Raeford-Hoke Museum strives to heighten public awareness and preserve the history, culture, artifacts and architecture of Hoke County and its environs while simultaneously promoting tourism in this region.
Bain takes great pleasure in supporting local businesses and urges everyone else to do the same, believing this to be an efficient way of supporting the community.
Meetings
Raeford, North Carolina AA meetings are an integral component of 12-step alcoholism recovery programs, providing safe space for recovering alcoholics to share their experiences and receive support. There are multiple meetings in Raeford including those hosted at City Hall that offer assistance with drinking issues.
At Monday night’s meeting, beginning at 7:00 pm, Mayor and members of Council will discuss agenda items as well as discuss budget proposals for 2016.
Voters will choose a new mayor and three members of city council at the upcoming election. Jackie McLean, currently dropout prevention coordinator for Hoke County Schools and president of their local chapter of NAACP; Ricky Sandy who worked for 34 years with Hoke County Farm Bureau; and Shelley Wilburn who previously served on city council from 2009 until 2011.
All three candidates have voiced their thoughts on issues affecting their community. If elected, they hope to instil pride for residents and promote local businesses on social media; Bain said he plans on walking the streets to meet voters face to face.
City Hall Offices
Raeford is located in Hoke County’s center. It’s bordered on both sides by Rockfish Creek – an east-flowing tributary of Cape Fear River – and Toneys Creek, as well as being within striking distance of Pinehurst golf courses and less than two hours from Carolina beaches. Raeford also houses Fort Bragg with its military installations.
Raeford City Council elections will be taking place this year and nine candidates have filed to run. Johnny Boyles, Shirley Hart and Charles Tapp are seeking Mary Neil King’s current seat as she has decided not to seek re-election.
Cathy Brown, Jackie McLean, Ricky Sandy and Shelley Wilburn are also candidates. McLean works as dropout prevention coordinator with Hoke County Schools and president of their NAACP branch; she arrived in Raeford as soon as she married a farmer from this community in the early 1980s.
At their filing periods, The News-Journal interviewed each candidate about their background and opinions on important city issues. Below are highlights from these interviews.
City Hall Phone Number
Raeford is a charming community in Hoke County, North Carolina with an estimated population of 4,743. Living expenses here are about 7% below national average making Raeford an excellent place for raising a family.
Residents of Raeford enjoy access to an abundance of shopping, dining and cultural offerings in addition to top-rated schools in their local communities. Parks and natural areas such as Rockfish Creek provide recreational space and opportunities.
On odd-numbered years, the City of Hoke holds municipal elections to select its governing officials. These elections are conducted by the Hoke County Board of Elections and only those living within city limits are eligible to vote.
By the end of week one, nine candidates had filed to run for three open seats on the City Council. Cathy Brown, Jackie McLean, Ricky Sandy and Shelley Wilburn had registered their names to run while Josh Bain and David Conoly filed on Tuesday – just ahead of The News-Journal’s print deadline.
PNC Bank, Branch Banking & Trust Company and several credit unions and other financial institutions serve the city.
City Hall Address
Raeford is located in Hoke County, North Carolina and covers an area of roughly 28 square miles with 13,355 residents living within its borders. This city offers a suburban rural mix feel with most residents owning their homes; additionally it boasts a strong public school system featuring high test scores and low violent crime rates.
Raeford was established as a town in 1895 and named in recognition of two significant New South events that transpired during that era. First, in 1892, an A & R Railroad survey party arrived on Rockfish Creek to locate their depot near school and gristmill operated by A.A. Williford and John McRae – two people instrumental to New South philosophy that championed industry, education and transportation as means to move away from reliance on volatile cash crops and slave labor.
Raeford is located in central Hoke County and bounded to its northeast by Rockfish Creek, an east-flowing tributary of Cape Fear River. Toneys Creek drains southward into Lumber River-Pee Dee River-Waccamaw River watershed while Fayetteville Creek and Rockfish Creek serve as its northern boundaries. Raeford is served by four major highways: U.S. Route 401 runs through Harris Avenue and North Main Street while U.S. 301 extends east 24 miles (30 km) towards Fayetteville while North Carolina Highway 211 travels through as Prospect Avenue.
