First settled in the mid-1700s, Rocky Mount had an iron works in full operation by the 1770s. Iron production remained an important enterprise in the region through the mid-19th century and attracted suppliers of supporting goods and services to the area. In 1802, Franklin County built its courthouse in a neighboring village called Mount Pleasant, which later became part of Rocky Mount. The two rival villages retained separate identities until the incorporation of the town of Rocky Mount in the 1870s. Rocky Mount's population was depleted as many people and resources were drawn off to support conflict during the Civil War. The close of the war brought freedom for one-third of Rocky Mount's residents who sought employment and new opportunities for advancement locally. The 1870 census shows black residents in and around Rocky Mount primarily as farm laborers with a few domestic servants, a blacksmith and a farmer who owned his land and equipment.
While several of Angle's ventures were able to keep people employed during the Great Depression, Rocky Mount received benefits from several New Deal programs including: the Federal Emergency Administration for improvements to the town's water and sewer system; the Works Progress Administration for the construction of the Rocky Mount Post Office and the preparation of a research article under the Federal Writer's Project. N. P. Angle's era in Rocky Mount ended with his death in 1936, though his businesses, like other industrial manufacturers in Rocky Mount, continued to grow and be profitable after World War II.
The Rocky Mount Historic District is located at the intersections of U.S. Rte. 220 and VA Rte. 40, roughly bounded by Franklin, Maynor and E. Court sts., and Floyd and Maple aves. The Community Partnership for the Revitalization of Rocky Mount is located at the old train station downtown and is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday-Friday. For more information about shopping, dining and events in Rocky Mount call The Partnership at 540-489-3825. |
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