Raeford, North Carolina

Raeford, North Carolina
City
Downtown Raeford, 2019
Seal
Location of Raeford, North Carolina
Coordinates: 34°58′51″N79°13′45″W / 34.98083°N 79.22917°W / 34.98083; -79.22917
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Hoke
Government
• Type	City Council
• Mayor	John Knox McNeill III
Area [1]
• Total	4.31 sq mi (11.15 km2)
• Land	4.28 sq mi (11.10 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation [2]	256 ft (78 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	4,559
• Density	1,064.19/sq mi (410.87/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	28361, 28376
Area codes	910, 472
FIPS code	37-54580 [4]
GNIS feature ID	2404587 [2]
Website	www.raefordcity.org

Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. ^[3] It is the county seat of Hoke County. ^[5]

History

John McRae and A.A. Williford operated a turpentine distillery and general store, respectively. Each took a syllable from his name and came up with the name Raeford for the post office they established.^{[ citation needed ]} The McRae family, who lived at the "ford of the creek", was at one time made up primarily of old Highland Scot families. Likewise, the Upper Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina was, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest settlement of Gaelic-speaking Highland Scots in North America.^{[ citation needed ]} Today, many of these old families continue to live in the area, though their presence is noticeably diminished by the great numbers of newcomers to the area as a result of Fort Liberty. Since World War II, many Lumbee Indian families have moved northward from Robeson County and now constitute a significant element of the population that is otherwise European and African American.

The Hoke County Courthouse and Raeford Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[6]

Geography

Raeford is located in central Hoke County and is bordered to the northeast by Rockfish Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the Cape Fear River. The southern part of the city drains to Toneys Creek, a south-flowing component of the Lumber River–Pee Dee River–Waccamaw River watershed.

U.S. Route 401 runs through the north and west sides of Raeford, leading east 22 miles (35 km) to Fayetteville and southwest 20 miles (32 km) to Laurinburg. U.S. 401 Business passes through the center of town as Harris Avenue and East Central Avenue. North Carolina Highway 20 leaves the center of Raeford as St. Pauls Drive, leading southeast 19 miles (31 km) to St. Pauls. North Carolina Highway 211 runs through the center of Raeford, entering from the south on Main Street and leaving to the west on Prospect Avenue; NC-211 leads south 30 miles (48 km) to Lumberton and northwest 17 miles (27 km) to Aberdeen.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 0.53%, is covered by water. ^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	580		—
1920	1,235		112.9%
1930	1,303		5.5%
1940	1,628		24.9%
1950	2,030		24.7%
1960	3,058		50.6%
1970	3,180		4.0%
1980	3,630		14.2%
1990	3,469		−4.4%
2000	3,386		−2.4%
2010	4,611		36.2%
2020	4,559		−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

2020 census

Raeford racial composition ^[9]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	1,707	37.44%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,793	39.33%
Native American	201	4.41%
Asian	40	0.88%
Pacific Islander	2	0.04%
Other/Mixed	225	4.94%
Hispanic or Latino	591	12.96%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,559 people, 1,909 households, and 1,086 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, 3,386 people, 1,323 households, and 899 families resided in the city. The population density was 902.3 inhabitants per square mile (348.4/km²). The 1,440 housing units averaged 383.7 per square mile (148.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.75% White, 40.93% African American, 2.86% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.16% of the population.

Of the 1,323 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were not families. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the age distribution was 23.7% under 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,306, and for a family was $33,772. Males had a median income of $27,060 versus $26,050 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,093. About 18.6% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Diamond and Silk — conservative Internet personalities ^{[10] [11]}
• George Floyd — born near Raeford October 1973; killed in Minneapolis in May 2020, during arrest by four police officers
• Eric Maynor — selected 20th overall by Utah Jazz in 2009 NBA draft ^[12]
• Gil McGregor — selected 89th overall by Cincinnati Royals in 1971 NBA draft
• Terrell McIntyre — retired professional basketball player; two-time All-Euroleague First Team selection; reached Euroleague Final Four in 2008 with Montepaschi Siena
• Jim McMillian — selected 13th overall by Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 NBA draft
• Kathy McMillan — former Olympic long jumper representing the United States ^[13]
• Detrez Newsome, former NFL running back ^[14]
• Ted Thomas Sr. — cleric with the Church of God in Christ ^[15]
• Earl Wolff — football safety for NFL's Washington Redskins; played college football at North Carolina State; selected by Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Raeford, North Carolina
3. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Raeford city, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Raeford city, North Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
10. "Lynnette Hardaway's North Carolina Voter Registration". voterrecords.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
11. "Rochelle Richardson's North Carolina Voter Registration". voterrecords.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
12. "Eric Demarqua Maynor". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
13. Friedlander, Brett. (May 21, 2020). 100 in 100: Hoke County's Kathy McMillan, Olympic Silver Medalist. North State Journal. Retrieved Jul 28, 2020.
14. Catamount Tailback Detrez Newsome Signs with LA Chargers. catamountsports.com. Retrieved Jul 28, 2020.
15. Ley, Ana. (Jul 1, 2020). Ted Thomas Sr. was a prominent Portsmouth bishop — but drove people to church himself. The Virginia Pilot. Retrieved Jul 28, 2020.

External links

• City of Raeford official website
• Raeford and Hoke Chamber of Commerce
• The News Journal