| Roanoke
Rapids, North
Carolina is a charming industrial city
situated along the Roanoke River in Halifax
County. Roanoke Rapids is nestled in the
heart of the Roanoke
Valley, which encompasses Halifax and Northampton
Counties. The Census 2000 reported a population of 16,957 residents.
The Roanoke
River, which forms the county's northern
border, has played a major role in defining the landscape
and history of Halifax County and the surrounding
areas. A short distance north of Roanoke Rapids
is Roanoke Rapids Lake, which was built in 1955 to
aid in providing hydroelectric
power. Further north is Lake
Gaston, a 34-mile man-made lake kept
well stocked with fish. The Roanoke River is also widely
known as one of the finest fishing spots in
the nation. This area's natural habitat
offers an abundance of recreational activities such as
hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, hunting and
bird watching.
Roanoke Rapids is steeped in
transportation history that can still be
experienced today at sites such as the
seven-mile long Roanoke
Canal Trail. The Trail was North Carolina's segment
of the Roanoke Navigation System. Completed in 1823,
the purpose of the Trail was to bridge the four
hundred mile distance between the Blue
Ridge Mountains and Norfolk,
Virginia. Communities
in the area put together the Roanoke
Canal Museum and Trail Project. The purpose
of the museum is to preserve the navigational
history of the Roanoke River, the beginning of Roanoke
Valley's railroad, Civil
War transportation and the eventual arrival of
hydroelectric power in the area. The Halifax
County Arts Council and the Canal Arts Center are located in
what was originally the site of the Roanoke Navigation
Company. The building is currently being used
as a Center for the Performing Arts.
This picturesque area boasts a mild
climate with an average annual high temperature
of 70 degrees and average low temperature of 48
degrees. There are a wide variety of reasonably priced
living accommodations throughout Roanoke
Rapids and the surrounding regions. Halifax
County real estate costs are generally found to be
below the national average.
Quality public
and private schools are available to provide
future generations with stepping-stones into
higher learning. A wide range of opportunities
for advanced education abounds in the Roanoke Valley
region. Choices include Halifax
Community College in Weldon,
North
Carolina State University in Raleigh,
North
Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky
Mount, Duke
University in Durham and Barton
College in Wilson.
Halifax County's thriving economy relies
primarily on tourism, textiles, industrial and
agricultural businesses. The area has a
strong industrial base, which can be traced back nearly one
hundred years. Roanoke Rapids' industries include health
care, lumber, paper products, soft drink distribution,
petroleum and rubber manufacturing. International
Paper, Patch
Rubber Company and Halifax
Regional Medical Center are a few of the
companies currently flourishing in the
city. The Mill Villages, built in the 1890's, are the
pride of textile mill architecture in all of eastern North
Carolina.
Halifax County's sound economic base is
complemented by its close proximity to Raleigh
and Durham,
NC and Norfolk
and Richmond,
VA.
In addition, the county is strategically located midway
between New
York and Florida
on Interstate 95, which offers local businesses convenient access
to over one third of the nation's markets, all within
a day's drive. Overall, Roanoke Rapids' spectacular scenery
and southern charm, in addition to the central
location make this community a delightful place to
settle a family or business.
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