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Moving to Raeford, North Carolina

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Raeford is located in the northern part of Hoke County in North Carolina. The city is situated near the Cape Fear River and is only a short drive away from Fayetteville, the largest city in the area. The climate of Raeford is generally mild and humid, with hot summers and cool winters. The history of Raeford dates back to 1883 when it was founded by two brothers who were looking for a place to start a new community. Since then, Raeford has grown into a thriving city with a population of over 5,000 people.

Politically, Raeford operates under the council-manager form of government. The mayor and five council members are elected every four years to serve as the governing body of the town while day-to-day operations are handled by a professional city manager.

The economy of Raeford is largely based on agriculture, with several large farms in the area producing cotton, tobacco, soybeans, and corn. Manufacturing is also an important part of the local economy with companies like John Deere and Avon Products having facilities here. Additionally, there are several retail stores located in downtown Raeford that cater to both locals and visitors alike.

Raeford is served by Hoke County Schools which includes nine elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, one early college high school program and an alternative school for at-risk students. In addition to these public schools there are also several private schools located within the town limits including Stedman Christian Academy and Christian Light School which provide religious education for K-12 students.

Finally some notable landmarks in Raeford include Historic Downtown Raeford which features many buildings from its founding days as well as modern amenities like restaurants and shops; Sandhills Horticultural Gardens; Lake Rim Park; Carolina Horse Park; and Fort Bragg Military Base which is just outside of town limits but still provides plenty of recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Population: 3,386. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,594 (+6.1% change)
Males: 1,555 (45.9%), Females: 1,831 (54.1%)

Hoke County

Zip code: 28376

Demographics

Median resident age: 40.9 years
Median household income: $31,306
Median house value: $78,700

Population by Race

Races in Raeford:

  • White Non-Hispanic (50.6%)
  • Black (40.9%)
  • Hispanic (4.2%)
  • American Indian (3.1%)
  • Two or more races (1.4%)
  • Other race (1.1%)

Ancestries: United States (12.9%), English (7.4%), German (5.6%), Scottish (4.0%), Scotch-Irish (3.3%), Irish (2.2%).

Elevation: 254 feet

Land area: 3.8 square miles

Population by Education

Raeford, North Carolina is a small town located in Hoke County. According to the 2010 census, Raeford had a population of 4,626. The racial makeup of the town was 54.5% African American, 34.9% White, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 0.4% Native American. The median household income for Raeford was $32,974 and the median age was 33 years old. The majority of people in Raeford are employed in service occupations such as retail salespersons and cashiers or in production occupations such as machine operators and assemblers. There is also a large military presence in the area due to nearby Fort Bragg which employs many of the citizens of Raeford.

Raeford has a number of small businesses that cater to its residents including grocery stores, hardware stores and auto repair shops. There are also several churches located throughout the area that provide spiritual guidance to its members as well as various community services such as food pantries and clothing drives for those in need. Education is important to many families living in Raeford with Hoke County Public Schools providing educational services for K-12 students within the district boundaries. The public schools have been recognized for their commitment to excellence by local and state organizations alike with awards ranging from best school district rankings to most improved school ratings year after year.

For population 25 years and over in Raeford

  • High school or higher: 66.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.5%
  • Unemployed: 5.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 19.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Raeford city

  • Never married: 23.4%
  • Now married: 52.2%
  • Separated: 4.7%
  • Widowed: 12.7%
  • Divorced: 7.0%

5.3% Foreign born (3.4% Latin America, 1.2% Asia, 0.6% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -436 (-11.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Raeford:

  • BEHAVORIAL HEALTH OF CAPE FEAR VALLEY (about 19 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC)
  • CAPE FEAR VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER (about 19 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC)
  • SCOTLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; LAURINBURG, NC)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Raeford:

  • POPE AFB (about 21 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: POB)
  • MOORE COUNTY (about 21 miles; PINEHURST/SOUTHERN PINES, NC; Abbreviation: SOP)
  • FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL/GRANNIS FIELD (about 25 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: FAY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Raeford:

  • P K AIRPARK (about 4 miles; RAEFORD, NC; Abbreviation: 5W4)
  • LAURINBURG-MAXTON (about 17 miles; MAXTON, NC; Abbreviation: MEB)
  • GRAYS CREEK (about 29 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: 2GC)

Amtrak station near Raeford:

  • 18 miles: SOUTHERN PINES (N. WEST BROAD ST.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Raeford:

  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE (about 21 miles; PEMBROKE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,806)
  • FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 21 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 4,815)
  • FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 28 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 3,506)
  • CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 34 miles; SANFORD, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,400)
  • CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY INC (about 45 miles; BUIES CREEK, NC; Full-time enrollment: 5,286)
  • FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (about 64 miles; FLORENCE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,922)
  • WAKE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 65 miles; RALEIGH, NC; Full-time enrollment: 4,754)

Schools

Public high schools in Raeford:

  • HOKE COUNTY HIGH (Students: 1,526; Location: 505 S BETHEL ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • J W TURLINGTON (Students: 60; Location: 116 W PROSPECT AVE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Raeford:

  • EAST HOKE MIDDLE (Students: 817; Location: 4702 FAYETTEVILLE RD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • UPCHURCH ELEMENTARY (Students: 744; Location: 730 TURNPIKE ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • WEST HOKE MIDDLE (Students: 729; Location: 200 NC 211 W; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • SCURLOCK ELEMENTARY (Students: 573; Location: 775 ROCKFISH RD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • ROCKFISH HOKE ELEMENTARY (Students: 409; Location: 6251 ROCKFISH RD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • WEST HOKE ELEMENTARY (Students: 397; Location: 6050 TURNPIKE ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • J W MCLAUCHLIN ELEMENTARY (Students: 324; Location: 326 N MAIN ST; Grades: PK – 05)

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