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Rocky Mount, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available.(September 2007) |
| City of Rocky Mount | |||
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| Nickname: "City on the Rise" | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| Counties | Nash, Edgecombe | ||
| Founded | Circa March 22, 1816 | ||
| Incorporated | February 28, 1867 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Frederick E. Turnage | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 35.8 sq mi (92.7 km²) | ||
| - Land | 35.6 sq mi (92.1 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²) 0.59% | ||
| - Urban | 41 sq mi (106 km²) | ||
| - Metro | 1,050 sq mi (2,718 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 100 ft (31 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - City | 55,893 | ||
| - Density | 1,571.4/sq mi (606.7/km²) | ||
| - Urban | 61,657 | ||
| - Metro | 143,026 | ||
| - Metro Density | 136/sq mi (53/km²) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP Code | 27801 | ||
| Area code(s) | 252 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-57500GR2 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1022368GR3 | ||
| Website: www.rockymountnc.gov | |||
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award winning community located in the coastal plains 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. The city straddles the county line, with part of it in Nash County and part of it in Edgecombe County. In 1996, the town of Battleboro merged with the city of Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount is the principal city of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population as of 2000 of 143,026 and which encompasses all of both Edgecombe and Nash counties and the city of Rocky Mount itself. Rocky Mount is also apart of a combined metro area which consist of both Rocky Mount and Wilson Metropolitan Areas. The Rocky Mount-Wilson Metro population is currently over 200,000 residents. As of the 2001 census, the city had a total population of 57,150, the city's population as of 2007 was about 60,000. The city is about 45 minutes away from Raleigh, North Carolina, which has a population of just under 400,000 and is the capital of North Carolina. Rocky Mount is also sometimes considered apart of The Triangle area
The City of Rocky Mount has a growing arts community. The City operates an Arts Center, a Children's Museum & Science Center, and a Community Theatre at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.59%) is water.
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 College, North Carolina Wesleyan College and Edgecombe Community College.
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools include Parker Middle School, Edwards Junior High School, Rocky Mount Senior High School, D.S.Johnson Elementary School, Englewood Elementary School, Northern Nash High School, Southern Nash High School, Nash Central High School, Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School, O.R. Pope Elementary School, Susie C. Baskerville Elementary School, Winstead Avenue Elementary School, Rocky Mount Prep School and Nash Central Middle School.
The private schools located in Rocky Mount are: Rocky Mount Academy, Faith Christian School and Falls Road Baptist School.
One N.C. charter school is located in Rocky Mount: Rocky Mount Preparatory School.
There are 3 major highways that intersect in Rocky Mount: U.S. Route 64, Interstate 95, and US 301. Interstate 95 runs through a portion of West Rocky Mount, US 64 runs east to west through Rocky Mount, and US 301 runs north to south through Rocky Mount. Buck Leonard Blvd is also a 4-lane divided highway in Rocky Mount that connects Sunset Ave to US 64. US 64 puts Rocky Mount less than 45 minutes east of Raleigh, and US 301 puts Rocky Mount 15 minutes north of the city of Wilson. The city of Rocky Mount 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
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).
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Golden East Crossing: The Golden East Crossing mall is one of the biggest malls east of Raleigh. It has seen a rise in growth in shoppers and stores. Three new stores were added to the mall in 2007. There are many major stores in the mall, including Belk, Sears, JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ross Dress for Less, Best Buy, Embarq, and Books-A-Million.
Cobbs Corners: Cobb Corners is a major shopping complex in Rocky Mount. It is home to many major stores such as: Wal-Mart, Old Navy, Goodys, Dollar Tree, Michael's, Circuit City, and Office Depot.
Other shopping centers in Rocky Mount are: Oakwood Shopping Center, Eastridge Shopping Center, Walnut Shopping Center, Crossroads Shopping Center, Edgecombe Shopping Center, Ford's Colony Shopping Center, Crossing@64 Shopping Center, Sutters Creek Plaza, Benvenue Plaza, Beavers Pond Centre, Rock Mount Towne Center, and many others.
The city of Rocky Mount is finally seeing development in the inner city neighborhoods. Rocky Mount's inner city neighborhoods are home to much of the city's African American population. The area has a lot of run-down and abandoned housing, and abandoned warehouses, and mills due to the decline in businesses after the 1999 Hurricane Floyd. Most of the crime in the city takes place in the inner city neighborhoods. The area also has an high poverty percentage.
Crime in the inner city part of Rocky Mount is higher than the state average. Currently the city has the highest crime rate in the state of North Carolina. The area has been experiencing the "white flight" due to the rise in crime, and gang activity in the area. Other cities in North Carolina has also been seeing a rise in crime also.
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To meet Wikipedia's quality standards and conform with our NPOV policy, this article or section may require cleanup. The current version of this article or section is written in an informal style and with a personally invested tone. It reads more like a story than an encyclopedia entry. Please see specific examples noted on the talk page. Editing help is available. |
There were 51,082 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 30.2% 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 was 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 $62,661, and the median income for a family was $39,929. Males had a median income of $41,455 versus $34,409 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,804. In 2001 it had a population of 57,150. The population density was 1,571.4 people per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 70,000 housing units at an average density of 679.5/sq mi (262.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40% White, 60% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.40% 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 100% of the population. In addition, a significant portion of the population, regardless of race, has hereditary links to various Amerindian groups.
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To meet Wikipedia's quality standards and conform with our NPOV policy, this article or section may require cleanup. The current version of this article or section is written in an informal style and with a personally invested tone. It reads more like a story than an encyclopedia entry. Please see specific examples noted on the talk page. Editing help is available. |
Rocky Mount is a growing area, with many new residents settling in the area and several developments in the works. Billboards nickname Rocky Mount "The City on the Rise" and also "Remarkable Rocky Mount."
In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, 30% of Rocky Mount was estimated to be under water due to the flooding of the Tar River and Stoney Creek. Pictures
- J.J. Arrington, NFL running back
- Thurbert Baker, current Attorney General of the state of Georgia.
- Herman Boone, the coach on which the movie Remember the Titans was based, was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on October 28, 1935. Boone graduated from Booker T. Washington High School (later re-named Rocky Mount Senior High School) in 1954. He coached high school football in Virginia and North Carolina.
- Jim Clack, center for the 1970's Terry Bradshaw-led Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Roy Cooper, current Attorney General of the state of North Carolina.
- Mike Easley, current Governor of the state of North Carolina.
- Phil Ford, a former assistant coach at UNC-Chapel Hill and the school's all-time leading scorer, currently with the Detroit Pistons as an assistant to Larry Brown.
- Kaye Gibbons, Critically Acclaimed Novelist
- Allan Gurganus, the American writer whose work is often set in North Carolina, was born in Rocky Mount in 1947.
- William B. Harrison, Jr. Chairman of JPMorgan Chase.
- Earle Hyman was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on October 11, 1926. He is best known for his role as Russell Huxtable, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable's father, on the The Cosby Show.
- Kay Kyser,big band leader of the 1930s and 1940s.
- Walter Fenner Leonard, better known as Buck Leonard, was a famous Negro League first baseman.
- Thelonious Monk, famous jazz musician.
- Harold Vick, jazz bandleader and session-man, best known for his first solo album Steppin' Out (1963) and his appearance in the Spike Lee film School Daze backing vocalist Phyllis Hyman.
- Charles Linwood Williams, better known as "Buck Williams", was born in Rocky Mount on March 8, 1960, and was the 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year and a 3-time NBA All-Star. Buck was also a President of NBA Players Association.
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead, rising Hollywood star born in 1984, her most notable roles are in Sky High, Final Destination 3, Black Christmas, Grindhouse - Death Proof, Live Free or Die Hard.
Rocky Mount, NC was the home of R.M.I. (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, most famously used by the likes of John Lennon, Leon Russell, Rick Wakeman, Tony Banks, and Keith Jarrett.
- City of Rocky Mount (official website)
- Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce
- North Carolina Wesleyan College
- Rocky Mount, North Carolina is at coordinates Coordinates:
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Nash County, North Carolina |
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| County seat: Nashville | ||
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Rocky Mount |
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Edgecombe County, North Carolina |
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| County seat: Tarboro | ||
| City |
Rocky Mount |
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| Towns |
Conetoe | Leggett | Macclesfield | Pinetops | Princeville | Sharpsburg | Speed | Tarboro | Whitakers |
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Categories: Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from September 2007 | All articles needing copy edit | Cleanup from October 2007 | All pages needing cleanup | Wikipedia articles needing style editing from December 2007 | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | Settlements established in 1816 | Cities in North Carolina | Edgecombe County, North Carolina | Nash County, North Carolina | United States communities with African American majority populations | Rocky Mount metropolitan area