Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award
-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state
of North Carolina
. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of the 19th century, and the first post office in the area opened in 1816. In 1996, the town of Battleboro merged with the city of Rocky Mount. As of 2010, the city's population was 57,477, which makes Rocky Mount the 15th largest city in North Carolina.
Rocky Mount is the principal city of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area
, which had a population of 143,026, as of 2000, and which encompasses all of both Edgecombe and Nash counties. Rocky Mount is also a part of a Combined Statistical Area
which encompasses both Rocky Mount and Wilson
Metropolitan Areas. The Rocky Mount–Wilson CSA population is currently over 200,000 residents. The city is about 45 minutes away from the state capital, Raleigh
.
Rocky Mount has a growing arts community. The city operates an Arts Center, a Children's Museum & Science Center, and a Community Theater at the Imperial Centre for Arts & Sciences.
, which was also the site of one of the first cotton mills in North Carolina
: Rocky Mount Mills
was established in 1818. The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
was built about 2 miles east of the mill in 1845 and became the main connection for Rocky Mount to the outside world.
An important change that the railroad brought was the establishment of Rocky Mount as a point of departure for travelers from the north and south. The Raleigh-Tarboro stage route (roughly where iI-95
and U.S. 64 run today) passed just below Rocky Mount which became the logical debarking point for railroad travelers wishing to proceed east or west.
The American Civil War
and Reconstruction Era brought hard times to Rocky Mount. On February 19, 1867 Rocky Mount was incorporated.
The establishment of the Rocky Mount tobacco
market in the late 19th century is one of the town's most noteworthy developments. The demand for bright leaf tobacco rose rapidly as the tobacco industry
took shape and the growth of the tobacco market led to the establishment of the town's first bank in 1889.
Also during this period, the railroad exerted a powerful influence on the town. The tracks first reached Rocky Mount on Christmas Eve, in 1839. In 1840, a train of cars en route to Wilmington
stopped in Rocky Mount to import some "Old Nash" for special toasts at opening festivities. The fame of Nash County apple brandy had spread fast. As Rocky Mount encouraged the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
to locate shops and yard facilities in the town, there was an influx of railroad employees into Rocky Mount. In 1871, the county line moved from the Tar River
to its present location near the tracks.
By the end of the 19th century, Rocky Mount's population was approximately 3,000. A main railroad line, a well established cotton mill, and productive farmland were major contributors to the area's growth and prosperity. The Chamber of Commerce
was established in 1904.
On February 28, 1907 with a population of approximately 7,500 Rocky Mount was incorporated as a city. The 20th century brought a number of "firsts" to Rocky Mount - the first public school; one of the most modern hotels in the state, the Ricks Hotel; the first library; the establishment of the first daily newspaper, the Rocky Mount Evening Telegram; the first hospitals with services available to the public and the YMCA
.
The City Lake was constructed in the late 1930s as a project of the Works Project Administration and the project provided much-needed employment to the area during the Great Depression
.
In view of the community's educational facilities, the 1950s and '60s brought rapid growth. A new high school opened in 1953. North Carolina Wesleyan College
opened in 1960. In 1968, Nash Community College
and Edgecombe Community College opened in the twin counties in order to meet the needs of citizens in technical, vocational and general education programs.
1970 marked the year Rocky Mount received an All-America City Award
. The little town built upon a rock had become the progressive city on the Great Falls of the Tar. The Seventies also brought a new post office building, completion of Nash General Hospital, a new campus for Nash Community College
, recreational use of the reservoir on the Tar River
, a new water plant, the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport
and new highways.
The Eighties brought in a new regional shopping mall, located on Wesleyan Boulevard, and an athletic center on Hardee's
Boulevard. Now, in 2008, the city continues to grow and prosper with a population of over 50,000.
, the Rocky Mount Mills
Historic Mill Village grew in the late-19th and early-20th century as a small community of tenants working for the Mill. Changes in industrialization eventually forced the closing of the mill, and this intimate way of life came to an end. However, when the mill closed, the property remained intact.
Though the property has been rental for its entire existence, covenants are now being place on the property to assure home ownership and owner occupancy. The covenants are also designed to protect the historical integrity of the existing structures in the village and to control the new infill residential construction.
Built between 1885 and 1940, each home is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The houses themselves stand in generally good condition. A typical house can be described as a one-story building of gabled, saddlebag of frame construction with weatherboard siding, complete with gabled one-story ell and hip-roofed porch. The two-story buildings are single-pile frame construction with weatherboard siding, rear one-story addition, and hip-roofed porch. Once accommodating 145 homes, the village now contains 62 remaining residences. The layout of lots has approximated the original design for the village where the lots are deep and originally accommodated large a vegetable gardens in the rear. In many cases, the original windows, doors, and hardware are intact.
While many of Rocky Mount's communities flooded during Hurricane Floyd
, none of the homes in the Mill Village experienced any damage or flooding at all.
of 2000, there were 55,893 people, 21,435 households, and 14,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,571.4 inhabitants per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 24,167 housing units at an average density of 679.5 per square mile (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.92% White, 56.02% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.
There were 21,435 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,661, and the median income for a family was $39,929. Males had a median income of $31,455 versus $34,409 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,804. About 15.8% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 16.5% ages 65 or older.
, the city has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.59%) is water.
Rocky Mount is situated uniquely, in that the city straddles the county line, with part of it in Nash County
and part of it in Edgecombe County
. CSX Transportation
tracks also separate the city at the county line, meaning that going to the other side of town always means crossing the tracks.
, and U.S. Route 301
. Interstate 95 runs through a portion of West Rocky Mount, US 64 is a major east-west freeway through the city, and US 301 forms the major north-south thoroughfare through the city.
The state of North Carolina is currently in the works of constructing a new multi-lane highway called the Northern Connector which will connect West Rocky Mount to North Rocky Mount. The highway is being built to settle traffic on Wesleyan Blvd. and other roads in the Northern Rocky Mount area.
Interstate 95 Exits: N.C 4, Dortches Blvd., and U.S. 64 with a future exit at Sunset Avenue just south of the U.S. 64 exit.
U.S. 64 Exits: Raleigh. St, Atlantic. Ave, Centura. Hwy/Church. St, Benvenue. Rd/Peachtree. St, U.S 301(Wesleyan. Blvd)
Buck Leonard Blvd. TO Sunset Ave, Winstead Ave, Interstate 95, and Old Carraige Rd.
U.S 301 (Wesleyan. Blvd) Exits: Benvenue Rd, U.S 64, Sunset Ave, Bethelehem Rd, West Mount Dr, and N.C 97(Raleigh Rd).
The closest airport with scheduled commercial service is Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
.
Cargo and charter flights in the area also utilize the Kinston Regional Jetport
.
. The train station
is centrally located on Main Street in downtown Rocky Mount.
, Shaw University
, North Carolina Wesleyan College
and Edgecombe Community College.
Nash-Rocky Mount Elementary Schools include Benvenue Elementary, D.S.Johnson Elementary, Englewood Elementary School,O.R. Pope Elementary School, Susie C. Baskerville Elementary School, M.B. Hubbard Elementary School, Coopers School, Winstead Avenue Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary, Spring Hope Elementary, and Nashville Elementary.
Middle schools include JFW Parker Middle School, Edwards Middle School, Southern Nash Middle School, Red Oak Middle School, and Nash Central Middle School.
Public high schools include Rocky Mount High School
, Northern Nash High School
, Southern Nash High School
, Nash Central High School
, and Nash Rocky Mount Early College
. The private schools located in Rocky Mount are Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), Rocky Mount Academy, Faith Christian School, and Falls Road Baptist School.
One N.C. charter school located in Rocky Mount is Rocky Mount Preparatory School.
(Rocky Mount Instruments), best known for the 368x Electra Piano Harpsichord, which was a significant instrument in the world of rock and jazz in the late 60's-early 70's.
Rocky Mount was the home of Centura Bank until it was bought by the Royal Bank of Canada
and the United States headquarters was moved to nearby Raleigh
.
The oldest Hardee's
fast food franchise is in Rocky Mount. The first Hardee's had been in nearby Greenville, but it has since been torn down. Rocky Mount and nearby Nashville
had some of the few Hardee's restaurant owned directly by the corporation and not a franchise; they have since been sold to Boddie-Noel. Rocky Mount is also the corporate headquarters of Boddie-Noell, which owns over 300 Hardee's
franchise locations and all of the Texas Steakhouse & Saloon
restaurants.
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of the 19th century, and the first post office in the area opened in 1816. In 1996, the town of Battleboro merged with the city of Rocky Mount. As of 2010, the city's population was 57,477, which makes Rocky Mount the 15th largest city in North Carolina.
Rocky Mount is the principal city of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area
Rocky Mount metropolitan area
The Rocky Mount Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – Edgecombe and Nash – in eastern North Carolina, anchored by the city of Rocky Mount...
, which had a population of 143,026, as of 2000, and which encompasses all of both Edgecombe and Nash counties. Rocky Mount is also a part of a Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
which encompasses both Rocky Mount and Wilson
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
Metropolitan Areas. The Rocky Mount–Wilson CSA population is currently over 200,000 residents. The city is about 45 minutes away from the state capital, Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
Rocky Mount has a growing arts community. The city operates an Arts Center, a Children's Museum & Science Center, and a Community Theater at the Imperial Centre for Arts & Sciences.
History of Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount had its beginning in the early part of the 19th century. It centered around the first post office which was established at the Falls of the Tar River on March 22, 1816. It was at that point that the name Rocky Mount appeared in documented history. The name undoubtedly derived from the rocky mound at the falls of the Tar RiverTar River
The Tar River is a river that is approximately long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S...
, which was also the site of one of the first cotton mills in 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...
: Rocky Mount Mills
Rocky Mount Mills
Rocky Mount Mills, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was one of the first cotton mills constructed in the state of North Carolina, dating back to 1816. From 1825 to 1883, the Battle family maintained ownership of the mill. As the southern cotton industry expanded after the Civil War, the...
was established in 1818. The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Originally chartered in 1835 as the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad name began use in 1855. At the time of its 1840 completion, the line was the longest railroad in the world with 161.5 miles of track...
was built about 2 miles east of the mill in 1845 and became the main connection for Rocky Mount to the outside world.
An important change that the railroad brought was the establishment of Rocky Mount as a point of departure for travelers from the north and south. The Raleigh-Tarboro stage route (roughly where iI-95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
and U.S. 64 run today) passed just below Rocky Mount which became the logical debarking point for railroad travelers wishing to proceed east or west.
The American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and Reconstruction Era brought hard times to Rocky Mount. On February 19, 1867 Rocky Mount was incorporated.
The establishment of the Rocky Mount tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
market in the late 19th century is one of the town's most noteworthy developments. The demand for bright leaf tobacco rose rapidly as the tobacco industry
Tobacco industry
The tobacco industry comprises those persons and companies engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products. It is a global industry; tobacco can grow in any warm, moist environment, which means it can be farmed on all...
took shape and the growth of the tobacco market led to the establishment of the town's first bank in 1889.
Also during this period, the railroad exerted a powerful influence on the town. The tracks first reached Rocky Mount on Christmas Eve, in 1839. In 1840, a train of cars en route to Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
stopped in Rocky Mount to import some "Old Nash" for special toasts at opening festivities. The fame of Nash County apple brandy had spread fast. As Rocky Mount encouraged the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
to locate shops and yard facilities in the town, there was an influx of railroad employees into Rocky Mount. In 1871, the county line moved from the Tar River
Tar River
The Tar River is a river that is approximately long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S...
to its present location near the tracks.
By the end of the 19th century, Rocky Mount's population was approximately 3,000. A main railroad line, a well established cotton mill, and productive farmland were major contributors to the area's growth and prosperity. The Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
was established in 1904.
On February 28, 1907 with a population of approximately 7,500 Rocky Mount was incorporated as a city. The 20th century brought a number of "firsts" to Rocky Mount - the first public school; one of the most modern hotels in the state, the Ricks Hotel; the first library; the establishment of the first daily newspaper, the Rocky Mount Evening Telegram; the first hospitals with services available to the public and the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
.
The City Lake was constructed in the late 1930s as a project of the Works Project Administration and the project provided much-needed employment to the area during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
In view of the community's educational facilities, the 1950s and '60s brought rapid growth. A new high school opened in 1953. North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College is a private four-year coeducational, liberal arts college, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Founded in 1956, the school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a number of preprofessional programs...
opened in 1960. In 1968, Nash Community College
Nash Community College
-External links:*...
and Edgecombe Community College opened in the twin counties in order to meet the needs of citizens in technical, vocational and general education programs.
1970 marked the year Rocky Mount received an All-America City Award
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
. The little town built upon a rock had become the progressive city on the Great Falls of the Tar. The Seventies also brought a new post office building, completion of Nash General Hospital, a new campus for Nash Community College
Nash Community College
-External links:*...
, recreational use of the reservoir on the Tar River
Tar River
The Tar River is a river that is approximately long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S...
, a new water plant, the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport
Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport
Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport is a public airport located seven miles southwest of the central business district of Rocky Mount, a city located in Nash...
and new highways.
The Eighties brought in a new regional shopping mall, located on Wesleyan Boulevard, and an athletic center on Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
Boulevard. Now, in 2008, the city continues to grow and prosper with a population of over 50,000.
Historic Rocky Mount Mills Village
Situated near Rocky Mount's Tar RiverTar River
The Tar River is a river that is approximately long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S...
, the Rocky Mount Mills
Rocky Mount Mills
Rocky Mount Mills, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was one of the first cotton mills constructed in the state of North Carolina, dating back to 1816. From 1825 to 1883, the Battle family maintained ownership of the mill. As the southern cotton industry expanded after the Civil War, the...
Historic Mill Village grew in the late-19th and early-20th century as a small community of tenants working for the Mill. Changes in industrialization eventually forced the closing of the mill, and this intimate way of life came to an end. However, when the mill closed, the property remained intact.
Though the property has been rental for its entire existence, covenants are now being place on the property to assure home ownership and owner occupancy. The covenants are also designed to protect the historical integrity of the existing structures in the village and to control the new infill residential construction.
Built between 1885 and 1940, each home is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The houses themselves stand in generally good condition. A typical house can be described as a one-story building of gabled, saddlebag of frame construction with weatherboard siding, complete with gabled one-story ell and hip-roofed porch. The two-story buildings are single-pile frame construction with weatherboard siding, rear one-story addition, and hip-roofed porch. Once accommodating 145 homes, the village now contains 62 remaining residences. The layout of lots has approximated the original design for the village where the lots are deep and originally accommodated large a vegetable gardens in the rear. In many cases, the original windows, doors, and hardware are intact.
While many of Rocky Mount's communities flooded during Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
, none of the homes in the Mill Village experienced any damage or flooding at all.
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 55,893 people, 21,435 households, and 14,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,571.4 inhabitants per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 24,167 housing units at an average density of 679.5 per square mile (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.92% White, 56.02% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.
There were 21,435 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,661, and the median income for a family was $39,929. Males had a median income of $31,455 versus $34,409 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 $17,804. About 15.8% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 16.5% ages 65 or older.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.59%) is water.
Rocky Mount is situated uniquely, in that the city straddles the county line, with part of it in Nash County
Nash County, North Carolina
Nash County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 87,420. Its county seat is Nashville.- History :...
and part of it in Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
. CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
tracks also separate the city at the county line, meaning that going to the other side of town always means crossing the tracks.
Roads
There are 3 major highways that intersect in Rocky Mount: U.S. Route 64, Interstate 95Interstate 95 in North Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
, and U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 301 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Rowland, to the Virginia state line, near Pleasant Hill.-Route description:...
. Interstate 95 runs through a portion of West Rocky Mount, US 64 is a major east-west freeway through the city, and US 301 forms the major north-south thoroughfare through the city.
The state of North Carolina is currently in the works of constructing a new multi-lane highway called the Northern Connector which will connect West Rocky Mount to North Rocky Mount. The highway is being built to settle traffic on Wesleyan Blvd. and other roads in the Northern Rocky Mount area.
Interstate 95 Exits: N.C 4, Dortches Blvd., and U.S. 64 with a future exit at Sunset Avenue just south of the U.S. 64 exit. U.S. 64 Exits: Raleigh. St, Atlantic. Ave, Centura. Hwy/Church. St, Benvenue. Rd/Peachtree. St, U.S 301(Wesleyan. Blvd)Buck Leonard Blvd. TO Sunset Ave, Winstead Ave, Interstate 95, and Old Carraige Rd.
U.S 301 (Wesleyan. Blvd) Exits: Benvenue Rd, U.S 64, Sunset Ave, Bethelehem Rd, West Mount Dr, and N.C 97(Raleigh Rd).Airports
The Rocky Mount-Wilson (RWI) Airport serves the general aviation needs of Nash, Wilson and Edgecombe counties. It is on NC Highway 97, and is just 6.5 miles from Rocky Mount, 9 miles from Wilson and only minutes from industrial traffic routes I-95, US 64, 264, 301 and NC 98.The closest airport with scheduled commercial service is Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
.
Cargo and charter flights in the area also utilize the Kinston Regional Jetport
Kinston Regional Jetport
Kinston Regional Jetport , also known as Stallings Field, is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Kinston, a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, USA. The airport has a single runway that is one of the longest in the southeastern United States. It...
.
Rail
Rocky Mount is served by AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. The train station
Rocky Mount (Amtrak station)
The Rocky Mount Amtrak Station, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is served by four passenger trains, the Carolinian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Palmetto. The station is located just south of downtown Rocky Mount, and the street address is 101 Hammond Street. It was named for Helen P...
is centrally located on Main Street in downtown Rocky Mount.
Nash General Hospital
Nash General Hospital, opened in 1971, was the first all-private room hospital in North Carolina. It is home to a Women's Center, a Cardiovascular Services department, and a Critical Care Unit. A subunit of the hospital, known as Nash Day Hospital, opened in 1984 as a free-standing outpatient surgery center. The hospital also operates The Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center in honor of Kinston native Bryant T. Aldridge, the first manager of Nash General, which opened in 1999, and the Coastal Plain Hospital, a mental health facility.Education
The City of Rocky Mount is served by the Nash-Rocky Mount Public School System, along with a number of private and charter schools in the area. Post-secondary institutions include Nash Community CollegeNash Community College
-External links:*...
, Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
, North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College
North Carolina Wesleyan College is a private four-year coeducational, liberal arts college, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Founded in 1956, the school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a number of preprofessional programs...
and Edgecombe Community College.
Nash-Rocky Mount Elementary Schools include Benvenue Elementary, D.S.Johnson Elementary, Englewood Elementary School,O.R. Pope Elementary School, Susie C. Baskerville Elementary School, M.B. Hubbard Elementary School, Coopers School, Winstead Avenue Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary, Spring Hope Elementary, and Nashville Elementary.
Middle schools include JFW Parker Middle School, Edwards Middle School, Southern Nash Middle School, Red Oak Middle School, and Nash Central Middle School.
Public high schools include Rocky Mount High School
Rocky Mount High School
Rocky Mount High School is a public high school in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Established in September 1953, the school is in Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.It is currently a member of the Big East 3-A Athletic Conference.-History:...
, Northern Nash High School
Northern Nash High School
Northern Nash High School is a high school located in Nash County just a few miles outside of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina city limits. It is located approximately from Nash Community College, just off Highway 64 bypass.-History:...
, Southern Nash High School
Southern Nash High School
Southern Nash High School is a public high school in Bailey, North Carolina. It is one of four high schools in Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools and has the second-largest enrollment of the four.-History:...
, Nash Central High School
Nash Central High School
Nash Central High School is a Nash-Rocky Mount public high school located on the western edge of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and a member of the Big East 3-A Athletic Conference...
, and Nash Rocky Mount Early College
Nash Rocky Mount Early College
The Nash Rocky Mount Early College is a high-school just outside of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.Students attending the Early College go for five years, instead of the traditional 4. However, instead of receiving just a high school diploma, they also get a two-year Associate's Degree or two year's...
. The private schools located in Rocky Mount are Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), Rocky Mount Academy, Faith Christian School, and Falls Road Baptist School.
One N.C. charter school located in Rocky Mount is Rocky Mount Preparatory School.
Companies
Rocky Mount was the home of R.M.I.Rocky Mount Instruments
Rocky Mount Instruments or RMI was a subsidiary of the Allen Organ Company, established in about 1966. It was based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina...
(Rocky Mount Instruments), best known for the 368x Electra Piano Harpsichord, which was a significant instrument in the world of rock and jazz in the late 60's-early 70's.
Rocky Mount was the home of Centura Bank until it was bought by the Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
and the United States headquarters was moved to nearby Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
The oldest Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
fast food franchise is in Rocky Mount. The first Hardee's had been in nearby Greenville, but it has since been torn down. Rocky Mount and nearby Nashville
Nashville, North Carolina
Nashville is a town in Nash County, North Carolina, United States. The town was founded in 1780 and features a rare collection of Victorian and Queen Anne style homes. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,538 in 2008. It is the county...
had some of the few Hardee's restaurant owned directly by the corporation and not a franchise; they have since been sold to Boddie-Noel. Rocky Mount is also the corporate headquarters of Boddie-Noell, which owns over 300 Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
franchise locations and all of the Texas Steakhouse & Saloon
Texas Steakhouse & Saloon
Texas Steakhouse & Saloon is a casual dining chain restaurant owned by Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc. It is based in Rocky Mount, North Carolinaand headed by Terrence Smith.-History:...
restaurants.
Notable residents
- Jack KerouacJack KerouacJean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
, writer, lived here with his sister and mother for some time - J.J. ArringtonJ.J. ArringtonJohnathan Jerone "J. J." Arrington is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, NFL running back - Anthony AventAnthony AventAnthony Avent is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round of the 1991 NBA Draft. Avent played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Vancouver Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in six NBA seasons...
, former NBA player - Lloyd W. BaileyLloyd W. BaileyDr. Lloyd W. Bailey is a faithless elector, physician and ophthalmologist, now retired, from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who achieved notoriety during the 1968 U.S...
, a faithless electorFaithless electorIn United States presidential elections, a faithless elector is a member of the Electoral College who does not vote for the candidate they have pledged to vote for...
in the 1968 presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 1968The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, who cast his vote for George WallaceGeorge WallaceGeorge Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
instead of Richard NixonRichard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. - Thurbert BakerThurbert BakerThurbert E. Baker was the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Georgia, serving from 1997, when he was appointed by Governor Zell Miller...
, former Attorney General of the state of Georgia (1997–2011). - Luther BarnesLuther BarnesLuther Barnes is a record producer, director, songwriter, composer and lead singer of Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires and the Red Budd Gospel Choir.-Biography:Barnes is an ordained minister & native son of Rocky Mount, North Carolina...
, gospel recording artist, preacher, composer, producer, songwriter - Herman BooneHerman BooneHerman Boone is a former American high school football coach, most famous for coaching at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Boone was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the 2000 film Remember the Titans....
, born in Rocky Mount; football coach; "Remember The Titans" based on his story. - Jim Boyd, 1956 Olympic Gold Medaist in boxing.
- Jim ClackJim ClackJames Thomas Clack was an American football guard in the National Football League. He played for 11 seasons between 1971 and 1981. He died of heart failure in 2006, after a four-year battle with cancer....
, center for the 1970s Terry Bradshaw-led, Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. - Roy A. CooperRoy A. CooperRoy Asberry Cooper, III is the current North Carolina Attorney General. He is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party.-Personal life and education:...
, current Attorney General of the state of North Carolina. - Mike EasleyMike EasleyMichael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
, former Governor of the State of North Carolina (2001–2009). - Phil Ford, UNC-Chapel Hill's second all-time leading scorer, currently asst. coach with the Charlotte Bobcats.
- James Carson GardnerJames Carson GardnerJames Carson "Jim" Gardner is a North Carolina businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina ....
, first Republican Lieutenant Governor of North CarolinaLieutenant Governor of North CarolinaThe Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
of the 20th century; opened the world's first Hardee'sHardee'sHardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
franchise restaurant. - Kaye GibbonsKaye GibbonsKaye Gibbons is an American novelist. Her 1987 debut, Ellen Foster, received the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, a Special Citation from the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, and the The Louis D. Rubin, Jr. Prize in Creative Writing from...
, critically acclaimed novelist - Allan GurganusAllan GurganusAllan Gurganus is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist whose work is often influenced by and set in his native North Carolina. His writing has been compared to the work of William Faulkner and Eudora Welty, who also were identified with the American South.-Biography: Gurganus was...
, best-selling author - Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells AllOldest Living Confederate Widow Tells AllOldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All is a 1989 first novel by Allan Gurganus which was on the New York Times Best Seller list for eight months. It won the Sue Kaufman Prize from The American Academy of Arts and Letters, was a main selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, and sold over four... - William B. Harrison, Jr.William B. Harrison, Jr.William B. Harrison, Jr., born August 12, 1943 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is the former CEO and Chairman of JPMorgan Chase. He attended high school at Virginia Episcopal School, where he was a basketball star. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was admitted...
, Chairman of JP Morgan Chase. - Curtis J. Holt, Sr., Civil Rights Activist
- Terrell HudginsTerrell HudginsTerrell Hudgins is an American football wide receiver and is currently a free agent. Hudgins played college football at Elon University and was temporarily a member of the Dallas Cowboys off-season/practice squad before being signed by the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League.-Early life:He...
, football wide receiver for the Elon Phoenix (2005–2009) and runner-up for FCS Walter Payton AwardWalter Payton AwardThe Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors...
. - Earle HymanEarle HymanEarle Hyman is an American stage, television, and film actor. Hyman is known for his recurring role on The Cosby Show as Cliff's father, Russell Huxtable.-Career:...
, actor, born in Rocky Mount. - Kay KyserKay KyserJames Kern Kyser was a popular bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early years:He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser. Editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin...
, big bandBig bandA big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
leader of the 1930s and 1940s. - Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, Olympic and professional boxer was born in Rocky Mount. - Walter Fenner LeonardBuck LeonardWalter Fenner "Buck" Leonard was an American first baseman in Negro league baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in along with his long-time teammate Josh Gibson.-Biography:...
, better known as Buck Leonard, was a Negro League hall of fame baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. - Thelonious MonkThelonious MonkThelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
, jazz musician. - Julius PeppersJulius PeppersJulius Frazier Peppers is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Nicknamed The Freak of Nature, he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, Chicago Bears Defensive End - Tom SmithTom Smith- Sports :* R. Thomas "Tom" Smith , American thoroughbred racehorse trainer of Seabiscuit* Tom Smith , Major League player* Tom Smith , Major League player...
, musician, Fulbright Professor, IAJE Jazz Ambassador Recipient - Harold VickHarold VickHarold Vick was an American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist and flautist born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina....
, jazz bandleader and session-man. - Charles Linwood "Buck" WilliamsBuck WilliamsCharles Linwood Williams , better known as "Buck", is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers. He was well known for his rebounding ability and trademark goggles.Williams, 6 ft 8 in , ranks 13th all-time in NBA career rebounds...
NBA Player; former President of NBA Players Association. - Mary Elizabeth WinsteadMary Elizabeth WinsteadMary Elizabeth Winstead is an American actress. She is best known for her scream queen roles in the horror films Final Destination 3, Black Christmas, Death Proof, and The Thing...
actress