Rockingham, North Carolina

Rockingham is a city in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States named after the Marquess of Rockingham. The population was 9,558 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Richmond County. 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.

History
The city was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, 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. As a result he was a popular figure among British colonists in America (who would later become known simply as "The 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. 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.

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, Richmond County Courthouse, Roberdel Mill No. 1 Company Store, Rockingham Historic District, U. S. Post Office and Federal Building, and H. C. Watson House.

Geography
Rockingham is located at 34.93944°N, -79.76111°W (34.939528, -79.761236).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 sqmi.7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 sqmi of it (0.41%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2011, there were 9,553 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.

Media

 * Good Morning Sandhills, Daily morning show produced Monday through Friday 7-8 am. A sister of The Richmond Observer and Live at 5.
 * The Richmond Observer, online digital newspaper
 * Live at 5, Daily news show produced Monday through Friday by The Richmond Observer
 * WAYN, 900 AM, adult contemporary and easy listening music; sports
 * WLWL, 770 AM, oldies with an emphasis on beach music
 * The Richmond County Daily Journal, newspaper published Tuesdays through Saturdays

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

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.

Notable people

 * Bucky Covington, country singer and finalist on the 5th season of American Idol
 * Alfred Dockery, congressman and brigadier general of the Tennessee State Militia
 * Dannell Ellerbe, NFL Super Bowl champion for the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles, also played as linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints.
 * Blind Boy Fuller, early blues artist, recorded some 120 sides using the Piedmont blues finger-picking style
 * Wayne Goodwin, current chair of the North Carolina Democratic party
 * Melanie Wade Goodwin, a Democratic former member of the North Carolina General Assembly, and represented the state's 66th House district for three terms
 * Melvin Ingram, a First Round Pick in the NFL draft, and a Linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
 * Leon Levine, founder of Family Dollar
 * Cameron A. Morrison, the 55th Governor of North Carolina, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative, and Mayor of Rockingham
 * Effie Wilder, writer
 * Dr. Jerry E. McGee, president, Wingate University, and longtime ACC/Big East college football official