Hamlet
Location of Hamlet, North Carolina
Coordinates: 34°53′17″N 79°42′22″W / 34.88806, -79.70611
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Richmond
Area
- Total	5.1 sq mi (13.3 km²)
- Land	5.0 sq mi (13.1 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation	299 ft (91 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	6,018
- Density	1,192.4/sq mi (460.4/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	28345
Area code(s)	910
FIPS code	37-29160[1]
GNIS feature ID	1020599[2]

Hamlet is a city in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Hamlet is located at 34°53′17″N, 79°42′22″W (34.887936, -79.706201).^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert/sq mi, of which, Template:Convert/sq mi of it is land and Template:Convert/sq mi of it (1.75%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 6,018 people, 2,453 households, and 1,682 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 inhabitants per square mile (460.4/km²). There were 2,738 housing units at an average density of 542.5/sq mi (209.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.85% White, 34.51% African American, 1.61% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

There were 2,453 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,013, and the median income for a family was $36,234. Males had a median income of $28,958 versus $23,397 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,764. About 18.4% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Schools and other Education Facility

Hamlet is home to a Fairview Heights Elementary School (K-3), Monroe Avenue Middle School (4-6), Hamlet Junior High School (7-9), and Richmond Community College.

Hamlet Chicken Plant Disaster of 1991

Main article: 1991 Hamlet chicken processing plant fire

On September 3, 1991, a grease fire broke out at the Imperial Foods chicken processing plant in the city, killing 25 people. A monument now stands where the plant was.[1] Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon wrote a song about this called Hamlet Chicken Plant Disaster.

Additional information

Hamlet is a major junction of two major CSX railines heading north towards Raleigh, NC, Washington D.C., and New York and south towards Florida. The recently reopened Hamlet Passenger Station, served by Amtrak, sits downtown at the junction of the lines. Hamlet yard resides to the north of downtown.

The National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame is also located in Hamlet.

Hamlet was the largest city in Richmond County at one time, but it has been usurped by neighboring Rockingham since the decline of the railroad industry.

Birthplace of legendary Jazz innovator, saxophonist John Coltrane and of the first African-American Marine officer, Frederick C. Branch.

The Annual Seaboard Festival, honoring the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, which formerly had a stop in Hamlet and was a important part of the local economy, is a major local event.

Notable natives

• John Coltrane, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• IRememberHamlet The History of Hamlet in short stories and photos

• Hamlet, North Carolina is at coordinates 34°53′17″N 79°42′22″W / 34.887936, -79.706201 (Hamlet, North Carolina)Coordinates: 34°53′17″N 79°42′22″W / 34.887936, -79.706201 (Hamlet, North Carolina)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Richmond County, North Carolina County seat: Rockingham City Hamlet | Rockingham Towns Dobbins Heights | Ellerbe | Hoffman | Norman CDP East Rockingham