Halifax County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the U.S. state of

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,622. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Halifax. Halifax County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rocky Mount- Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

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 The Roanoke River ( ) runs long through southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the ...

, 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 early 18th century by English colonists migrating south from

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

and also from

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. The town of Halifax developed along the banks of the

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

( 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, and Weldon. Besides having 40 sites on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, Halifax County is also historically significant because of two events preceding the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

. 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. On January 24, 1759, a group of men from Halifax and Edgecombe counties rode to Francis Corbin's house in Edenton and seized him during the night. The men were upset because Corbin had extorted money from them when collecting rents for Lord Granville who controlled the land on which they lived. Corbin was taken to Enfield, along with a co-conspirator Thomas Bodley – and the men were kept in jail for four days – until they agreed to acknowledge the corruption and set records straight. Enfield was the seat of the judicial district, including Northampton, Granville, and Edgecombe County, before Halifax became the county seat. Although Corbin was eventually relieved of his duties by Lord Granville, a few months later a court accused the Halifax and Edgecombe men of kidnapping. The kidnappers were imprisoned in the Enfield jail and a second "riot" erupted on May 14, 1759, when a mob broke into the jail and freed the men who had kidnapped Corbin and Bodley. Distrust of the British Crown and the rule of royal governors continued to foment unrest in eastern North Carolina until the colony became the first of its peers to recommend American independence. On April 12, 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax and passed a resolution known as the Halifax Resolves. The first resolution of its kind, the document instructed North Carolina's delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to vote for independence from Great Britain. The date of the Halifax Resolves is commemorated on the state's flag. Each year April 12 is celebrated as Halifax Day, with individuals in period costumes demonstrating colonial-era activities and craftsmanship.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (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 *

* 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 highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Major infrastructure

* Halifax County Motor Speedway * Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 48,622 people, 21,017 households, and 13,680 families residing in the county.

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 White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 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 Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 25,309 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 52.56%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 42.57%

, 3.14% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.47% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $13,810. About 19.40% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, 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

population, Halifax County has long been a Democratic stronghold. The last Republican to carry the county in a presidential election was

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

. Halifax County is part of North Carolina's 1st Congressional District in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, represented by Democrat Don Davis. Halifax County is represented by Rodney Pierce in the 27th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. 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

Map of Halifax County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

* Roanoke Rapids (largest community)

Towns

* Enfield * Halifax (county seat) * Hobgood * Littleton * Scotland Neck * Weldon

Townships

* Brinkleyville * Butterwood * Conoconnara * Enfield * Faucett * Halifax * Hobgood * Littleton * Palmyra * Roanoke Rapids * Roseneath * Scotland Neck * Weldon

Census-designated places

* Hollister * South Rosemary * South Weldon

Unincorporated communities

* Aurelian Springs * Brinkleyville * Charleston *

Essex Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...

* Heathsville

Notable people

* Willis Alston – U.S. congressman * John R. Bryant – member of the North Carolina SenateBalanoff, Elizabeth. "{Negro Legislators in the North Carolina General Assembly, July, 1868-February, 1872]." ''The North Carolina Historical Review'' 49, no. 1 (1972): 26-27. . * Walter Clark (judge), 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 The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

* 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 * Starling Tucker – politician in South Carolina * Mary Welch – Broadway actress * Tom Winslow – folk singer and writer

References

Works cited

External links

* *
NCGenWeb Halifax County
genealogy resources for the county {{Authority control 1758 establishments in North Carolina Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina micropolitan area Populated places established in 1758 Black Belt (U.S. region) Majority-minority counties in North Carolina