Halifax County

History

Halifax County is located in North Carolina's Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and Atlantic Coast Flatwoods regions. 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. 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 18th century by English and free Black 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, Weldon, and the County Seat, Halifax.

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.

Geography

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.

Some of Halifax County's natural attractions include Medoc Mountain State Park, Lake Gaston, and Roanoke Rapids Lake. Sylvan Heights 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

Embro Game Land (part)

Historic Halifax

Lake Gaston Day Use Area (part)

Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (part)

Medoc Mountain State Park

Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Area (part)

Shocco Creek Game Land (part)

Tillery Game Land

Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part)

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 infrastructure

Halifax County Motor Speedway

Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 48,622 people and 13,680 families residing in the county; the median age was 46.1 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 39.7% White, 51.1% Black or African American, 3.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.8% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.

43.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 56.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 20,707 households in the county, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.3% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 24,735 housing units, of which 16.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.6% were owner-occupied and 36.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

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, 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.

Halifax County is represented by Rodney Pierce in the 27th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Sen. Norman Sanderson represents the County in the NC State Senate.

The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe was recognized as a Native American tribe by the state of North Carolina in 1965 and mostly comprises members in Warren and Halifax counties. The tribal government provides services to its members. It is headquartered in Hollister.

Communities

City

Roanoke Rapids (largest community)

Towns

Enfield

Halifax (county seat)

Hobgood

Littleton

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

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

Catherine Devereux Edmondston – diarist, essayist, and poet

Henry Eppes – member of the North Carolina Senate

Ricky Kej - 3-time Grammy® Award-winning musician

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