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| Population | Health Care |
| Transportation | Utilities |
| Fire and Police Protection | Education |
| Cultural | Recreational |
| Government | Agriculture and Industry |
| Media | Economic Development |
Nash County was formed in 1777 from the western part of Edgecombe County.
Located in the northeast section of the state, it is bounded by Edgecombe,
Wilson, Johnston, Franklin, and Halifax counties. It was named for General
Francis Nash (1742-77), of Hillsborough, a soldier who was mortally wounded
while fighting under General George Washington at Germantown during the American
Revolution. Nashville,
the county seat, was settled in 1780 and chartered in 1815. First land grants
in the area date back to 1743.
Nash County has a total area of 542.71 square miles, with 540.33 square miles
of land area. The average temperature is 61.9 degrees with the average temperature
in January of 39° F and the average July temperature of 78° F. The
average rainfall is 43 inches. The elevation of Nash County is 180 feet above
sea level.
After the Revolution, which touched the county only lightly, Nash County settled down to a pace that made it one of the State's leading farm areas. Since the Civil War, it has been known primarily as a leading agricultural county, but it has experienced steady industrial growth since that time. Currently, only 2.4% of the total employment within the county is classified as agricultural. However, Nash County ranks 8th in area devoted to farmland in North Carolina.
Nash County could be classified as either a northern coastal plain county or a far eastern piedmont county. It has a primarily rolling terrain with sandy soil, however, brick and tile clays are found along the Tar River, which flows through Nash County and Rocky Mount. A granite belt is located relatively close to the surface and extends westward from the city for about 20 miles.
The average rainfall in Nash County is 43 inches. The average temperature is 61.9 degrees with the January average temperature 39 degrees Fahrenheit and the average July temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the most recent census results, the population of Nash County in 2000 was 87,420 making it the 30th largest county in the state. The largest city within the county is Rocky Mount, with a population of 55,893 according to the most recent census results, population of the Rocky Mount MSA was 145,571. Other Nash County towns and their latest census counts are:
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4,309 |
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2,723 |
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2,421 |
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1,261 |
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838 |
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809 |
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799 |
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670 |
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340 |
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291 |
Nash County has an abundant water supply from the Tar River and its tributary creeks. A 1,400 acre reservoir on the Tar River, southwest of Rocky Mount, was completed in 1971. In addition to ensuring an abundant water supply, it offers attractive recreational areas with fishing, water skiing and boating.
Census
data
County
Ranking Profiles
Statistical
comparison between Nash County and the State of North Carolina
Narrative
Profile for the State of North Carolina
Nash Health Care Systems encompasses Nash General Hospital, Nash Day Hospital, Coastal Plain Hospital & Counseling Center and Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center. Nash General Hospital, a 300-bed acute care facility, was opened in 1971. This seven-story facility was the first hospital in the state to have all-private rooms. Expansion has created Nash Day Hospital, the first freestanding outpatient facility in the nation. Nash Day offers radiology, radiation oncology, surgery, rehabilitation, laboratory and endoscopy services. Nash Day is also home to the Rocky Mount Heartburn Treatment Center, a nationally recognized center of excellence for the treatment of heartburn. Coastal Plain Hospital & Psychiatric Center is a 50-bed psychiatric care and substance abuse center. Opened in November 1999, Aldridge Rehab Center is a 23-bed comprehensive rehabilitation state-of-the-art facility featuring a therapeutic swimming pool and gymnasium as well as an innovative walking garden. The number for Nash Health Care Systems is (252) 443-8000.
Edgecombe-Nash Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services is located at 500 Nash Medical Arts Mall on the Nash General Hospital campus. This agency provides and/or makes referrals to private vendors for a number of services for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse needs. These include outpatient therapy, emergency services, consultation and education, case management; Referral to inpatient psychiatric services for children, adolescents, adults, and elderly individuals who are acutely mentally ill; Referral to Inpatient hospitalization detoxification services for individuals who are alcohol or drug abusers; referral to Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program for consumers with severe and persistent mental illness; Adult developmental activity program (ADAP) for individuals who are developmentally disabled; Alcohol and drug education traffic schools (ADETS), Drug education schools (DES) and Inpatient hospitalization detoxification services for individuals who are alcohol or drug abusers; Provision of and referral to either social setting, non-hospital medical, or outpatient detoxification services for individuals who are alcoholics as well as forensic services for individuals of all disability groups. Their phone number is (252) 937-8141.
Nash County features a range of transportation facilities. Served by the main line of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, along the eastern boundary, the Nash County Railroad serves the central portion of the county and the southern portion of the county is served by Norfolk and Southern Railroad. The county is also served by a network of major highways including US Highways 301, 264, 64; Interstate 95 and state highways 97, 48, 58, and 44. There are also numerous motor freight carrier terminals in the Rocky Mount area.
Regional air service as well as shuttle service to Raleigh-Durham International Airport is provided by the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport which opened in 1970. Located on NC Highway 97, RWI is just a short drive of 6.5 miles from Rocky Mount and only minutes from industrial traffic routes.
Carolina Trailways, a regional bus company that has been operating in North Carolina since the 1920s, now owned by Greyhound, provides scheduled intercity bus service to the Rocky Mount Terminal.
North Carolina's state-supported Carolinian and Piedmont trains and Amtrak's north-south Silver Meteor, Silver Palm and Silver Star trains have scheduled daily service to the Rocky Mount train station.
Nash-Edgecombe Transportation Service (NETS) provides subscription and dial-a-ride transportation for rural residents of Nash County. Dial-A-Ride transportation services (DARTS), operates dial-a-ride paratransit service for certain authorized residents of the City of Rocky Mount who begin and end their trips within 3/4 mile of Rocky Mount Transit's fixed routes.
Rocky Mount Transit operates fixed-route buses for the city of Rocky Mount.
Electricity is furnished to Nash County by Carolina Power and Light Company, North Carolina Electric and Power Company and the City of Rocky Mount. Natural Gas is also available in Rocky Mount, Nashville, Whitakers, Spring Hope and Sharpsburg.
FIRE AND POLICE PROTECTION
Fifteen fire departments are located throughout Nash County. In addition to the fire departments, there are five rescue squads stationed in various sections of the county.
The Nash County sheriff and his deputies provide modern law enforcement and protection for Nash County. The State Highway Patrol, SBI and FBI maintain a force within the county and, when necessary, augment the county law enforcement capabilities.
Rocky Mount is the home of North Carolina Wesleyan College. This four-year co-educational liberal arts college began operations in 1960 on a 200-acre campus. Shaw University of Raleigh has a center in Rocky Mount and offers a component of liberal arts instruction. The Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools serve 17,480 students from 28 campuses including three consolidated high schools and one alternative high school.
Private and parochial schools are also available in the area. Our Lady of Perpetual Help enrolls approximately 250 students in the P-7 program. Falls Road Baptist School, Grace Christian School, NEW Christian Academy, The Enfield Academy and the Rocky Mount Academy are K-12 programs enrolling approximately 1,100 students.
Nash County's continuing educational needs are being met by Nash Community College, offering a full curriculum in vocational college transfer courses as well as providing free literacy and basic skills education to adults. Their program includes courses in trades and industry, business administration, information technology, nursing and secretarial science.
North Carolina State University
and East Carolina University
are an easy one-hour drive from Nash County.
Nash-Rocky
Mount School District Profile
Nash-Rocky
Mount School District Information
The Rocky Mount Arts and Crafts Center offers unique opportunities in the visual and performing arts for the Nash County area. The Center contains an art gallery, theater, classrooms and an art studio. Regular art exhibits, courses in interior design, painting, sculpture, ceramics, crewel, theater-related courses and other arts and crafts activities are offered to all ages.
The area's cultural activities are also enhanced by the Community Concert Series of Symphony Orchestras, the North Carolina Wesleyan Concert Series and professional plays at North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Braswell Library
houses houses Adult Collections and Resources with over 23,000 fiction, 33,000
nonfiction, and 2,500 reference titles, 370 periodical holdings, 2400 audio
and 700 videos. The Children's and Youth Collections and Resources holds over
19,000 fiction, 11,000 nonfiction, and 560 reference titles and over 1000
videos and 1,000 cassette titles plus 30 magazines. A Spanish language collection
of books, audio and videos has over 400 titles. The Nash County Bookmobile
maintains an on-board collection that numbers between 2,500 and 3,000 titles,
and the shelves back at their library office hold another 6,500 or so. The
Bookmobile borrows from Braswell's circulating collection when necessary.
The Spring Hope Historical museum is sponsored and maintained by the Spring
Hope Historical Association and is dedicated to the premise that a preservation
of the past is a true legacy for the generations to come. Located on Main
St., Spring Hope, NC.
Nash County Arts Council
Rocky Mount Travel
and Tourism
Rocky Mount Chamber
of Commerce
Visit NC - Heartland
(North Carolina Travel and Tourism)
Nash County and Rocky Mount also have abundant recreational opportunities. The Tar River Reservoir provides an excellent place for all water-related sports. Fine hunting and fishing are found within the community and throughout eastern North Carolina.
The city of Rocky Mount and Nashville boast facilities for recreational programs in tennis, softball and picnicking. Rocky Mount's Sunset Park has many parks and playgrounds, a miniature train, carousel and city zoo. There are many activities at this park including a miniature train, historic carousel, picnic shelters, lighted tennis courts, a softball field, and lighted basketball courts. Recent additions include Spray Park - a one-of-a-kind attraction featuring 10 computer controlled water spray fountains within a traditional playground structure, and Skate Park for skate boarding enthusiasts. Other local municipalities provide various recreational programs for their residents as well.
Since 1954, the City of Rocky Mount Children's Museum has provided an educational program for young people by interpreting and exhibiting significant objects and enriching their lives through the development of proper attitudes through creative outlets. An emphasis is placed on providing children with "hands on" experiences of the latest technological advances possible as well as giving them an understanding of the history that led us to these advances. The museum has been the subject of many state and regional publications, including "Southern Living" magazine. Ongoing programs at the museum include: classes, animal and science talks, birthday parties, outreach presentations to schools and curator opportunities. Each month, members of the Tar River Astronomy Club gather at the Museum for programs and special viewing.
Excellent golfing facilities are available at courses in the Rocky Mount, Nashville and Spring Hope areas.
Nash County has seven elected County Commissioners who govern the county. The County Manager serves as chief administrator of the county and is responsible to the Board of County Commissioners for administering and managing all departments of the county government. The county seat is located in Nashville, the approximate geographic center of the county.
Founded in 1786 Nashville
is a small town which has successfully maintained a strong sense of time and
place. Nashville is the "small town with a big future" and also
refers to itself as North Carolina's best kept secret.
Other NC Counties
Other
NC Cities & Towns
In the second quarter of 2001, Nash County had a labor force of 41,765. Of this total work force, 4.1% were engaged in agricultural employment and 23.2% were engaged in manufacturing jobs. Growing workforce industry groups are the retail trade (19.8%) and service (20.1%).
Agricultural products from Nash County include tobacco, poultry, swine, corn, forestry, soybeans, sweet potatoes, cotton, peanuts, cucumbers, small grain, beef cattle, dairy cattle and products, nursery and horticultural plants.
Nash County enjoys a rare blend of rural lifestyle coupled with the economic advantages of a diversified agricultural, industrial and service-based economy. Nash County is also positioned as a major gateway between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions of North Carolina.
Additional Nash County data may be found at the Nash
County Finance Office, at the
N.C.
Department of Commerce or at The Employment Security Commission's
Occupational
Employment Statistics.
2000
County Business Patterns (NAICS)
1999
Rocky Mount MSA Business Patterns (NAICS)
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County
Profile for Nash County (Rural Economic Development Center)
North Carolina Department of Commerce Wage Standards
Carolinas Gateway
Partnership
Rocky Mount Chamber
of Commerce
North Carolina's Eastern
Region (economic development agency)
Upper Coastal Plain Council
of Governments
Telecommunications
Inventory Summary for Nash County (March 2002)
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