Halifax County, North Carolina

Halifax County
County
Halifax County Courthouse
Seal
Nickname:  Cradle of History [1]
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°15′N77°38′W / 36.25°N 77.64°W / 36.25; -77.64
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1758
Named for	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax
Seat	Halifax
Largest community	Roanoke Rapids
Area
• Total	730.27 sq mi (1,891.4 km2)
• Land	723.74 sq mi (1,874.5 km2)
• Water	6.53 sq mi (16.9 km2)  0.89%
Population  (2020)
• Total	48,622
• Estimate  (2022)	47,848
• Density	67.18/sq mi (25.94/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.halifaxnc.com

Halifax County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,622. ^[2] Its county seat is Halifax. ^[3]

Halifax County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

Halifax County is located in North Carolina's Coastal Plain region. The geography and history of the county were shaped by the Roanoke River, which forms its northern boundary. The county was formed from neighboring Edgecombe County in 1758. ^[1] According to Preservation North Carolina, “Halifax County is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina with a rich history dating back to the earliest days of European settlement of North America. Over the years, Halifax County has provided North Carolina with more leaders – governors, congressmen, generals – than any other county in the state.”

Originally the area was home to Tuscarora Indians and then it was settled in the early 18th century by English colonists migrating south from Virginia and also from New Jersey. The town of Halifax developed along the banks of the Roanoke River and established itself as the trading center for goods passing from settlement to settlement. The Roanoke River played a major role in the county's development, so much so that Halifax County was even considered as a potential capital of North Carolina. It remained a prosperous county until the railroads usurped the river as the major form of transportation. After Halifax County separated from Edgecombe County, the town of Halifax became the county seat (Enfield was the original county seat when Halifax was part of Edgecombe County). All territory within the boundaries of Edgecombe County north of Fishing Creek and Rainbow Banks on the Roanoke River (approximately 711 square miles) was officially designated as Halifax County on January 1, 1759. The current Halifax County towns include Enfield, Hobgood, Littleton, Roanoke Rapids, Scotland Neck, and Weldon.

Besides having 40 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, Halifax County is also historically significant because of two events preceding the American Revolution. John Lord Carteret, the second Earl Granville, inherited a one-eighth share of Carolina territory originally granted to Sir George Carteret by the British Crown. The second Earl Granville administered the district (an area between the present Virginia-North Carolina border and a line about 65 miles south) from across the Atlantic, but there was little oversight and the land agents he put in charge of granting land, collecting rent and surveying for settlers – Edward Moseley, Francis Corbin and Thomas Child – were often accused of malfeasance by settlers and landowners.

On January 24, 1759, a group of men from Halifax and Edgecombe counties rode to Francis Corbin's house in Edenton and seized him during the night. The men were upset because Corbin had extorted money from them when collecting rents for Lord Granville who controlled the land on which they lived. Corbin was taken to Enfield, along with a co-conspirator Thomas Bodley – and the men were kept in jail for four days – until they agreed to acknowledge the corruption and set records straight. Enfield was the seat of the judicial district, including Northampton, Granville, and Edgecombe County, before Halifax became the county seat.

Although Corbin was eventually relieved of his duties by Lord Granville, a few months later a court accused the Halifax and Edgecombe men of kidnapping. The kidnappers were imprisoned in the Enfield jail and a second “riot” erupted on May 14, 1759, when a mob broke into the jail and freed the men who had kidnapped Corbin and Bodley. Distrust of the British Crown and the rule of royal governors continued to foment unrest in eastern North Carolina until the colony became the first of its peers to recommend American independence.

On April 12, 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax and passed a resolution known as the Halifax Resolves. The first resolution of its kind, the document instructed North Carolina's delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to vote for independence from Great Britain. The date of the Halifax Resolves is commemorated on the state's flag. Each year April 12 is celebrated as Halifax Day, with individuals in period costumes demonstrating colonial-era activities and craftsmanship.

Geography

Interactive map of Halifax County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 730.27 square miles (1,891.4 km²), of which 723.74 square miles (1,874.5 km²) is land and 6.53 square miles (16.9 km²) (1.0%) is water. ^[4]

Some of Halifax County's natural attractions include Medoc Mountain State Park, Lake Gaston, and Roanoke Rapids Lake. Sylvan Bird Park in Scotland Neck is home to the world's largest collection of waterfowl. According to a North Carolina Deer Hunting 2016 -2017 study, Halifax County had the most number of harvested whitetail deer.

The Lakeland Arts Center, the Canal Arts Center, and the Roanoke Valley Players theater group are a few of the county's cultural institutions. With 328 seats and an 11-piece orchestra pit, Lakeland Theatre Company in Littleton marks several decades of showcasing plays and concerts. The Enfield Performing Arts Center had its first film festival in October 2017, featuring the work of local and nationally known film makers.

With 195,896 acres in farmland, Halifax County agricultural products include tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans. In addition, Halifax County sits in the heart of the great southern wood basket. The southern forests produce 12 percent of the world's wood product and 19 percent of its pulp and paper.

State and local protected areas/sites

• Brinkleyville Game Land ^[5]
• Embro Game Land (part) ^[5]
• Historic Halifax
• Lake Gaston Day Use Area (part)
• Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (part) ^[5]
• Medoc Mountain State Park
• Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Area (part)
• Shocco Creek Game Land (part) ^[5]
• Tillery Game Land ^[5]
• Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part) ^[5]

Major water bodies

• Bear Swamp
• Beaverdam Swamp
• Deep Creek
• Fishing Creek
• Lake Gaston
• Little Quankey Swamp
• Marsh Swamp
• Martin Swamp
• Quankey Swamp
• Roanoke Rapids Lake
• Roanoke River
• Rocky Swamp

Adjacent counties

• Northampton County – north-northeast
• Bertie County – east
• Martin County – southeast
• Edgecombe County – south
• Nash County – south
• Franklin County – southwest
• Warren County – west

Major highways

• I-95
• US 158
• US 258
• US 301
• 
  US 301 Bus.
• NC 4
• NC 43
• NC 48
• NC 97
• NC 122
• NC 125
• NC 481
• 
  NC 481 Bus.
• NC 561
• NC 903

Major infrastructure

• Halifax County Motor Speedway ^[6]
• Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	14,310		—
1800	13,945		−2.6%
1810	15,620		12.0%
1820	17,237		10.4%
1830	17,739		2.9%
1840	16,865		−4.9%
1850	16,589		−1.6%
1860	19,442		17.2%
1870	20,408		5.0%
1880	30,300		48.5%
1890	28,908		−4.6%
1900	30,793		6.5%
1910	37,646		22.3%
1920	43,766		16.3%
1930	53,246		21.7%
1940	56,512		6.1%
1950	58,377		3.3%
1960	58,956		1.0%
1970	53,884		−8.6%
1980	55,286		2.6%
1990	55,516		0.4%
2000	57,370		3.3%
2010	54,691		−4.7%
2020	48,622		−11.1%
2022 (est.)	47,848	[2]	−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010 [11] 2020 [2]

2020 census

Halifax County racial composition ^[12]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	19,070	39.22%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	24,737	50.88%
Native American	1,593	3.28%
Asian	281	0.58%
Pacific Islander	11	0.02%
Other/Mixed	1,476	3.04%
Hispanic or Latino	1,454	2.99%

As of the 2020 census, there were 48,622 people, 21,017 households, and 13,680 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 54,691 people living in the county. 53.2% were Black or African American, 40.0% White, 3.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 2.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 57,370 people, 22,122 households, and 15,308 families living in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile (31 people/km²). There were 25,309 housing units at an average density of 35 units per square mile (14 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 52.56% Black or African American, 42.57% White, 3.14% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,122 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.10% were married couples living together, 20.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,459, and the median income for a family was $33,515. Males had a median income of $28,025 versus $20,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,810. About 19.40% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.00% of those under age 18 and 22.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Halifax County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. With its large African American population, Halifax County has long been a Democratic stronghold. The last Republican to carry the county in a presidential election was Richard Nixon in 1972.

Halifax County is part of North Carolina's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, represented by Democrat Don Davis. ^[14]

Halifax County is represented by Michael H. Wray in the 27th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. ^[15]

United States presidential election results for Halifax County, North Carolina ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	10,080	39.13%	15,545	60.35%	134	0.52%
2016	9,031	35.88%	15,748	62.57%	388	1.54%
2012	8,763	33.60%	17,176	65.86%	140	0.54%
2008	8,961	35.71%	16,047	63.96%	83	0.33%
2004	8,088	41.17%	11,528	58.68%	31	0.16%
2000	6,698	39.47%	10,222	60.24%	50	0.29%
1996	5,700	35.40%	9,551	59.31%	852	5.29%
1992	5,769	32.40%	9,960	55.94%	2,075	11.65%
1988	7,462	46.03%	8,726	53.83%	23	0.14%
1984	8,832	48.65%	9,278	51.11%	43	0.24%
1980	6,033	41.19%	8,364	57.10%	251	1.71%
1976	5,257	39.66%	7,892	59.54%	105	0.79%
1972	8,908	66.60%	4,241	31.71%	226	1.69%
1968	3,148	20.72%	4,927	32.43%	7,116	46.84%
1964	4,757	34.70%	8,952	65.30%	0	0.00%
1960	2,343	20.89%	8,872	79.11%	0	0.00%
1956	2,346	22.99%	7,860	77.01%	0	0.00%
1952	2,210	20.06%	8,807	79.94%	0	0.00%
1948	505	7.10%	6,172	86.82%	432	6.08%
1944	440	5.92%	6,989	94.08%	0	0.00%
1940	361	4.33%	7,982	95.67%	0	0.00%
1936	308	3.61%	8,230	96.39%	0	0.00%
1932	306	4.53%	6,413	94.98%	33	0.49%
1928	890	15.42%	4,882	84.58%	0	0.00%
1924	268	7.48%	3,232	90.20%	83	2.32%
1920	524	13.26%	3,429	86.74%	0	0.00%
1916	299	11.45%	2,312	88.51%	1	0.04%
1912	42	1.70%	2,300	92.85%	135	5.45%

Communities

Map of Halifax County with municipal and township labels

City

• Roanoke Rapids (largest community)

Towns

• Enfield
• Halifax (county seat)
• Hobgood
• Littleton
• Scotland Neck
• Weldon

Townships

• Brinkleyville
• Butterwood
• Conoconnara
• Enfield
• Faucett
• Halifax
• Hobgood
• Littleton
• Palmyra
• Roanoke Rapids
• Roseneath
• Scotland Neck
• Weldon

Census-designated places

• Hollister
• South Rosemary
• South Weldon

Unincorporated communities

• Aurelian Springs
• Brinkleyville
• Charleston
• Essex
• Heathsville

Notable people

• Willis Alston – U.S. congressman
• John R. Bryant – member of the North Carolina Senate ^[17]
• Walter Clark – chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
• John Crowell – politician
• Joseph J. Daniel – justice in the North Carolina Supreme Court
• John Eaton – diplomat, U.S. senator, and U.S. secretary of war
• Henry Eppes – member of the North Carolina Senate ^[17]
• W. T. J. Hayes – politician
• Isaac H. Hilliard – planter and cotton factor
• James Hogun – general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War
• William H. Kitchin – U.S. congressman
• James Robert McLean – Confederate politician and soldier
• Bartholomew F. Moore – North Carolina attorney general and legislator
• William Rabun – governor of Georgia
• John Sitgreaves – U.S. district court judge
• Maurice Smith – former professional football player
• Starling Tucker – politician in South Carolina
• Mary Welch – Broadway actress
• Tom Winslow – folk singer and writer

See also

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Halifax County, North Carolina
• Haliwa-Saponi, state-recognized tribe that resides in the county

References

1. "Hello Halifax County". www.ncdcr.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
2. "QuickFacts: Halifax County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
5. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
6. "Halifax County Motor Speedway". Halifax County Motor Speedway. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "Representative Davis". Representative Davis. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
15. webmasters, NC General Assembly. "North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.net. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
17. Balanoff, Elizabeth. “Negro Legislators in the North Carolina General Assembly, July, 1868-February, 1872.” The North Carolina Historical Review 49, no. 1 (1972): 26-27. via JSTOR, accessed January 8, 2023.

External links

• Geographic data related to Halifax County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website
• NCGenWeb Halifax County, genealogy resources for the county