Rocky Mount is ideally located on Interstate 95 and US Highway 64. Found only fifty miles east of Raleigh, Rocky Mount lies within close driving range of the high tech Research Triangle Park, one of NC’s most rapidly expanding regions. The state's Carolina Gateway Partnership offers many incentives and tax breaks for new businesses here. The area's low property tax rates make this an ideal site for relocation. Rocky Mount is equipped with rail transport through CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport services the area, along with three airfreight companies. Three seaports at Wilmington, Norfolk VA and Morehead City are within close driving range on major four-lane roads. Rocky Mount is well situated for distribution of goods.
Rocky Mount had its beginnings as a tiny post office built at the Tar River Falls in 1816. Today, the city is a major processing plant for the United States Postal Service, routing all the mail from eastern North Carolina. Named for the rock formation at the base of the falls, Rocky Mount became the site of the first cotton mill in the state. The Wilmington-Weldon Railroad connected with the town in 1845, and Rocky Mount became a major debarking point for travelers heading west. The city has experienced sure and steady growth ever since. Nash County farmers use Rocky Mount as a distribution center for the area’s abundant crops of tobacco, peanuts and corn. Textiles are another leading industry in the region. The Glenoit Corporation has been a top employer in Rocky Mount since 1960.
Manufacturing is also a thriving addition to Rocky Mount’s strong economic base. Honeywell, Abbott Laboratories and Consolidated Diesel all have major plants here. Rocky Mount has also become an important banking center, as has the State of North Carolina. Seven financial institutions have offices in Rocky Mount, and RBC Centura Bank is headquartered here.
Census 2000 recorded Rocky Mount’s population at more than 57,000. Residents enjoy a mild and moderate climate. The city provides some of the finest golf courses in the area, along with a wide variety of nature parks and sports parks. Residents and visitors enjoy canoeing and kayaking on the Tar River Paddle Trail. Museums and historic districts are found throughout the Rocky Mount Metro Area, and shopping ranges from premier boutiques to some of the largest malls in Eastern North Carolina. The Tar River Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dunn Center for Performing Arts provide Rocky Mount residents with year-long entertainment.
Education and preparation for entering the modern technical world are important to Rocky Mount citizens. The North Carolina Wesleyan College and Nash Community College are both located here and provide top-notch training.
Rocky Mount, North Carolina is one of the most important cities in the region. Sure of an outstanding future, Rocky Mount welcomes new residents and businesses to share their exceptional quality of life.