Rockingham, North Carolina

{{Distinguish|Rockingham County, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "A City Looking Forward"

| image_skyline            = File:Rockingham mc downtown.jpg
| image_caption            = City Square - Downtown Rockingham
| image_seal               = Rockingham, NC City Seal.webp

| pushpin_map              = North Carolina
| pushpin_label_position   = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of North Carolina
| pushpin_mapsize          =

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Richmond County, North Carolina|Richmond]]

| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1784

| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 19.82
| area_land_km2            = 19.80
| area_water_km2           = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi         = 7.65
| area_land_sq_mi          = 7.64
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 9243
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = | population_density_km2   = 466.93
| population_density_sq_mi = 1209.34

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 266
| coordinates              = {{coord|34|56|19|N|79|45|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 28379-28380
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 910 and 472|910, 472]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 37-57260<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2404637<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404637}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.gorockingham.com/}}
| name                     = Rockingham, North Carolina
}}

'''Rockingham''' is a city in [[Richmond County, North Carolina|Richmond County]], [[North Carolina]], United States, named after the [[Marquess of Rockingham]]. The population was 9,558 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. It is the [[county seat]] of Richmond County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Downtown Rockingham is currently being revitalized as a part of a ten-year plan named "Shaping Our Future: 2023".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rockingham nears halfway mark on improvement plan|url=https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/79383/rockingham-nears-halfway-mark-on-improvement-plan|date=2018-03-14|website=Richmond County Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> The city is currently experiencing an economic boom, with new businesses opening in the downtown area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Foundation of Growth: Building on downtown Rockingham's renaissance|url=https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/90050/the-foundation-of-growth-building-on-downtown-rockinghams-renaissance|date=2019-11-28|website=Richmond County Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

==History==
The city was named for [[Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham]], [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] from 1765 to 1766 and again in 1782.  Rockingham's administration was dominated by the issue of the Thirteen Colonies. Rockingham wanted to repeal the [[Stamp Act 1765]] and won a Commons vote in 1766 on the repeal resolution by 275 to 167.<ref>Ross J. S. Hoffman, ''The Marquis. A Study of Lord Rockingham, 1730–1782'' (New York: Fordham University Press, 1973), p. 113.</ref>  As a result, he was a popular figure among British colonists in America (who would later become known simply as "Americans"). People in North Carolina were still sympathetic toward him in the years following the United States gaining independence.

During the early 19th century, numerous families from here migrated to [[Middle Tennessee]], settling in what is now [[Nolensville, Tennessee|Nolensville]]. They quickly established their new community.

In 1950, the town fielded a professional minor league baseball team in the Class D [[Tobacco State League]], the Rockingham Eagles. The club won the playoff title in their only season before disbanding with the entire league.<ref>Holaday, Chris (2016). {{cite web|title=The Tobacco State League; A North Carolina Baseball History, 1946–1950|url=http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-1-4766-6670-9}}. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. {{ISBN|978-1-4766-6670-9}}.</ref>

Rockingham has a number of historic buildings which have been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] since the late 1970s: the [[Bank of Pee Dee Building]], [[Covington Plantation House]], [[Alfred Dockery House]], [[Hannah Pickett Mill No. 1]], [[Manufacturers Building (Rockingham, North Carolina)|Manufacturers Building]], [[Richmond County Courthouse (Rockingham, North Carolina)|Richmond County Courthouse]], [[Roberdel Mill No. 1 Company Store]], [[Rockingham Historic District]], [[U. S. Post Office and Federal Building (Rockingham, North Carolina)|U.S. Post Office and Federal Building]], and [[H. C. Watson House]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Rockingham is situated in the south-central North Carolina Piedmont. It is located {{convert|61|mi}} west of [[Lumberton, North Carolina|Lumberton]], {{convert|61|mi}} north of [[Florence, South Carolina|Florence]], {{convert|70|mi}} east of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], and {{convert|83|mi}} south of [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]].  According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which 7.3&nbsp;square miles (18.9&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>)  is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}}  (0.41%) is water.

Rockingham's unincorporated suburbs within Richmond County that reside just outside the Rockingham-Hamlet statistical area: [[Cordova, North Carolina|Cordova]], [[East Rockingham, North Carolina|East Rockingham]], [[Dobbins Heights, North Carolina|Dobbins Heights]], [[Hoffman, North Carolina|Hoffman]].

===Urban===
The Midtown business district is densely populated with stores, boutiques, clothing stores and several apartment complexes just outside the area. While not as urban as many cities in North Carolina, it is considered by the census as the urbanized area for Rockingham and Richmond County.

===Neighborhoods===
The Rockingham area is divided into various neighborhoods and suburbs; many include different socioeconomic classes. These include [[Cordova, North Carolina|Cordova]], Philadelphia, Ledbetter, [[Roberdel, North Carolina|Roberdell]], [[East Rockingham, North Carolina|East Rockingham]], West Rockingham, Glenwood, Maplewood, East Side Park, and Knob Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rockingham, NC - 28330 - Demographics and Population Statistics - NeighborhoodScout|url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nc/rockingham/demographics|website=www.neighborhoodscout.com|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 454
|1900= 1507
|1910= 2155
|1920= 2509
|1930= 2906
|1940= 3657
|1950= 3356
|1960= 5512
|1970= 5852
|1980= 8300
|1990= 9399
|2000= 9672
|2010= 9558
|2020= 9243
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2018 estimates, the area is a part of the Hamlet-Rockingham micropolitan statistical area and has a population of 22,579. The area will eventually be served by I-73/I-74, which will go west of the city. The area has many hotels, in part because beach traffic comes through this city.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Rockingham racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3757260&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-22|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,668
| 50.5%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,274
| 35.42%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 181
| 1.96%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 131
| 1.42%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 2
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 453
| 4.9%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 534
| 5.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 9,243 people, 3,602 households, and 2,211 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the 2010 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 9,553 people, 3,966 households, and 2,573 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,326.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,375 housing units at an average density of {{convert|600.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 65.57% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 29.90% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.81% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.22% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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, 25.8% of the population was 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.

==Arts and culture==
===Museums===
* Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham<ref>{{cite web |title=Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham |url=https://kids.discoveryplace.org/rockingham/ |website=Discovery Place |publisher=Discovery Place |access-date=2 July 2021}}</ref>

===Events===
Rockingham hosts "The Smokeout" (an annual motorcycle weekend), and has also hosted the Carolina Rebellion rock festival.

The city is the home of [[Rockingham Speedway]], formerly the North Carolina Speedway. It was a staple of the [[NASCAR]] schedule for nearly 40 years before the race was discontinued in 2004.

== Education ==
Rockingham operated its own school system until 1968, when it was absorbed by the Richmond County School System.<ref name= Ruffin>{{cite news| last = Ruffin| first = Jane| title = Tragedy in Hamlet : End of the Line : Dreams of Better Days| newspaper = The News & Observer| pages = 1A, 6A–8A| edition = final| date = December 9, 1991| url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115037681/end-of-the-line-tragedy-in-hamlet/}}</ref>

The Leon Levine School of Business and Information Technology, part of Richmond Community College, is planned to be completed in downtown Rockingham, to offer post-graduate education to Rockingham. The building will be three stories tall, and is scheduled to be open for the 2020 fall semester. The school will offer programs including Accounting Specialist, IT Support — Healthcare, Healthcare Manager, Government Support Specialist, Cyber Security, Software and Web Developer, and Mobile Application Developer. The school will also provide classroom space for the college's Workforce and Economic Development division and Small Business Center.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RCC business school named for Leon Levine after $1M grant; building named for Robinettes|url=https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/74072/rcc-business-school-named-for-leon-levine-after-1m-grant-building-named-for-robinettes|date=2017-06-16|website=Richmond County Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

[[Richmond Senior High School]] serves as the high school for Richmond County residents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Living in Rockingham|url=https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/rockingham-richmond-nc/|website=Niche|language=en|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

Rockingham also offers other education centers such as the Richmond Community College Main Campus.

A new three-story downtown Richmond Community College campus is being constructed and is expected to be open for the 2020 fall semester; it was originally planned to open in January, but got pushed back.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robinette Building almost complete|url=https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/94233/robinette-building-project-nearing-completion|date=2020-05-08|website=Richmond County Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> It is expected to draw new businesses and retailers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Richmond Observer - Richmond County towns hoping for HGTV makeover|url=https://www.richmondobserver.com/national-news/item/7307-richmond-county-towns-hoping-for-hgtv-makeover.html|website=www.richmondobserver.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref>

==Media==
*[[WAYN (AM)|WAYN]], 900 AM, adult contemporary and easy listening music; sports
*[[WLWL]], 770 AM, oldies with an emphasis on beach music

==Transportation==
===Air===
[[Richmond County Airport]] (ICAO: KRCZ, FAA LID: RCZ), formerly known as Rockingham-Hamlet Airport, is located approximately 3 miles southeast of Rockingham. The airport serves local and transient general aviation flights.

'''Interstates and major highways'''

* [[File:I-73.svg|20x20px]] [[Interstate 73]]  — Runs two miles north of Rockingham, will go west of Rockingham micropolitan area, when bypass is complete in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rockingham bypass to be a boon to business, officials say|url=https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/89821/rockingham-bypass-to-be-a-boon-to-business-officials-say|date=2019-11-12|website=Richmond County Daily Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>
* [[File:I-74.svg|20x20px]] [[Interstate 74]]  — Runs two miles north of Rockingham, and exists as Future I-74, along a 13-mile freeway south of Rockingham, named the G.R. Kindley Freeway. It is expected to be signed as I-74 when the 7.2 mile Rockingham Bypass is completed in 2023, and is planned to be routed to Myrtle Beach in the future.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Myrtle Beach leaders vow that I-73 remains a top priority|url=https://www.wmbfnews.com/2019/10/23/myrtle-beach-leaders-vow-that-i-remains-top-priority/|last=Lob|first=Christina|website=www.wmbfnews.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>
* [[File:US 220.svg|25x25px]] [[U.S. Route 220]] — Runs north-south and goes through downtown Rockingham. A four-lane divided highway, it ends just south of Rockingham after merging with US 1. 
* [[File:US 1.svg|20x20px]] [[U.S. Route 1]]  — Runs north-south and goes through Rockingham in the heart of downtown. It then upgrades to a four-lane expressway when leaving Rockingham.
* [[File:US 74 (1961).svg|20x20px]] [[U.S. Route 74]]  — Runs east-west and goes through Rockingham as US 74 Business; businesses are located on this stretch. US 74 upgrades to a four-lane freeway and bypasses Rockingham. It will become I-74, when the route is signed as such.

==Notable people==
* [[Bucky Covington]], country singer and finalist on the fifth season of ''[[American Idol]]''
* [[Charles B. Deane]], member of the United States House of Representatives
* [[Charles B. Deane Jr.]], North Carolina state senator and lawyer
* [[Alfred Dockery]], congressman and [[brigadier general]] of the Tennessee State Militia
* [[Dannell Ellerbe]], [[NFL]] [[linebacker]], two-time [[Super Bowl]] champion with the [[Baltimore Ravens]] and the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
* [[Blind Boy Fuller]], early blues artist; recorded some 120 works using the [[Piedmont blues]] finger-picking style
* [[Viola Gentry]], [[aviator]], best known for setting the [[Elinor Smith#Endurance records|first non-refueling endurance record for women]]
* [[Wayne Goodwin]], current chair of the North Carolina Democratic party
* [[Melanie Wade Goodwin]], former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly; also represented the state's 66th House district for three terms
* [[Melvin Ingram]], [[NFL]] linebacker, three-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection
* [[Leon Levine]], founder of [[Family Dollar]]
* [[Brian Moehler]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher
* [[Alvin Morman]], former MLB pitcher
* [[Cameron A. Morrison]], 55th [[Governor of North Carolina]]; also formerly a [[U.S. Senator]], a [[U.S. Representative]], and Mayor of Rockingham
* [[Effie Wilder]], writer
* [[The-Dream]], singer, producer and songwriter

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gorockingham.com/ Official website of Rockingham, NC]

{{Richmond County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Cities in Richmond County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:County seats in North Carolina]]