Rock Hill, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County
, South Carolina
and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area
, behind Charlotte
and Concord
, North Carolina
. The population was 71,459 as of July 2011. Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between 2000 and 2010 with a 39% growth rate. The forecast population for 2020 is near 100,000 residents (according to Rock Hill Economic Development). Rock Hill is located approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) south of Charlotte and approximately 70 miles (112.7 km) north of Columbia
.
The European-American city was named for a flint hill of rock that was in the way of the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad
, which was building a rail line from Charlotte to Columbia
. Much of this rock was removed to make way for the railroad, which built a depot at the site that eventually became known as Rock Hill. The city dates its history back to April 17, 1852, the day the first Rock Hill Post Office opened, even though the town was not officially incorporated until 1870. Rock Hill celebrated its centennial in 1952 and its sesquicentennial in 2002.
Four unincorporated communities
of York County were annexed to the city:
Boyd Hill
in the late 1940s, Ebenezer
and Mexico
in the 1960s, and Oakdale
in the 1980s.
prison farm after staging a sit-in
at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in downtown Rock Hill. Their offense was reported to be "refusing to stop singing hymns during their morning devotions." The event gained nationwide attention because the men followed an untried strategy called "jail, no bail," which lessened the huge financial burden civil rights groups were facing as the sit-in movement spread across the South. This event received widespread national news coverage, and the tactic was adopted by other civil rights groups. They became known as the Friendship Nine
because eight of the nine men were students at Rock Hill's Friendship Junior College.
Later that year, Rock Hill was the first stop in the Deep South
for a group of 13 Freedom Riders, who boarded buses in Washington, D.C., and headed South to test the 1960 ruling
by the U.S. Supreme Court
outlawing racial segregation in all interstate public facilities. When civil rights leader John Lewis
and another man stepped off the bus at Rock Hill, they were beaten by a white mob. In 2002, Lewis, by then a U.S. congressman from Georgia
, returned to Rock Hill, where he spoke at Winthrop University
and was given the key to the city. On January 21, 2008, Rep. Lewis returned to Rock Hill again and spoke at the city's Martin Luther King, Jr.
holiday observance. Mayor Doug Echols officially apologized to him on the city's behalf for the Freedom Riders' treatment in the city.
. These were originally planned to be placed in Uptown Charlotte, but were offered to the city of Rock Hill. The Civitas complex was designed as a female version of Michelangelo
’s David. The sculptor was inspired by the similarities in history between the cities of Rock Hill and Florence, Italy.
At the time of the commission of David, Florence was a city of 45,000 people whose once vibrant textile industry was slowly fading; the competition from their much larger neighbor Rome was affecting Florence’s growth. Rock Hill’s size and textile history was similar to Florence's when the Civitas was created. The sculpture reflects the spirit of Rock Hill’s textile heritage in the clothing and hair, which suggest billowing ribbons of material. That material transforms into wings, representing the textile history as the foundation to give wings to the city for growth. In 1992, a fifth Civitas statue by Flack was placed at City Hall in downtown Rock Hill.
The Gateway intersection where the four Civitas statues stand is circular to symbolize unity, teamwork and togetherness. The columns that stand beside the Civitas were a gift to the city from First Union Corporation, and are regarded as one of the area’s most treasured historical artifacts. They represent Rock Hill’s commitment to preserve and enhance the history of the city.
, the city has a total area of 43.16 square miles (111.8 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 0.16 square mile (0.4143980976 km²) of it (0.4%) is water.
Rock Hill is located along the Catawba River
in the Piedmont
of South Carolina. The city sits at an elevation of around 676 feet (206 m) above sea level. The city is located approximately 150 miles (241.4 km) from the Atlantic Ocean
and 75 miles (120.7 km) from the Blue Ridge Mountains
.
Rock Hill has a humid subtropical climate
, characterized by humid summers and cool dry winters. Precipitation does not vary greatly between seasons. July is the hottest month, with an average high temperature of 91°F and an average low temperature of 71°F. The coldest month of the year is January, when the average high temperature is 53°F and the average low temperature is 33°F. The warmest temperature ever recorded in the city was 106°F in 1983 and tied in 2007. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -4°F in 1985. While snow is not common in most southern cities, Rock Hill receives about 8-10" of total snow accumulation on average yearly.
was 2,983.5 people per square mile (619.2/km²). There were 29,159 housing units at an average density of 653.8 per square mile (252.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.6% White, 38.3% Black, 1.7% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races
, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.7% of the population.
There were 25,966 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples
living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 14.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
for the city was $18,929. About 9.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. The unemployment rate of the city was 8.7 percent and 11,874 of the 71,459 residents lived and worked in the city with a daytime population change of +5,208 as of March 2011. The city is transitioning to a retail and manufacturing economy, and has been working to attract national and global companies.
that has been recognized by awards for its outstanding schools, parks, and its southern hospitality. The city is a three-time award winner of America's Promise Alliance "100 Best Communities for Young People". along with being a two-time "All-American City" award winner.
struck the city on the morning of September 22, 1989. The storm ripped through the city with sustained winds over 90 MPH, toppling massive oak and pine trees. Schools were closed for weeks because of widespread damage to roads and facilities. The total damage cost for the entire state of South Carolina was around $4.2 billion. The storm was a category 3 when it entered the county and was a category 2 as it left the county.
. Also called Bryant Field, it was named for Robert E. Bryant, an aviator with two international records and an inductee in the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame (The name is no longer used for the airport because of confusion with Bryant Field (airport)
). It is owned and operated by the City of Rock Hill, but York County is also represented on the Airport Commission. The other local airport, the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, is one of the busiest airports in the United States and is located 20 miles from Rock Hill in Charlotte, North Carolina
.
that offers express bus service from downtown Rock Hill to Manchester Village to Uptown Charlotte. They also offer a new bus route service from the York County Museum on Mount Gallant Road to Celanese Road to Chery Road to Uptown Charlotte.
, which has twenty-seven total schools residing in Rock Hill, including seventeen elementary school
s, five middle school
s, and three high school
s. The public high schools in Rock Hill include Rock Hill High School
(first built high school in the city), Northwestern, and South Pointe (newest high school in the city. The public middle schools in Rock Hill are Saluda Trail Middle School, Castle Heights Middle School, Sullivan Middle School, Rawlinson Road Middle School, and (the newest) Dutchman Creek Middle School.
The district has a student enrollment of around 25,000. A variety of religious schools also serve the city of Rock Hill, including St. Anne's Catholic School, Trinity Christian School, and Westminster Catawba
. The city is also home to York County's only Charter school
, York Preparatory Academy
.
, founded in 1886 as a women's college. It is a thriving, public, co-ed four-year liberal arts college
with an annual enrollment of well over 7,000 students. Clinton Junior College is a historically black
, two-year institution founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
in 1894. It is now a community college for the city of Rock Hill and York County. York Technical College
opened in Rock Hill in 1964. This two-year community college
offers associate degrees and provides continuing education for approximately 9,000 area residents annually and is growing each year.
, which covers the area. Magazines include Rock Hill Magazine and YC (York County) Magazine (which covers the entire county).
(88.9 FM), and Southside Baptist Church of Rock Hill Christian broadcast station, WRHJ-LP
93.1.
affiliate WNSC-TV (Channel 30) and CN2, a daily cable news program produced by Comporium Communications for York, Chester, and Lancaster counties. MyNetworkTV
Charlotte affiliate WMYT-TV
Channel 55, is licensed to the city of Rock Hill but its studios are shared with WJZY-TV in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
.
magazine. On Independence Day
, Rock Hill hosts its Red, White, and Boom Festival. A winter festival, called Christmasville Rock Hill, is held annually each December in Downtown Rock Hill.
. The governing body is composed of a mayor and six members. The mayor is determined through a nonpartisan, at-large election for a four-year term of office while Council Members are chosen through nonpartisan, single-member district elections. Council members are elected to staggered four-year terms of office.
City council is a legislative body, establishing policies with recommendations from the city administrator. The city administrator acts as the chief administrator of the council's policies implemented through the administrative control of city departments given to him by ordinance.
Mayor: Doug Echols
Council Members
located near the Rock Hill Airport. The Comporium Telephone Museum is a historical museum located in Downtown. The Center for the Arts is an art museum also located in Downtown and owned by the York County Arts Council. The Main Street Children's Museum is located in Downtown. The Historic White Home is a house museum and park on White Street. The Rock Hill Train Depot Museum is a replica
of the historic train depot once located in downtown.
Museums outside Rock Hill include Historic Brattonsville, Catawba Cultural Center at their reservation, James K. Polk Home, and more museums located just outside of Charlotte
.
There are also Nanny Mountain County Park
and Ebenezer County Park, Kings Mountain State Park
and Andrew Jackson State Park
, and Kings Mountain National Military Park
that are located just minutes away.
baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
from 1963-1968.
The Winthrop Eagles is Winthrop University's Athletic Department and is affiliated with The National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA).
The city is also home to many sports championships including the National Youth Soccer Championship as well as many more hosted by the city of Rock Hill Department of Parks and Recreation.
Additional shopping centers across the city feature other well-known national and local retailers.
York County, South Carolina
York County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area
Charlotte metropolitan area
The Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
, behind Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The population was 71,459 as of July 2011. Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between 2000 and 2010 with a 39% growth rate. The forecast population for 2020 is near 100,000 residents (according to Rock Hill Economic Development). Rock Hill is located approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) south of Charlotte and approximately 70 miles (112.7 km) north of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
History
Indigenous peoples lived in the Piedmont for thousands of years. The historic Catawba Indian Nation lives near Rock Hill.The European-American city was named for a flint hill of rock that was in the way of the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad
Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad
The Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad began in 1852 and existed until 1869, when it was absorbed by Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad...
, which was building a rail line from Charlotte to Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. Much of this rock was removed to make way for the railroad, which built a depot at the site that eventually became known as Rock Hill. The city dates its history back to April 17, 1852, the day the first Rock Hill Post Office opened, even though the town was not officially incorporated until 1870. Rock Hill celebrated its centennial in 1952 and its sesquicentennial in 2002.
Four unincorporated communities
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of York County were annexed to the city:
Boyd Hill
Boyd Hill, South Carolina
Boyd Hill was an Unincorporated community in eastern York County, South Carolina, but was annexed into the city of Rock Hill in the late 1940's. Boyd Hill is now a neighbourhood of Rock Hill located at latitude 34.9396, longitude -81.0442 on Cherry Road in the northwestern portion of the city. The...
in the late 1940s, Ebenezer
Ebenezer, South Carolina
Ebenezer or Ebenezerville was a town in northern York County, South Carolina until it was annexed into the city of Rock Hill in the late 1960's. Ebenezer is now a neighbourhood of Rock Hill located at latitude 34.957 and longitude -81.046 on Ebenezer Road in the northern part of the city. The...
and Mexico
Mexico, South Carolina
Mexico was an Unincorporated community in eastern York County, South Carolina, but was annexed into the city of Rock Hill in the early 1960's. Mexico is now a neighbourhood of Rock Hill located at latitude 34.9379, longitude -81.0048 on Dave Lyle Boulevard in western portion of the city. The...
in the 1960s, and Oakdale
Oakdale, South Carolina
Oakdale was an Unincorporated community in southern York County, South Carolina, but was annexed into the city of Rock Hill in the early 1980's. Oakdale is now a neighbourhood of Rock Hill at latitude 34.88 and longitude -81.051. The elevation of the neighbourhood is 640 feet.-See also:*Ebenezer,...
in the 1980s.
Civil Rights Movement
Rock Hill was the setting for two significant events in the civil rights movement. In February 1961, nine African-American men went to jail at the York CountyYork County, South Carolina
York County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
prison farm after staging a sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in downtown Rock Hill. Their offense was reported to be "refusing to stop singing hymns during their morning devotions." The event gained nationwide attention because the men followed an untried strategy called "jail, no bail," which lessened the huge financial burden civil rights groups were facing as the sit-in movement spread across the South. This event received widespread national news coverage, and the tactic was adopted by other civil rights groups. They became known as the Friendship Nine
Friendship Nine
The Friendship Nine was a group of African American men who went to jail after staging a sit-in at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1961...
because eight of the nine men were students at Rock Hill's Friendship Junior College.
Later that year, Rock Hill was the first stop in the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
for a group of 13 Freedom Riders, who boarded buses in Washington, D.C., and headed South to test the 1960 ruling
Boynton v. Virginia
Boynton v. Virginia, 364 U.S. 454 was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. The case overturned a judgment convicting an African American law student for trespassing by being in a restaurant in a bus terminal which was "whites only." It held that racial segregation in public...
by the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
outlawing racial segregation in all interstate public facilities. When civil rights leader John Lewis
John Lewis (politician)
John Robert Lewis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He was a leader in the American Civil Rights Movement and chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee , playing a key role in the struggle to end segregation...
and another man stepped off the bus at Rock Hill, they were beaten by a white mob. In 2002, Lewis, by then a U.S. congressman from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, returned to Rock Hill, where he spoke at Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
and was given the key to the city. On January 21, 2008, Rep. Lewis returned to Rock Hill again and spoke at the city's Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
holiday observance. Mayor Doug Echols officially apologized to him on the city's behalf for the Freedom Riders' treatment in the city.
Civitas & the Gateway
The symbols of the city are the four Civitas statues, erected in 1991 at the Gateway corridor on Dave Lyle Boulevard. Each holds a disc that symbolizes the four drivers of the economy in the city (Gears of Industry, Flames of Knowledge, Stars of Inspiration, and Bolts of Energy). The Civitas statues are 22 feet (6.7 m) structures made of bronze and created by the New York sculptor Audrey FlackAudrey Flack
Audrey Flack is an American photorealist painter, printmaker, and sculptor.Flack studied fine arts in New York from 1948 to 1953. She earned a graduate degree and an honorary doctorate from Cooper Union in New York City, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Yale University. She studied art history at...
. These were originally planned to be placed in Uptown Charlotte, but were offered to the city of Rock Hill. The Civitas complex was designed as a female version of Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
’s David. The sculptor was inspired by the similarities in history between the cities of Rock Hill and Florence, Italy.
At the time of the commission of David, Florence was a city of 45,000 people whose once vibrant textile industry was slowly fading; the competition from their much larger neighbor Rome was affecting Florence’s growth. Rock Hill’s size and textile history was similar to Florence's when the Civitas was created. The sculpture reflects the spirit of Rock Hill’s textile heritage in the clothing and hair, which suggest billowing ribbons of material. That material transforms into wings, representing the textile history as the foundation to give wings to the city for growth. In 1992, a fifth Civitas statue by Flack was placed at City Hall in downtown Rock Hill.
The Gateway intersection where the four Civitas statues stand is circular to symbolize unity, teamwork and togetherness. The columns that stand beside the Civitas were a gift to the city from First Union Corporation, and are regarded as one of the area’s most treasured historical artifacts. They represent Rock Hill’s commitment to preserve and enhance the history of the city.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 43.16 square miles (111.8 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 0.16 square mile (0.4143980976 km²) of it (0.4%) is water.
Rock Hill is located along the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
in the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
of South Carolina. The city sits at an elevation of around 676 feet (206 m) above sea level. The city is located approximately 150 miles (241.4 km) from the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and 75 miles (120.7 km) from the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
.
Rock Hill has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, characterized by humid summers and cool dry winters. Precipitation does not vary greatly between seasons. July is the hottest month, with an average high temperature of 91°F and an average low temperature of 71°F. The coldest month of the year is January, when the average high temperature is 53°F and the average low temperature is 33°F. The warmest temperature ever recorded in the city was 106°F in 1983 and tied in 2007. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -4°F in 1985. While snow is not common in most southern cities, Rock Hill receives about 8-10" of total snow accumulation on average yearly.
Demographics
Population
As of 2010, there were 69,210 people and 16,059 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,983.5 people per square mile (619.2/km²). There were 29,159 housing units at an average density of 653.8 per square mile (252.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.6% White, 38.3% Black, 1.7% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.7% of the population.
There were 25,966 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 14.7% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
Economy
Rock Hill's economy was once dominated by the textile industry, but the restructuring of that industry in moving jobs overseas has caused a decline in the local economy. The median income for a household in the city was $37,336, and the median income for a family was $45,697. Males had a median income of $32,156 versus $24,181 for females. The per capita incomePer capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,929. About 9.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. The unemployment rate of the city was 8.7 percent and 11,874 of the 71,459 residents lived and worked in the city with a daytime population change of +5,208 as of March 2011. The city is transitioning to a retail and manufacturing economy, and has been working to attract national and global companies.
Crime
The following table shows Rock Hill's crime rate in 6 crimes that Morgan Quitno uses in their calculations for "America's most dangerous cities" rankings, in comparison to 100,000 people. The statistics provided are not for the actual number of crimes committed, but for the number of crimes committed per capita.| Crime | Rock Hill (2009) | per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| Murder | 5 | 7.2 |
| Rape | 27 | 38.8 |
| Robbery | 82 | 118.1 |
| Assault | 594 | 854.6 |
| Burglary | 578 | 831.6 |
| Theft | 2,352 | 3,383.9 |
| Arson | 10 | 14.4 |
Awards
The city of Rock Hill is a thriving residential community outside of CharlotteCHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
that has been recognized by awards for its outstanding schools, parks, and its southern hospitality. The city is a three-time award winner of America's Promise Alliance "100 Best Communities for Young People". along with being a two-time "All-American City" award winner.
Natural disasters
Three major natural disasters have struck the city.1926 Rock Hill tornado
On November 26, 1926 a destructive tornado struck downtown Rock Hill. It was the day after Thanksgiving, rather late in the season for such a violent storm. The "black as ink twister" took less than 10 minutes to change the face of the business section. The storm touched down in western York County, and entered Rock Hill from the west. Once in the town, the twister cut a path about three blocks wide, leaving 60 homes heavily damaged, the hospital roof removed, and cars flipped or crushed. By the end, the total damage for the whole town was $150,000. The tornado was responsible for one death and 12 injuries within Rock Hill.Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane HugoHurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
struck the city on the morning of September 22, 1989. The storm ripped through the city with sustained winds over 90 MPH, toppling massive oak and pine trees. Schools were closed for weeks because of widespread damage to roads and facilities. The total damage cost for the entire state of South Carolina was around $4.2 billion. The storm was a category 3 when it entered the county and was a category 2 as it left the county.
2004 Blizzard
A complex series of low pressure systems moved across South Carolina from February 25–27 of 2004. Starting as a mix of snow and sleet, the storm became all snow as the low pulled off the Carolina coast. Cold arctic air settled over the Carolinas and dumped up to 24 inches of snow, with lightning. Sustained winds over 40 MPH across Rock Hill knocked out power, resulting in schools' closing for a week. It was the worst overall blizzard to hit the area.Air
Rock Hill has two local airports. The Rock Hill Municipal Airport is a municipal airport for the city of Rock Hill and serves non-commercial flights. The airport is located just minutes from Rock Hill's Central business districtCentral business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Also called Bryant Field, it was named for Robert E. Bryant, an aviator with two international records and an inductee in the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame (The name is no longer used for the airport because of confusion with Bryant Field (airport)
Bryant Field (airport)
Bryant Field is a public airport located in Bridgeport, California, USA.The airport covers and has one runway. It is operated by Mono County....
). It is owned and operated by the City of Rock Hill, but York County is also represented on the Airport Commission. The other local airport, the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, is one of the busiest airports in the United States and is located 20 miles from Rock Hill in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
.
Bus (regional)
Rock Hill has one regional transit system, The Charlotte Area Transit SystemCharlotte Area Transit System
The Charlotte Area Transit System, commonly referred to as CATS, is the public transit system in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It operates bus service around the Metrolina area and a historical trolley in Uptown Charlotte, and operates a light rail system, called LYNX which opened on November 24,...
that offers express bus service from downtown Rock Hill to Manchester Village to Uptown Charlotte. They also offer a new bus route service from the York County Museum on Mount Gallant Road to Celanese Road to Chery Road to Uptown Charlotte.
Education
Compulsory education
Rock Hill is served by York County School District 3York County School District 3
York County School District 3 is the largest of the four public school districts in York County, South Carolina...
, which has twenty-seven total schools residing in Rock Hill, including seventeen elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s, five middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s, and three high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s. The public high schools in Rock Hill include Rock Hill High School
Rock Hill High School
Rock Hill High School was the first of the three high schools in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It offers the International Baccalaureate diploma to its senior class students, as well as duel credit and Advanced Placement...
(first built high school in the city), Northwestern, and South Pointe (newest high school in the city. The public middle schools in Rock Hill are Saluda Trail Middle School, Castle Heights Middle School, Sullivan Middle School, Rawlinson Road Middle School, and (the newest) Dutchman Creek Middle School.
The district has a student enrollment of around 25,000. A variety of religious schools also serve the city of Rock Hill, including St. Anne's Catholic School, Trinity Christian School, and Westminster Catawba
Westminster Catawba Christian School
Westminster Catawba Christian School is a private, Christian school located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, that provides educational opportunities for students in PreK-12th grade on two campuses....
. The city is also home to York County's only Charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
, York Preparatory Academy
York Preparatory Academy
York Preparatory Academy is a public charter school authorized by the South Carolina Public Charter School District. Opened in 2010, York Preparatory Academy serve students in York County, South Carolina from grades K-9...
.
Colleges and universities
There are three colleges within Rock Hill. The most prominent institution of higher learning in Rock Hill is Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
, founded in 1886 as a women's college. It is a thriving, public, co-ed four-year liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
with an annual enrollment of well over 7,000 students. Clinton Junior College is a historically black
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
, two-year institution founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or AME Zion Church, is a historically African-American Christian denomination. It was officially formed in 1821, but operated for a number of years before then....
in 1894. It is now a community college for the city of Rock Hill and York County. York Technical College
York Technical College
York Technical College or simply York Tech is a 2-year community college in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. The president of the college is Greg F. Rutherford. It is also a part of the South Carolina Technical College System and one of three colleges in the city of Rock Hill. York Tech was...
opened in Rock Hill in 1964. This two-year community college
Community colleges in the United States
In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
offers associate degrees and provides continuing education for approximately 9,000 area residents annually and is growing each year.
Printed media
Rock Hill is home to a daily newspaper, The HeraldThe Herald (Rock Hill)
The Herald is a daily morning newspaper published in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in the United States. Its coverage is York, Chester, and Lancaster counties. In 1990, the paper was bought by The McClatchy Company of Sacramento, California. The Herald is also available from coin vending boxes in the...
, which covers the area. Magazines include Rock Hill Magazine and YC (York County) Magazine (which covers the entire county).
Radio media
The radio group "Our Three Sons Broadcasting" stations in Rock Hill are WRHI Radio(News/Sports, 1340 AM & 94.3FM) - South Carolina's 2008 and three-time Radio Station of the Year & WRHM Interstate 107 - (Today's Country/Sports). Along with, WAVO (Standards, 1150 AM), NPR affiliate WNSC-FMWNSC-FM
WNSC-FM is a National Public Radio station in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A member of ETV Radio, it carries programming from ETV Radio's all-news network. Its studios are located at , with its transmitting tower located five miles south of Rock Hill .WNSC-FM signed on in 1979, and was originally...
(88.9 FM), and Southside Baptist Church of Rock Hill Christian broadcast station, WRHJ-LP
WRHJ-LP
WRHJ-LP is a low-power radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, the station is currently owned by Southside Baptist Church and features programming from the Fundamental Broadcasting Network....
93.1.
Television media
PBSPublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
affiliate WNSC-TV (Channel 30) and CN2, a daily cable news program produced by Comporium Communications for York, Chester, and Lancaster counties. MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
Charlotte affiliate WMYT-TV
WMYT-TV
WMYT-TV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts on digital channel 39 and virtual channel 55. Its branding refers to its position on channel 12 on Charlotte area cable systems. It is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company along with WJZY...
Channel 55, is licensed to the city of Rock Hill but its studios are shared with WJZY-TV in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
.
Seasonal events
Rock Hill hosts several seasonal events. Each spring there is a festival called Come-See-Me which brings more than 125,000 people to the city each year from across the country. Come-See-Me was voted as the number one South Carolina Festival and has been featured in Southern LivingSouthern Living
Southern Living is a widely read lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, and information about Southern culture and travel...
magazine. On Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, Rock Hill hosts its Red, White, and Boom Festival. A winter festival, called Christmasville Rock Hill, is held annually each December in Downtown Rock Hill.
Government
The city operates under a Mayor-council governmentMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
. The governing body is composed of a mayor and six members. The mayor is determined through a nonpartisan, at-large election for a four-year term of office while Council Members are chosen through nonpartisan, single-member district elections. Council members are elected to staggered four-year terms of office.
City council is a legislative body, establishing policies with recommendations from the city administrator. The city administrator acts as the chief administrator of the council's policies implemented through the administrative control of city departments given to him by ordinance.
Mayor: Doug Echols
Council Members
- Ward One
- Susie B. Hinton
- Ward Two
- Kathy Pender
- Ward Three
- Kevin Sutton
- Ward Four
- John A. Black
- Ward Five
- Osbey Roddey
- Ward Six
- Jim Reno
Public Services
- Rock Hill Police DepartmentRock Hill Police Department (South Carolina)The Rock Hill Police Department is the municipal police department of the City of Rock Hill in South Carolina. With over 180 sworn officers and civilians, The Rock Hill PD serves a city with a population of about 70,000 people.-Units:...
- Rock Hill Fire DepartmentRock Hill Fire Department (South Carolina)The Rock Hill Fire Department is a municipal Fire department of the city of Rock Hill in South Carolina. The deparment provides a career, paid department made up of three divisions – Administration, Suppression and Fire Prevention/Inspections...
- Parks and Recreation
- Tourism
- Utilities
- Water & Sewer
- Electricity
- Waste Management
- Transportation
Attractions
The city of Rock Hill and its surrounding area is home to numerous attractions.Museums
Six museums are located in the city, and many more in the area. The York County Museum of Rock Hill is a cultural and natural history museumNatural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
located near the Rock Hill Airport. The Comporium Telephone Museum is a historical museum located in Downtown. The Center for the Arts is an art museum also located in Downtown and owned by the York County Arts Council. The Main Street Children's Museum is located in Downtown. The Historic White Home is a house museum and park on White Street. The Rock Hill Train Depot Museum is a replica
Replica
A replica is a copy closely resembling the original concerning its shape and appearance. An inverted replica complements the original by filling its gaps. It can be a copy used for historical purposes, such as being placed in a museum. Sometimes the original never existed. For example, Difference...
of the historic train depot once located in downtown.
Museums outside Rock Hill include Historic Brattonsville, Catawba Cultural Center at their reservation, James K. Polk Home, and more museums located just outside of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
.
Parks and recreation
Rock Hill is home thirty-one parks, four recreational centers, one botanical garden, along with the many nature trails.There are also Nanny Mountain County Park
Nanny Mountain
Nanny Mountain is a mountain summit in York County in the state of South Carolina . Nanny Mountain climbs to an elevation of around 1,001 feet but averages an elevation of around 981 feet above sea level...
and Ebenezer County Park, Kings Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain State Park is a South Carolina state park located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina.This large hilly park includes the Living History Farm, which is representative of a typical early 19th century Piedmont farm...
and Andrew Jackson State Park
Andrew Jackson State Park
Andrew Jackson State Park is a South Carolina state park established in 1952 to honor the only South Carolina born president, Andrew Jackson, who was born nearby in 1767. The park is on U.S. Highway 521 about nine miles north of Lancaster, South Carolina. The park offers hiking, canoeing, camping,...
, and Kings Mountain National Military Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park
Kings Mountain National Military Park is a National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina, along the North Carolina/South Carolina border...
that are located just minutes away.
Sports
The Rock Hill Cardinals were a Western Carolinas LeagueWestern Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
from 1963-1968.
The Winthrop Eagles is Winthrop University's Athletic Department and is affiliated with The National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA).
The city is also home to many sports championships including the National Youth Soccer Championship as well as many more hosted by the city of Rock Hill Department of Parks and Recreation.
Shopping centers
- Rock Hill GalleriaRock Hill GalleriaRock Hill Galleria is an enclosed regional shopping mall for York, Chester, and Lancaster Counties. It is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Opened in 1991, the mall features 4 anchors and around 70 specialty shops located off Interstate 77, at exit 79. The mall is currently managed by Cypress...
is a regional shopping mall anchored by Belk's, Sears, JC Penney, Walmart, and a planned Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
and Stein MartStein MartStein Mart is a nationwide department store based in Jacksonville, Florida. The company reported a profit of nearly $24 million in 2009 with operation of 264 stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Stein Mart has locations primarily in the Southeast and Texas. Stein Mart's stores carry...
, along with over 60 specialty stores and a food court. Source - Manchester Village is another premier shopping center. The complex is anchored by nine national retailers, a RegalRegal Entertainment GroupRegal Entertainment Group also known as REG is a movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal operates the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,775 screens in 548 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia as of...
14-screen movie theater, and many specialty shops.
Additional shopping centers across the city feature other well-known national and local retailers.
Featured films
- The Patriot (2000 film)The Patriot (2000 film)The Patriot is a 2000 historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Robert Rodat, and starring Mel Gibson, Chris Cooper, and Heath Ledger. It was produced by the Mutual Film Company and Centropolis Entertainment and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
, rural Rock Hill - Black RainbowBlack RainbowBlack Rainbow is a 1989 supernatural thriller film directed by Mike Hodges and filmed in Rock Hill, South Carolina. -Plot:...
- The Rage: Carrie 2The Rage: Carrie 2The Rage: Carrie 2 is the 1999 sequel to the 1976 horror film classic Carrie. Directed by Katt Shea, the film starred Emily Bergl, Mena Suvari, Jason London and Amy Irving.-Plot:...
- Asylum (2008 film)Asylum (2008 film)Asylum is a horror film from 20th Century Fox released on DVD in 2008. David R. Ellis, of the sequel to Final Destination and the movie Snakes on a Plane, directed. Parts of the movie were filmed on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. The film stars Sarah Roemer.- Plot :A college...
, at Winthrop UniversityWinthrop UniversityWinthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
Notable natives and residents
- Matt ChristopherMatt ChristopherMatthew "Matt" Christopher was an author of children's books, born in Bath, Pennsylvania, the oldest of nine children...
, children's author - DJ Felli FelDJ Felli FelJames Andrew Corrine, better known by his stage name DJ Felli Fel is a club and radio DJ for L.A.'s Power 106, record producer, and a recording artist recently signed to So So Def/Island Urban Music. He is also a member of The Heavy Hitters DJs....
. - Sparky AndersonSparky AndersonGeorge Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
, Baseball manager - Jim HoaglandJim HoaglandJim Hoagland is an American journalist and two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. He is an associate editor, senior foreign correspondent, and columnist for The Washington Post....
, journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and a two-time Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner - William Ivey LongWilliam Ivey LongWilliam Ivey Long is an American costume designer for stage and film. His most notable work includes The Producers, Hairspray, Nine, Crazy for You, Grey Gardens and Young Frankenstein.-Early life and education:...
, Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning costume designerCostume DesignerA costume designer or costume mistress/master is a person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered an important part of the "production team", working alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers as well as the sound designer. The...
- Vernon GrantVernon Grant (Kellogg's)Vernon Simeon Plemion Grant was an American illustrator known for his whimsical gnome characters and fairy tale drawings. Over seven decades, Grant created hundreds of illustrations for advertising and major magazines, including Judge and Ladies' Home Journal...
, commercial artist and creator of the Snap, Crackle and PopSnap, Crackle and PopSnap, Crackle, and Pop! are the cartoon mascots of Kellogg's breakfast cereal Rice Krispies -History:The elf characters were originally designed by illustrator Vernon Grant in the early 1930s...
characters for Kellogg's Rice KrispiesRice KrispiesRice Krispies is a breakfast cereal that was created by Clayton Rindlisbacher for the Kellogg company, and later marketed by Kellogg's in 1927 and released to the public in 1928...
cereal - Edmund LewandowskiEdmund LewandowskiEdmund Lewandowski was an American Precisionist artist who was often exhibited in the Downtown Gallery alongside other artists such as Charles Sheeler, Charles Demuth, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ralston Crawford, George Ault, and Niles Spencer.-Life:...
, noted Precisionist movement artist - David BallDavid Ball (country musician)David Ball is an American country music artist. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several different labels, including his platinum certified debut Thinkin' Problem. Fourteen of Ball's singles have entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
, Country music singer - Leon RippyLeon RippyLeon Rippy is an American actor.-Life and career:He has worked with Roland Emmerich on seven movies including: Moon 44 , Eye of the Storm , Universal Soldier , Stargate , The Thirteenth Floor , The Patriot , Eight Legged Freaks and also had a role in the 2004...
, Actor - Lauren CholewinskiLauren CholewinskiLauren Cholewinski is an American speed skater who has competed since 2007. She grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she learned to skate at a rink named "Roller Magic." She was named to the U.S. team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In addition to her skating, Cholewinski also...
, Olympic speedskater - Jadeveon ClowneyJadeveon ClowneyJadeveon Clowney is an American football defensive end. He recently graduated from South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Clowney was named South Carolina's 2010 Mr. Football, and is considered the consensus No...
, Football Player - Lafayette CurrenceLafayette CurrenceLafayette Currence is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Currence was signed as a free agent in 1970 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1973, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Greg Erardi. He played at the Major League level with the team in 1975.-References:...
, Baseball player - EmeryEmery (band)Emery is an American four-piece post-hardcore band from Rock Hill, South Carolina currently signed to both Tooth & Nail Records and Solid State Records and based in Seattle, Washington. Emery was founded in Rock Hill, South Carolina with the original lineup consisting of Toby Morrell, Devin...
, Rock band - Jim RayJim RayJames Francis Ray , is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965–1966 and 1968–1974 for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers....
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
National Football League (NFL) players from Rock Hill
- Gerald DixonGerald DixonGerald Dixon is a former American football linebacker. He played for the South Carolina Gamecocks and also played in the National Football League from 1993-2001.-Career:...
- Chris HopeChris HopeChris Hope is an American football player who plays for the Tennessee Titans.-High school:...
- Ko SimpsonKo SimpsonYukota "Ko" Simpson is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
- Benjamin WatsonBenjamin WatsonBenjamin Watson is an American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 32nd overall in the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia.-Early years:Watson attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South...
- Johnathan JosephJohnathan JosephJohnathan Joseph is an American football cornerback with the Houston Texans, drafted 24th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals out of South Carolina.-College career:...
- Jonathan HefneyJonathan HefneyJonathan Jerrod Hefney is a Canadian Football Defensive Back who is currently playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
- Jeff BurrisJeff BurrisJeffrey Lamar Burris is a former professional American Football cornerback who played 10 years in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994 to 2003...
- Derek RossDerek RossDerek Ross is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings...
- Rick SanfordRick SanfordRichard Sanford is a former American football defensive back in the NFL for the New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks....
- Phillip AdamsPhillip AdamsPhillip Andrew Hedley Adams, AO is an Australian broadcaster, film producer, writer, social commentator, satirist and left-wing pundit. He currently hosts a radio program, Late Night Live, four nights a week on the ABC, and he also writes a weekly column for the News Limited-owned newspaper, The...
- Donnie ShellDonnie ShellDonnie Shell is a former American Football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League between 1974 and 1987. Shell was a member of the Steelers famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s.Shell retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51...
- Justin Case