ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
County Offices
371 NC Hwy 65
Reidsville 336-342-8100
www.co.rockingham.nc.us
Chamber of Commerce
112 W Murphy Street
Madison 336-548-6248
www.westernrockinghamchamber.com
Rockingham County is a rural heaven just next door to the bustling city of Greensboro. Of the nearly 92,000 people who live here, a majority still reside on farms. The two largest towns, Eden (population 15,350) and Reidsville (population 14,485), The County’s other 4 municipalities each have populations under 3,000.
Lifestyle
Considering that tobacco farmers discovered lush land as early as 1775, it’s not surprising that the town of Reidsville eventually became home to American Tobacco Company. Today the county remains the state’s 15 largest tobacco producer.
Rockingham has also attracted an enormous number of manufacturing companies that were drawn by the three rivers running through the county. The textile industry remains a major employer and more than 150 manufacturing firms operating across the county.
Today, the Smith, Mayo and Dan Rivers are magnets for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors come in droves to canoe, kayak and fish in these rivers, and the county has responded by continually providing additional river access sites. Visitors and residents alike enjoy fishing and boating on the area’s 3 rivers as well. If golf is your game, the beautiful Rockingham County Terrain provides the perfect setting for some of the loveliest and most challenging courses in the Piedmont. Located only a 13 minute drive from Greensboro, is Greensboro National Golf Club and Estates, a true slice of heaven. Inspired by the natural beauty of the area, this world class 18 hole golf course meanders through lakes and private residences.
Services
Rockingham County is served locally by two medical centers. The private Annie Penn Hospital was established in Reidsville in 1930. Annie Penn offers primary care, a birthing center, and a broad array of specialized care in its 110-bed acute care facility and 42-bed nursing care center. In Eden, the Morehead Memorial Hospital is a community medical center that also serves Virginia. In 1994, Morehead was included in the Top 25 rural hospitals under 250 beds by the consulting firms of HCIA and Mercer. Morehead has 108 beds for acute care and a 134-bed skilled nursing care facility, as well as a Cancer center.
Rockingham County Consolidated Schools system grew out of the merger of 4 existing schools systems in 1993. RCCS enrolls about 14,500 students in 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, and one alternative school. For the past two years, 90% of the RCCS schools have met or exceeded state ABCs expectations.
Rockingham County also operates Rockingham Community College. The fully accredited school welcomes students who intend to transfer to a four year college or who would like to earn a technical degree. The Community & Workforce Education Division responds to community labor education needs.
Eden
City Offices
308 East Stadium Drive
Eden 336-623-2110
www.edennc.us
Chamber of Commerce
678 S. Van Buren Road
Eden 336-623-3336
www.edenchamber.com
Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,908 at the 2000 census. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three separate towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper.
Several small historic downtown areas have opened up, such as the “Olde Leaksville” shopping district, in an effort to bring tourists to the city.
Over a century ago, while scouting the demarcation of the Virginia-North Carolina border, explorer William Byrd was so taken in by the area’s natural beauty that he proclaimed he’d found the “Land of Eden.” Today, you’ll find the city of Eden on that site. The city has retained that beauty, deriving much of its charm from the Dan and Smith Rivers that snake through the town Eden offers residents a variety of affordable housing options. Of particular note are the 200 mill houses originally built by Fieldcrest Cannon in the early 1900s for their employees. Many of the homes have been lovingly restored and they are popular among buyers and renters.
In addition to being a great place to live for those who work in Greensboro, Eden has a surprisingly large array of employment opportunities within its borders. For example, Miller Brewing Co. has operated here since 1976, and the Mohawk/Karastan Rugs sold around the globe are made in Eden.
Even with new residential and commercial development, the town is dedicated to retaining its rural feel. Eden has raised the funds for and is currently planning a 58-acre park for the city’s center.
Madison
Town Offices
120 N Market Street
Madison 336-426-0221
www.townofmadison.org
The town of Madison is nestled at the junction of the Mayo and Dan Rivers. The town incorporated in 1873 and is named for President Madison, our nation’s fourth President. Originally 50 tobacco plants made Madison the largest tobacco manufacturing center in the world prior to the Civil War. Today, Madison thrives on a diverse mix of industries and is revitalizing its downtown district, which features a number of nostalgic shops and unique businesses.
Mayodan
Town Offices
210 West Main Street
Mayodan 336-427-0241
www.townofmayodan.com
Located 30-miles north of Greensboro and just south of the Virginia border the town of Mayodan grew around the railroad and the Mayo Mills textile industry. The rail line that was constructed to move goods from Roanoke, Virginia to Winston-Salem, North Carolina resulted in the development of mill towns such as Mayodan along the way. The town incorporated in 1899 and its name is the combination of neighboring rivers, the Mayo and the Dan. Today, Mayodan is a quiet, friendly town home to over 2,000 people. The textile industry still plays a major role in Mayodan with companies such as Unifi, Inc. located in the community.
Reidsville
City Offices
230 W. Morehead Street
Reidsville 336-349-1030
www.ci.reidsville.nc.us
Chamber of Commerce
140 South Scales Street
Reidsville 336-349-8481
http://reidsvillechamber.org
Reidsville is home to more than 15,000 residents. Originally established in the early 19th century as an outpost and stop on the stage line that ran between Salisbury, North Carolina, and Danville, Virginia, called Wrights Crossroads, the Reidsville community grew from a single home and inn owned by the family of Reuben Reid (a local farmer, businessman, and justice of the peace) into a thriving farming community primarily supporting tobacco production and cigarette manufacturing. Reidsville’s history dates more than 125 years with deep roots in the tobacco industry. Reidsville is located in the southwestern corner of the county, just north of Greensboro with I-785 running along the city’s border. Reidsville is a rapidly growing community with a 411-acre technology and industrial park that is home to two international companies: AFG Wipes based in Israel and Alcan Packaging based in Canada. The first in the county to be named an “All-America City, Reidsville provides a small town lifestyle with great sense of community from its historic downtown streets to its 750-acre lake and park. Housing choices are varied and there is something for everyone. The community offers a great location with close proximity to urban areas and small town feel at home.
Stoneville
Town Offices
101 Smith Street
Stoneville NC 336-573-9393
www.town.stoneville.nc.us
Stoneville is the county’s smallest town, with just over 1,000 residents. It stretches along the US Highway 220 corridor, just below the Virginia state line. In the early 1800s settlers developed the community originally known as Mayo, which grew around the general store of Thomas and Pinkney Stone. The town incorporated in 1877 as Stoneville and tobacco was also its major economic force. The construction of the Roanoke and Southern railway also brought prosperity to the town. Today, Stoneville’s economy is based on textiles and small businesses. Stoneville Furniture Company, Southern Finishing, Unifi, Inc., and Glass Dynamics are vital to the town’s economy today. Stoneville is treasured by residents as a place with ideal living conditions, wonderful scenery, business opportunities and a community where the people show a strong sense of old time community values.
Wentworth
Town Offices
124 Peach Tree Road
Wentworth 336-342-6288
www.townofwentworth.com
The Town of Wentworth has a population 2,985 residents, it is the county seat of Rockingham County. Named after the Marquis of Rockingham, Charles Watson Wentworth, who had served as British Prime Minister and supported American independence, the Town of Wentworth was originally chartered in 1798. Due to a lapse of the 1798 charter and the impending annexation plans of a neighboring city, efforts to incorporate the community of Wentworth began in 1996. On November 4, 1997, voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum on the incorporation of the Town, and the 1798 Wentworth Charter was amended to allow for the incorporation of the community. On July 1, 1998, the modern-day Town of Wentworth came into being. Wentworth today still reflects the nature of a rural nineteenth century county seat, its core consisting of a courthouse and jail surrounded by a collection of small supporting businesses, homes and churches, Rockingham Community College, three public schools, and consolidated government offices. The community is also host to several historical and cultural attractions. Residents enjoy an enviable quality of life in a slice of small town America.
