Bahama is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in northern

Durham County, North Carolina Durham County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 324,833, making it the sixth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Durham, which is the only incorporated m ...

, United States.

History

Prior to European colonization, the present location of Bahama and the surrounding upper

Neuse River The Neuse River ( , Tuscarora: Neyuherú·kęʔkì·nęʔ) is a river rising in the Piedmont of North Carolina and emptying into Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approximately , making it the longest river entirely contained in ...

basin were home to native peoples including the

Eno Eno may refer to: Music * English National Opera, London * ''Eno'', an album by Japanese band Polysics * "Eno", a song by X-Wife from '' Rockin' Rio EP'' Organisations and businesses * Eno (company), a Chinese clothing and accessories busine ...

Shakori The Shakori were an indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands. They were thought to be a Siouan people, closely allied with other nearby tribes such as the Eno and the Sissipahaw. As their name is also recorded as Shaccoree, they can be co ...

, and Adshusheer. The origins of the town of Bahama can be traced back to the construction of a log meetinghouse which was the first of several structures that would house what is now Mount Bethel United Methodist Church; the meetinghouse was likely built in the early 1780s. The settlement was subsequently known by various names, including Balltown, Round Hill, and Hunkadora. The latter two names specifically referred to the community centered on the post office founded by William Horner in 1832. In 1891 the town, then known as Hunkadora, was given the new name of Bahama, a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words A new railroad station came to eclipse the post office as the center of activity.

Demographics

Bahama's

Zip Code Tabulation Area ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are statistical entities developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics. These were introduced with the Census 2000 and continued with the 2010 Census and 5 year American Community ...

(Zip Code 27503) has a population of 3,304 as of the 2000 census. The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female. About 87.7% of the population is white, 10.3%

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...

, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 1.2%

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

, and 0.6% of other races. 0.6% of people are two or more races. There is one native Hawaiian and/or

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

. The

median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways ...

is $55,272, with 4.7% of the population living below the

poverty Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse

line.

Education

Bahama is home to Mangum Elementary School (formerly Mangum Primary School). Mangum Elementary is a Durham Public School (Kindergarten-5th grade).

Historic Markers

* Mount Bethel Church - NC Highway Marker G-65
''"Non-denominational meeting house built ca. 1784 by Archer Harris. By 1808 Methodist. Home church to Washington Duke."'' * Willie P. Mangum - NC Highway Marker G-28
''"Member of United States Senate for 18 years and president pro tempore, 1842-45; Congressman; Whig party leader. Home site, grave, 10 mi. N.E."'' * Stephen B. Weeks - NC Highway Marker G-50
''"Historian, bibliographer, collector of North Carolina books and manuscripts, professor at Trinity College, 1891-93. Grave 6 mi. N.E."'' * William B. Umstead - NC Highway Marker G-68
''"Governor, 1953-54, U.S. Senator, congressman; Democratic leader; and lawyer. Birthplace is 6 1/2 mi., grave 5 1/2 mi., N.E."'' * Trading Path - NC Highway Marker G-32
''"Colonial trading route, dating from 17th century, from Petersburg, Virginia, to Catawba and Waxhaw Indians in Carolina passed nearby."'' Mount Bethel United Methodist Church This historic church hands out food the first Wednesday of every month, and will hand out clothes and shoes if needed. During the pandemic the church has services available through local radio (91.7 FM) and socially distanced services inside.

Historic Places

The following sites in Bahama are listed in the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

: * Adolphus W. Umstead House * George Poland House * Hampton-Ellis Farm * D.C. Umstead Store and House * Hardscrabble * Marcus Tilley House * Little River High School

Notable People

* William B. Umstead -

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and power ...

and

governor of North Carolina The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...

* Washington Duke - philanthropist, farmer, businessman *

Scott Riggs Russell Scott Riggs (born January 1, 1971) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed in the 92 for RBR Enterprises in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Racing career Early career Riggs was born in Bahama, Nort ...

- NASCAR driver

References

* Orange County Deed Books, North Carolina State Archives * {{authority control Unincorporated communities in Durham County, North Carolina Unincorporated communities in North Carolina Populated places established in 1750