Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County.
History
John McRae and A.A. Williford operated a turpentine distillery and general store, respectively. Each took a syllable from his name and came up with the name Raeford for the post office they established. The McRae family, who lived at the "ford of the creek", was at one time made up primarily of old Highland Scot families. Likewise, the Upper Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina was, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest settlement of Gaelic-speaking Highland Scots in North America. Today, many of these old families continue to live in the area, though their presence is noticeably diminished by the great numbers of newcomers to the area as a result of Fort Bragg. Since World War II, many Lumbee Indian families have moved northward from Robeson County and now constitute a significant element of the population that is otherwise European and African American.
The Hoke County Courthouse and Raeford Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Raeford is located in central Hoke County and is bordered to the northeast by Rockfish Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the Cape Fear River. The southern part of the city drains to Toneys Creek, a south-flowing component of the Lumber River–Pee Dee River–Waccamaw River watershed.
U.S. Route 401 runs through the north and west sides of Raeford, leading east to Fayetteville and southwest to Laurinburg. U.S. 401 Business passes through the center of town as Harris Avenue and East Central Avenue. North Carolina Highway 20 leaves the center of Raeford as St. Pauls Drive, leading southeast to St. Pauls. North Carolina Highway 211 runs through the center of Raeford, entering from the south on Main Street and leaving to the west on Prospect Avenue; NC-211 leads south to Lumberton and northwest to Aberdeen.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.53%, is covered by water.
Climate
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Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Raeford had a population of 4,559, with 1,788 households and 1,086 families. The median age was 39.8 years. About 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
In 2020, 99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.
Of households in Raeford, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.5% were married-couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Notable people
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- Diamond and Silk — conservative Internet personalities
- Eric Maynor — selected 20th overall by Utah Jazz in 2009 NBA draft
- Gil McGregor — selected 89th overall by Cincinnati Royals in 1971 NBA draft
- Terrell McIntyre — retired professional basketball player; two-time All-Euroleague First Team selection; reached Euroleague Final Four in 2008 with Montepaschi Siena
- Jim McMillian — selected 13th overall by Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 NBA draft
- Kathy McMillan — former Olympic long jumper representing the United States
- Detrez Newsome, former NFL running back
- Ted Thomas Sr. — cleric with the Church of God in Christ
- Earl Wolff — football safety for NFL's Washington Redskins; played college football at North Carolina State; selected by Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft