudor Revival architecture in its castle-like facade. It was built by industrialist Samuel Paterson and designed by renowned architect Hobart Upjohn in a modified H-design. Hobart Upjohn was the grandson of Richard Upjohn, architect of Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh, North Carolina and Trinity Church, in New York, NY among other notable buildings. The high school is the dominant building in the city's central core and is flanked by another castle-like structure which formerly housed a National Guard Armory. In addition to Roanoke Rapids High School, the Roanoke Canal and Roanoke Rapids Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[12]
The Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail is one of the city's oldest historical sites. The 1823 canal lock building has been adapted as a museum to show the significance of the canal system to American westward expansion. It offers an in-depth look at the influential people who pushed for the Roanoke River to become a source of trade and navigation, as well as the commodities that were shipped and traded on the Roanoke River. The trail, over seven miles long, is adjacent to the museum and largely parallel to the Roanoke River. It is commonly used by runners, bikers, photographers, and wildlife admirers. It is used as the course for the annual Roanoke Canal Half Marathon, and the Roanoke Canal Mountain Biking Club is located nearby.
Roanoke Rapids had planned Carolina Crossroads, an entertainment district founded by a group of local business developers. Attractions were to include the Randy Parton Theater as an anchor for the development, an outdoor amphitheater, a campground, an aquarium, hotels, restaurants, outlet shopping, travel center, several other dinner theaters, and water park. The association between the city and Randy Parton, brother of Dolly Parton, ended in December 2006. The city renamed the theater as the Roanoke Rapids Theater. A Black Widow Billiards Center was also announced by the pool player, Jeanette Lee.[13] Carolina Crossroads and the theater in particular became a controversial matter because of the city's financial exposure. After nearly a decade of failed attempts to lease or sell the theater, the city sold the theater on July 23, 2018.[14]
Notable people[]
- James Anderson, former NFL linebacker
- Brian Barnes, former MLB left-handed pitcher
- John Armstrong Chaloner, writer
- James E. Cheek, university president
- Chris Daughtry, musician
- Ron Davis, former MLB outfielder
- David J. Dorsett, vice admiral, Director of Naval Intelligence
- George Grizzard, actor
- Clarke Hogan, politician
- Nazair Jones, former NFL defensive tackle
- Meredith Kinleigh, Christian musician
- Kareem Martin, NFL defensive end
- Crystal Lee Sutton, labor activist
- Tom Topping, former first team All-American football player at Duke University
- Fred Vaughan, former colligate football player at NC State University
- Michael H. Wray, member of the North Carolina General Assembly
See also[]
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Roanoke Rapids city, North Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 - United States -- Combined Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Jeanette Lee Opens Black Widow Billiards Centers". Triangle Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ Carrington, Don (2018-07-25). "Roanoke Rapids finally unloads former Randy Parton Theatre". Carolina Journal. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
External links[]
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- Cities in North Carolina
- Cities in Halifax County, North Carolina
- Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina micropolitan area
- Company towns in North Carolina