Rockingham, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Rockingham is a city in Richmond County
, North Carolina
, United States
named after the Marquis of Rockingham. The population was 9,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Richmond County
. Rockingham is the home of Rockingham Speedway, formerly the North Carolina Speedway
, which was a staple of the NASCAR
schedule for nearly 40 years, before the race was discontinued in 2004.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²).7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,672 people, 3,966 households, and 2,573 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,326.8 people per square mile (512.3/km²). There were 4,375 housing units at an average density of 600.1 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.57% White, 29.90% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 3,966 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples
living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,574, and the median income for a family was $33,534. Males had a median income of $27,923 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,426. About 18.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
WLWL
, 770 AM, oldies with an emphasis on beach music
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
named after the Marquis of Rockingham. The population was 9,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Richmond County
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
. Rockingham is the home of Rockingham Speedway, formerly the North Carolina Speedway
North Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
, which was a staple of the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
schedule for nearly 40 years, before the race was discontinued in 2004.
Geography
Rockingham is located at 34°56′22"N 79°45′40"W (34.939528, -79.761236).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²).7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,672 people, 3,966 households, and 2,573 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,326.8 people per square mile (512.3/km²). There were 4,375 housing units at an average density of 600.1 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.57% White, 29.90% African American, 1.10% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 3,966 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,574, and the median income for a family was $33,534. Males had a median income of $27,923 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,426. About 18.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Bucky CovingtonBucky CovingtonWilliam Joel "Bucky" Covington III is an American country music singer. He placed eighth on the 5th season of the Fox Network's talent competition series American Idol. In December 2006, he signed a recording contract with Lyric Street Records...
, a finalist on the 5th season of American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. - P. T. DeutermannP. T. DeutermannPeter T. "P.T." Deutermann ) is an American writer of mystery, police procedural and thriller novels.Deutermann served in the United States Navy for 26 years, earning 19 medals and decorations and retiring at the rank of captain. He served as the commander of the between 1981 and 1983...
, mystery writer, also owns a local Dartmoor ponyDartmoor pony-External links:*...
breeding farm. - Wayne GoodwinWayne GoodwinGeorge Wayne Goodwin was elected North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance in the 2008 election. Goodwin previously served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's sixty-eighth House district, including constituents in Richmond and Stanly counties...
, North Carolina's elected Insurance Commissioner as a result of the 2008 election. - Leon LevineLeon LevineLeon Levine is an American businessman and philanthropist that founded the Family Dollar chain of discount stores.-Early life:...
, founder of Family DollarFamily DollarFamily Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
. - Cameron A. MorrisonCameron A. MorrisonCameron A. Morrison was the 55th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1921 to 1925.He was born in 1869 in Richmond County, North Carolina. With the backing of Sen. Furnifold Simmons and the help of race-baiting tactics employed by A. D. Watts, Morrison defeated O. Max Gardner in the...
, Governor of North CarolinaGovernor of North CarolinaThe Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and Mayor of Rockingham. - Terius Youngdell Nash, or "The-DreamThe-DreamTerius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
" is a Grammy Award nominated American singer-songwriter and record producer. - Blind Boy FullerBlind Boy FullerBlind Boy Fuller was an American blues guitarist and vocalist. He was one of the most popular of the recorded Piedmont blues artists with rural Black Americans, a group that also included Blind Blake, Josh White, and Buddy Moss.-Life and career:Fulton Allen was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina,...
, early blues artist, recorded some 120 sides using the Piedmont bluesPiedmont bluesPiedmont blues refers primarily to a guitar style, the Piedmont fingerstyle, which is characterized by a fingerpicking approach in which a regular, alternating thumb bass string rhythmic pattern supports a syncopated melody using the treble strings generally picked with the fore-finger,...
fingerpicking style.
Media
WAYN, 900 AM, adult contemporary and easy listening music; sportsWLWL
WLWL
WLWL is a radio station broadcasting an urban oldies music format with an emphasis on beach music that is licensed to Rockingham, North Carolina, USA. While its effective coverage range is the Sandhills area of Central North and South Carolina, its signal reaches as Charlotte, 75 miles to the west...
, 770 AM, oldies with an emphasis on beach music