On April 1, 1785, the three duly appointed Commissioners - General H. W. Harrington, John Cole Sr., and Robert Webb, met and bought 18 acres of land from John James, Sr. for about $30, and 32 acres from John Cole for $50. This land was situated on the road that ran from the Mountains to Cross Creek (now Fayetteville). The land was bounded by Falling Creek on the south, and Hitchcock Creek on the North and West - a constricted area.

The City of Rockingham was named for the Marquis of Rockingham, Charles Watson Wentonworth, a strong friend of the Colonies, who was Prime Minister in 1765. He was in bitter opposition to Lord North and the policy that lost America. He again became a Prime Minister in 1782, dying that year at the age of 52.
 

Demographics Rockingham, North Carolina Statistics Subject Number Percent Total Population: 9,672 100.0 % Sex & Age     Male 4,378 45.3 % Female 5,294 54.7 %       Under 5 years 676 7.0 % 5 to 9 years 698 7.2 % 10 to 14 years 709 7.3 % 15 to 19 years 616 6.4 % 20 to 24 years 560 5.8 % 25 to 34 years 1,287 13.3 % 35 to 44 years 1,347 13.9 % 45 to 54 years 1,189 12.3 % 55 to 59 years 473 4.9 % 60 to 64 years 427 4.4 % 65 to 74 years 857 8.9 % 75 to 84 years 625 6.5 % 85 years and over 208 2.2 %       Median age(years) 37.2 N/A       18 years and over 7,181 74.2 % Male 3,115 32.2 % Female 4,066 42.0 % 21 years and over 6,858 70.9 % 62 years and over 1,953 20.2 % 65 years and over 1,690 17.5 % Male 607 6.3 % Female 1,083 11.2 %       Race     One race 9,554 100.0 % White 6,342 66.4 % Black or African American 2,892 30.3 % American Indian and Alaska Native 106 1.1 % Asian 130 1.4 % Asian indian 48 0.5 % Chinese 18 0.2 % Filipino 12 0.1 % Japanese 6 0.1 % Korean 6 0.1 % Vietnamese 3 0.0 % Other Asian 37 0.4 % Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.1 % Native Hawaiian 0 0.0 % Guamanian or Chamorro 4 0.0 % Samoan 1 0.0 % Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0 % Some other race 78 0.8 % Two or more races 118 1.2 %       Race alone or in combination with one or more other races:     White 6,427 67.3 % Black or African American 2,937 30.7 % American Indian and Alaska Native 159 1.7 % Asian 152 1.6 % Native Hawaiian and Other Islander 11 0.1 % Some other race 116 1.2 %       Hispanic or Latino and race     Total Population 9,672 100.0 % Hispanic or Latino(of any race) 203 2.1 % Mexican 127 1.3 % Puerto Rican 15 0.2 % Cuban 12 0.1 % Other Hispanic or Latino 49 0.5 % Not Hispanic or Latino 9,469 97.9 % White alone 6,243 64.5 %       Relationship     Total Population 9,672 100.0 % In households 9,228 95.4 % Householder 3,966 41.0 % Spouse 1,659 17.2 % Child 2,714 28.1 % Own child under 18 years 2,131 22.0 % Other relatives 559 5.8 % Under 18 years 296 3.1 % Nonrelatives 330 3.4 % Unmarried partner 114 1.2 % In group quarters 444 4.6 % Instituntionalized population 364 3.8 % Noninstitutionalized population 80 0.8 %       Households by Type     Total Households 3,966 100.0 % Family households (families) 2,575 64.9 % With own children under 18 years 1,218 30.7 % Married-couple family 1,659 41.8 % With own children under 18 years 651 16.4 % Female householder, no husband present 769 19.4 % With own children under 18 years 489 12.3 % NonFamily households 1,391 35.1 % Householder living alone 1,273 32.1 % Householder 65 years and over 578 14.6 %       Households with individuals under 18 years 1,386 34.9 % Households with individuals 65 years and over 1,131 28.5 %       Average Household size 2.33 N/A Average family size 2.92 N/A       Housing Occupancy     Total housing units 4,375 100.0 % Occupied housing units 3,966 90.7 % Vacant housing units 409 9.3 % For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use 17 0.4 %       Homeowner vacancy rate (percent) 2.1 N/A Rental vacancy rate (percent) 13 N/A       Housing Tenure     Occupied housing units 3,966 100.0 % Owner-occupied housing units. 2,338 59.0 % Renter-occupied housing units. 1,628 41.0 %       Average household size of owner-occupied units 2.29 N/A Average household size of renter-occupied units 2.37 N/A TOP OF PAGE