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Roxboro, North Carolina

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Roxboro, North Carolina
City
Motto: 
Roxboro Life Just Right!
Location of Roxboro, North Carolina
Location of Roxboro, North Carolina
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyPerson
Government
 • MayorTom Brown (D)
Area
 • Total6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2)
 • Land6.3 sq mi (16.2 km2)
Elevation
715 ft (218 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total8,696
 • Density1,387.2/sq mi (535.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
27573-27574
Area code336
FIPS code37-58160Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1024281Template:GR
WebsiteCity of Roxboro

Roxboro (pronounced rocs-boro) is a city and the county seat of Person County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census the city of Roxboro has a population of 8,696.

History

A restaurant in Roxboro

Roxboro is named after a city in Scotland; Roxburgh although spelled differently they are pronounced the same. Prior to the official adoption of the name Roxboro, the community was known as "Mocassin Gap". The city of Roxboro was incorporated on January 9, 1855 and remains the only municipality in Person County.

Geography

Roxboro is located at 36°23′30″N 78°58′55″W / 36.39167°N 78.98194°W / 36.39167; -78.98194Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (36.391690, -78.981877)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.

Climate

Roxboro has a moderate subtropical climate, with moderate weather in the spring, fall, and winter. However, summers can be hot and humid. Winter temperatures generally range from highs in the low 50s°F (10-13 °C) to lows in the upper 20s-mid 30s°F (-2 to 2 °C), though 60 °F degree weather is not uncommon. Spring and fall days are usually in the low to mid 70s°F (low 20s°C), with nights in the 50s°F (10-14 °C). Summer days are often in the upper 80s and low 90s °F (30-35 °C,) with very high humidity. The rainiest months are July and August.

Roxboro receives an average of 8.8" of snow per winter. Freezing rain and sleet occur most winters, and occasionally the area experiences a major, damaging ice storm. Roxboro is often dubbed the unofficial "Snow Capital of the Triangle" due to TV news crews from Raleigh descending upon the city any time the weather forecast calls for frozen precipitation in north central North Carolina.

Law & Government

City Council

Tom Brown, Mayor
Merilyn Newell, Mayor Pro-Tem
Sam Spencer, Councilman
Henry Daniel, Councilman
Sandy Stigall, Councilman
Mark Phillips, Councilman

Crime

Current Statistics

In 2005, 0 murders or non-negligent manslaughters were reported within city limits, per the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports.

Business

Roxboro businesses include electrical, textile, manufacturing, aerodynamics, administrative, winery, brokering, food processing, automotive, tobacco agriculture, aluminum and paper products. Roxboro is also adjacent to North Carolina's Research Triangle region, home to numerous high-tech companies and enterprises.

Largest Employers in Roxboro:

Business based in or operated in Roxboro:

  • BPB plc - announced plans to build a $100 million gypsum wallboard plant creating 200 jobs. Expected to be in operation in late 2008.[1]
  • Integro Earth Fuels - plans to build the nation’s first commercial production facility for "green coal". The plant is expected to be in production by the summer of 2009.[2]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000 there were 8,696 people, 3,666 households, and 2,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,387.2 people per square mile (535.5/km²). There were 3,954 housing units at an average density of 630.8/sq mi (243.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.08% White, 45.40% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.59% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.78% of the population. (This reporting does not take into account the massive annual influx of Hispanic migrant labor.)

There were 3,666 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,518 and the median income for a family was $37,159. Males had a median income of $27,741 versus $23,245 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,824. About 13.4% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

See Person County, North Carolina

Culture

Museums

  • Person County Museum - The museum complex includes the Kitchin House, the Male Academy/Parsonage, Woodsdale General Store, Dr. John H. Merritt's office, a tobacco barn, and the Van Hook Subscription School, which is believed to be the oldest in the state. Exhibit featuring athletic exploits of Roxboro's own Enos Slaughter to Person County's connection with the Titanic in uptown Roxboro.

Entertainment

  • Palace Pointe- A multi-entertainment complex featuring 8-movie screens with stadium seating, 20-bowling lanes with cosmic bowling, a roller skating rink, arcade room, diner, billiards room, private rooms for parties and meeting functions.
  • Roxboro Motorsports Dragway- An IHRA sanctioned, 1/8 mile concrete dragstrip opened in 1960. Car, truck and bike festivals are the norm during the spring, summer and fall.

Festivals

  • Apple Chill - Held in the spring each year at the Roxboro Motorsports Dragway. Past celebrity headliners included hip-hop artist Ludacris and many more.
  • Personality - The two-day festival is held early in September and brings thousands to uptown. Enjoy street dancing, games, music, booths, food and rides.
  • Lake Mayo Canoe/Kayak Festival - This one-day event is fun for paddlers and spectators alike. Celebrated each spring on beautiful Lake Mayo.
  • Willow Oak Blue Grass Festival - Held in June and September of each year, this beautiful park setting is the home of top national, regional and local blue grass bands. Shaded camping, food and concessions.

Performing Arts

  • Kirby Civic Auditorium - Great entertainment in this beautifully restored historic movie house in uptown Roxboro features live theater, dance, and top-name concerts. Past and future headliners include Branford Marsalis, Doc Watson, the Embers and Mike Cross with year-round local productions. Total seating capacity - 1028.
  • Roxboro Little Theater - Producing quality stage entertainment for over 30 years. Through the immense talents of both local and regional thespians, RLT boasts such productions as "The Wizard of OZ", "Steel Magnolias", "The Sound of Music", "Oliver" and many more.
  • Merritt Commons Pavilion - Host local music acts and stage plays in uptown Roxboro.

Parks and recreation

Person County Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of leisure services throughout the county providing a variety of recreational opportunities including playgrounds, walking tracks, picnic shelters, basketball courts, golf course, putt-putt, bicycling, fishing, swimming, tennis courts, ball fields, volleyball courts, hiking trails, horseshoe pits and restroom facilities at more than 14 sites, more than 6,735 acres (27 km2) of park land, including:

  • Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex
  • Allensville Park
  • Bushy Fork Park
  • Hurdle Mills Park
  • Optimist Park
  • Longhurst Park
  • Mayo Park
  • Mt. Tirzah Park
  • Olive Hill Park

Other attractions include:

  • Rock Sportsplex - Features a 18-hole putt–putt course and lighted driving range
  • Roxboro Country Club- 18-hole golf course
  • Piedmont Community College Nature Trail - A system of seven trails with an observatory. Total distance is 12,741 feet (2.4 miles).
  • Hyco Lake
  • Mayo Lake

Shopping

Roxboro Commons, Roxboro Square, Person Plaza, Madison Corners, Market Place, Westfield Plaza and many more.

Transportation

Air

Major highways

Future East Roxboro Bypass

NCDOT approved the Eastern Roxboro Bypass - A four-lane US Hwy 501 from Bessie Daniel Rd. South of Roxboro to Virgilina Rd. North of Roxboro. This project has yet to get underway due to funding.

Railroad

Public Transit

  • Person Area Transit System (PATS) operates bus routes within Roxboro.

Media

Local Print Media

Newspaper and periodical that serve the Roxboro and surrounding area:

Local Radio

Roxboro is also the city of license for two radio stations:

  • 96.7 FM WKRX Country ("Kickin Country")
  • 1430 AM WRXO Country ("Oldies 1430")

Other nearby stations

  • W281AE 104.1 FM (.01 kW translator of Liberty University's WRVL-FM, Lynchburg, VA)

Local Television

Roxboro is the home of a local cable-access television station:

  • WRNC-TV (10)

Famous Residents

References

  1. ^ http://www.bpb.com/main.asp?page=536
  2. ^ http://www.integrofuels.com/production.html

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