Editing Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Roanoke Avenue
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Roanoke Rapids, NC City Seal.jpg
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_map                = NCMap-doton-RoanokeRapids.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|36|26|43|N|77|38|57|W|region:US-NC_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Halifax County, North Carolina|Halifax]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_title1            = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
| 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_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 25.77
| area_total_sq_mi         = 9.95
| area_land_km2            = 25.67
| area_land_sq_mi          = 9.91
| area_water_km2           = 0.09
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04

<!-- Population -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 138
| population_total         = 15229
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_density_km2   = 593.16
| population_density_sq_mi = 1536.27

<!-- General information -->| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 27870
| area_code                = [[Area code 252|252]]
| website                  = {{URL|www.roanokerapidsnc.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 37-56900<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              = 2404628<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404628}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

'''Roanoke Rapids''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|oʊ|ə|ˌ|n|oʊ|k}}) is a city in [[Halifax County, North Carolina|Halifax County]], [[North Carolina]], United States. The population was 15,229 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] and is the largest community in Halifax County.<ref>US Census Report, 2020, 'Roanoke Rapids city, North Carolina https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/roanokerapidscitynorthcarolina</ref><ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3756900| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Roanoke Rapids city, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=December 6, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213110906/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US3756900| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids [[Roanoke Rapids micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], and is also an anchor city of the [[Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA]], with a total population of 297,726 as of 2018.<ref name="CSA">{{cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2018/GCTPEPANNR.US41PR |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213004914/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2018/GCTPEPANNR.US41PR |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 - United States -- Combined Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico |website=American FactFinder |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 15, 2019 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Roanoke Rapids is located in northern Halifax County bordered to the north by [[Northampton County, North Carolina|Northampton County]], with the county line following the [[Roanoke River]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|25.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|25.8|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.1|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.36%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

The town is located at the eastern edge of the [[Piedmont (United States)|North Carolina Piedmont]], on the Roanoke River at the [[Atlantic Seaboard fall line|fall line]], which marks the area where an upland region (continental [[bedrock]]) and a [[coastal plain]] (coastal [[alluvium|alluvia]]) meet. The fall line is typically prominent where a river crosses it, for there will usually be rapids or waterfalls. Because of these features, riverboats normally could not travel any further inland. Because settlements needed a port and a ready supply of water power, they often developed where the river crosses the fall line. The Roanoke River and its falls inspired the development of Roanoke Rapids; businessmen such as Sam Patterson and other textile manufacturers used the river to power their mills.

The most prominent example of fall line settlement was the establishment of the cities along the eastern coast of the United States where the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian Rise]] and the coastal plains meet.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
|location = ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC, 1991-2020 normals
|single line = Y
| Jan high F = 49.5
| Feb high F = 52.5
| Mar high F = 59.8
| Apr high F = 70.1
| May high F = 77.8
| Jun high F = 85.3
| Jul high F = 89.4
| Aug high F = 87.5
| Sep high F = 81.7
| Oct high F = 71.4
| Nov high F = 61.1
| Dec high F = 52.7
|year high F = 69.9
|Jan mean F = 39.8
|Feb mean F = 42.1
|Mar mean F = 48.6
|Apr mean F = 58.2
|May mean F = 67.2
|Jun mean F = 75.3
|Jul mean F = 79.6
|Aug mean F = 77.7
|Sep mean F = 71.7
|Oct mean F = 60.8
|Nov mean F = 50.4
|Dec mean F = 43.3
|year mean F = 59.5
| Jan low F = 30.0
| Feb low F = 31.7
| Mar low F = 37.4
| Apr low F = 46.3
| May low F = 56.6
| Jun low F = 65.4
| Jul low F = 69.7
| Aug low F = 67.9
| Sep low F = 61.8
| Oct low F = 50.2
| Nov low F = 39.8
| Dec low F = 33.8
|year low F = 49.2
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|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.66
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.93
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.32
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.60
| May precipitation inch = 3.43
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.05
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.37
| Aug precipitation inch = 5.23
| Sep precipitation inch = 5.49
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.59
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.32
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.50
|year precipitation inch = 49.49
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.4
| Feb precipitation days = 9.1
| Mar precipitation days = 10.3
| Apr precipitation days = 9.3
| May precipitation days = 10.0
| Jun precipitation days = 10.1
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 9.4
| Sep precipitation days = 8.8
| Oct precipitation days = 7.1
| Nov precipitation days = 8.0
| Dec precipitation days = 9.8
| year precipitation days = 112.6
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url =
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00317319&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 21, 2021
}}</ref> }}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 1009
|1910= 1670
|1920= 3369
|1930= 3403
|1940= 8545
|1950= 8156
|1960= 13320
|1970= 13508
|1980= 14702
|1990= 15722
|2000= 16957
|2010= 15754
|2020= 15229
|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>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Roanoke Rapids racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3756900&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-24|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 8,585
| 56.37%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 5,254
| 34.5%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 85
| 0.56%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 227
| 1.49%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 4
| 0.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 498
| 3.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 576
| 3.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 15,229 people, 6,051 households, and 3,761 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS)|work=census.gov|access-date=3 February 2015}}</ref> of 2010, there were 15,754 people, 6,437 households, and 4,180 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,019.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,085 housing units at an average density of {{convert|908.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 63.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 31.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.7% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 6,437 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 19, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.84 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.51 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,388, and the median income for a family was $51,548 (2012 dollars). About 15.9% of families and 19.9% of individuals were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Industry==
The city was first settled as a [[mill town]], being home to multiple [[textile mills]]. [[Crystal Lee Sutton]] (Jenkins), was a worker and union organizer for the [[WestPoint Home|J.P. Stevens]] & Co. mill in Roanoke Rapids, upon whose union activities the movie ''[[Norma Rae]]'' was based. All the textile mills are now closed and nearly 3,000 employees eventually lost their jobs. Roanoke Rapids is now home to a [[WestRock]] paper manufacturing facility.

==Attractions==
Roanoke Rapids is known for its many historical sites.  The original [[Roanoke Rapids High School]] building or Senior building as it is sometimes referred, opened in 1921 and is still in use. The building embodies many elements of Elizabethan Gothic and [[Tudor Revival]] architecture in its castle-like facade. It was built by industrialist Samuel Paterson and designed by renowned architect [[Hobart Upjohn]] in a modified H-design. Hobart Upjohn was the grandson of Richard Upjohn, architect of [[Christ Episcopal Church (Raleigh, North Carolina)|Christ Episcopal Church]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]] and [[Trinity Church (Manhattan)|Trinity Church, in New York, NY]] among other notable buildings.  The high school is the dominant building in the city's central core and is flanked by another castle-like structure which formerly housed a [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] [[Armory (military)|Armory]]. In addition to Roanoke Rapids High School, the [[Roanoke Canal]] and [[Roanoke Rapids Historic District]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
 
The Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail is one of the city's oldest historical sites. The 1823 canal lock building has been adapted as a museum to show the significance of the canal system to American westward expansion.  It offers an in-depth look at the influential people who pushed for the [[Roanoke River]] to become a source of trade and navigation, as well as the commodities that were shipped and traded on the Roanoke River. The trail, over seven miles long, is adjacent to the museum and largely parallel to the Roanoke River.

Roanoke Rapids had planned [[Carolina Crossroads]], an entertainment district founded by a group of local business developers.  Attractions were to include the [[Randy Parton]] Theater as an anchor for the development, an outdoor amphitheater, a campground, an aquarium, hotels, restaurants, outlet shopping, travel center, several other dinner theaters, and water park.  The association between the city and [[Randy Parton]], brother of [[Dolly Parton]], ended in December 2006.  The city renamed the theater as the Roanoke Rapids Theater. A [[Black Widow Billiards Center]] was also announced by the pool player, [[Jeanette Lee (pool player)|Jeanette Lee]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Jeanette Lee Opens Black Widow Billiards Centers| url=http://triangle.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?type_news=latest&newsid=111899| work=Triangle Business Journal| access-date=2008-01-20| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429090700/http://triangle.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=111899&type_news=latest| archive-date=2008-04-29}}</ref> Carolina Crossroads and the theater in particular became a controversial matter because of the city's financial exposure. After nearly a decade of failed attempts to lease or sell the theater, the city sold the theater on July 23, 2018.<ref>{{cite news | first=Don| last=Carrington| title=Roanoke Rapids finally unloads former Randy Parton Theatre | date=2018-07-25 | publisher=[[Carolina Journal]] | url=http://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/roanoke-rapids-finally-unloads-former-randy-parton-theatre/ | access-date = 2018-07-28}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[James Anderson (American football)|James Anderson]], former NFL [[linebacker]]
* [[Ricky Kej]], 3-time [[Grammy Awards|Grammy® Award]]-winning [[musician]]
* [[Brian Barnes (baseball)|Brian Barnes]], former MLB left-handed pitcher
* [[John Armstrong Chaloner]], writer
* [[James E. Cheek]], university president
* [[Betty Cordon]], socialite
* [[Chris Daughtry]], singer and actor
* [[Ron Davis (outfielder)|Ron Davis]], former MLB [[outfielder]]
* [[David J. Dorsett]], vice admiral, Director of Naval Intelligence
* [[George Grizzard]], actor
* [[Nazair Jones]], former NFL defensive tackle
* [[Meredith Kinleigh]], Christian musician
* [[Kareem Martin]], NFL [[defensive end]]
* [[J'Vonne Parker]], former NFL defensive tackle
*[[Dawud Salahuddin]] (born 1950), Muslim terrorist
* [[Crystal Lee Sutton]], labor activist
* [[Tom Topping]], former first team [[All-America]]n [[American football|football]] player at [[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke University]]
* [[Fred Vaughan]], former colligate [[American football|football]] player at [[NC State Wolfpack football|NC State University]]
* [[Michael H. Wray]], member of the [[North Carolina General Assembly]]

==See also==
*[[North Carolina Local Government Commission]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina}}
* [http://www.roanokerapidsnc.com/ City of Roanoke Rapids official website]
* [http://www.rvchamber.com/ Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce]

{{Halifax County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Cities in Halifax County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Company towns in North Carolina]]