Rockingham, North Carolina Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Rockingham is located in the south-central region of North Carolina and is home to a population of approximately 9,500 people. The city is situated in a rural area, surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests. The climate in Rockingham is generally mild, with hot summers and cool winters.

Rockingham has a long and storied history that dates back to the 1700s when the area was part of Anson County. The city was officially incorporated in 1873, and grew steadily over the years as an agricultural center. In recent years, Rockingham has become known as a hub for manufacturing and technology.

The politics of Rockingham are governed by an elected mayor-council form of government, which consists of seven council members representing each ward in the city. The economy of Rockingham is largely driven by manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and tourism.

Rockingham is home to several public schools including Rockingham County High School, East Rockingham High School, and Hamlet Middle School among others. These schools offer students a variety of educational opportunities including advanced placement classes and career technical education programs.

Rockingham also has several notable landmarks such as the Richmond County Courthouse which was built in 1837 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979; the Cole Park Amphitheater which hosts concerts throughout the year; and Lake Reidsville which features trails for hiking or biking as well as a boat launch for fishing or recreation on the lake’s waters.

Population: 9,672. Estimated population in July 2024: 9,220 (-4.7% change)
Males: 4,378 (45.3%), Females: 5,294 (54.7%)

Richmond County

Zip codes: 28379.

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.2 years
Median household income: $26,574
Median house value: $64,200

Population by Race

Races in Rockingham:

  • White Non-Hispanic (64.5%)
  • Black (29.9%)
  • Hispanic (2.1%)
  • American Indian (1.6%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)
  • Other race (0.8%)

Ancestries: United States (13.8%), English (11.9%), Scotch-Irish (5.5%), German (5.5%), Irish (4.2%), Scottish (3.0%).

Elevation: 211 feet

Land area: 7.3 square miles

Population by Education

Rockingham, North Carolina is a small city located in Richmond County. With a population of 9,559 as of the 2019 census, Rockingham is the county seat and largest city in Richmond County. The city has a population density of 1,067 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city is 54.2% African American, 39.1% White, 1.9% Asian, 0.8% Native American and 0.3% Pacific Islander. The median household income in Rockingham is $30,935 and around 34% of the population lives below the poverty line.

The majority of the population within Rockingham is comprised of families with children under 18 making up 31%, followed by individuals between 25-44 at 27%. Most residents are employed in blue-collar occupations that are typically held by high school graduates or those with some college education but no degree. These include manufacturing (18%), construction (14%), retail trade (11%), hospitality (10%) and health care (9%). The major employers within Rockingham are Walmart, Sandhills Regional Medical Center and Rockingham Community College which provide jobs for many citizens in town.

Rockingham has an active community with a wide variety of activities to participate in such as sports leagues for children and adults alike and art classes hosted by local organizations like ArtsinRockinghamNC that specialize in providing artistic experiences to local residents free of charge or at low cost prices. In addition to these activities there are also several parks located throughout the city where locals can enjoy outdoor activities like picnicking or camping as well as recreational facilities like tennis courts and swimming pools for those who want to stay active during their leisure time.

For population 25 years and over in Rockingham

  • High school or higher: 69.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 4.8%
  • Unemployed: 9.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 18.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rockingham city

  • Never married: 25.5%
  • Now married: 50.2%
  • Separated: 3.4%
  • Widowed: 10.5%
  • Divorced: 10.5%

2.9% Foreign born (1.4% Latin America, 1.3% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: -316 (-3.2%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Rockingham:

  • FIRSTHEALTH RICHMOND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (925 LONG DR PO BOX 1928)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Rockingham:

  • SANDHILLS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 7 miles; HAMLET, NC)
  • MARLBORO PARK HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; BENNETTSVILLE, SC)
  • CHESTERFIELD GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; CHERAW, SC)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Rockingham:

  • MOORE COUNTY (about 34 miles; PINEHURST/SOUTHERN PINES, NC; Abbreviation: SOP)
  • FLORENCE REGIONAL (about 53 miles; FLORENCE, SC; Abbreviation: FLO)
  • POPE AFB (about 55 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Abbreviation: POB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Rockingham:

  • ROCKINGHAM-HAMLET (about 4 miles; ROCKINGHAM, NC; Abbreviation: 45J)
  • CHERAW MUNI/LYNCH BELLINGER FIELD (about 22 miles; CHERAW, SC; Abbreviation: 47J)
  • ANSON COUNTY (about 22 miles; WADESBORO, NC; Abbreviation: AFP)

Amtrak station near Rockingham:

  • 6 miles: HAMLET (MAIN 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 Rockingham:

  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE (about 44 miles; PEMBROKE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,806)
  • FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (about 51 miles; FLORENCE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,922)
  • FLORENCE DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 52 miles; FLORENCE, SC; Full-time enrollment: 2,619)
  • CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 55 miles; SANFORD, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,400)
  • FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 57 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 4,815)
  • FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 65 miles; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 3,506)
  • ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 72 miles; SALISBURY, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,499)

Schools

Public high school in Rockingham:

  • RICHMOND SENIOR HIGH (Students: 1,518; Location: 838 US 1 NORTH; Grades: 10 – 12)

Private high schools in Rockingham:

  • TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 173; Location: 165 AIRPORT ROAD; Grades: PK – 12)
  • RICHMOND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 27; Location: BOX 817; Grades: 9 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Rockingham:

  • ROCKINGHAM JUNIOR HIGH (Students: 721; Location: 415 WALL STREET; Grades: 07 – 09)
  • WASHINGTON STREET (Students: 564; Location: 566 E WASHINGTON ST EXT; Grades: 04 – 06)
  • L J BELL ELEMENTARY (Students: 544; Location: 442 HAWTHORNE AVE; Grades: KG – 03)
  • WEST ROCKINGHAM ELEMENTARY (Students: 418; Location: 271 W US 74 HWY; Grades: KG – 06)
  • ROHANEN JUNIOR HIGH (Students: 320; Location: 252 SCHOOL STREET; Grades: 07 – 09)
  • ROHANEN PRIMARY (Students: 298; Location: 102 SAFIE SIXTH STREET; Grades: PK – 03)
  • ASHLEY CHAPEL ELEMENTARY (Students: 194; Location: 377 MISPAH RD; Grades: 04 – 06)
  • ROBERDEL CHILDREN CENTER (Students: 74; Location: 124 ROBERDEL SCH RD; Grades: UG – UG)
  • LEAK STREET (Students: 68; Location: 1004 LEAK ST; Grades: 04 – 09)

Libraries

Library in Rockingham:

  • SANDHILL REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $2,632,332; Location: 412 EAST FRANKLIN STREET; 318,549 books; 3,648 audio materials; 8,731 video materials; 631 serial subscriptions)