Analyzing the Future of the Triangle Fringe Cities | Rocky Mount

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As the Triangle continues to grow, the arc of fringe cities surrounding the region will start to evolve. Rocky Mount’s bones and convenience make it an intriguing destination.

Continuing our Triangle Fringe City series with a look at the future of Rocky Mount. Be sure to check out the introduction and Henderson features if you missed them.

Rocky Mount is a city of roughly 55,000 roughly 60 miles East of Raleigh and 80 miles East of Durham located at the interchange of I-95 and US 64 / Future I-87. The city has been largely focused on agriculture, manufacturing, and the railroad throughout it’s history.

The Downtown features a typical Main Street setup with early 20th century brick buildings centered along the railroad and is split between Nash and Edgecombe Counties. While the Downtown could be considered large for a city of this size in the South, decades of suburban flight led to significant urban decay. In the past decade, the city has put a big focus on revitalizing Downtown and the results are starting to be evident.

The City also recently purchased and restored the Historic Rocky Mount Mills property (pictured above). It now features restaurants, apartments, offices, and restored historic cottages.

Within the walkshed of Downtown you’ll find dozens of three bedroom properties for under $300,000.

Looking toward the future

While Rocky Mount is around a hour from Raleigh, it features an urban core full of possibilities where residents are able to access daily needs, entertainment, and recreation. As the Triangle continues to grow, it’s vital that we shift our growth from purely sprawl based subdivisions to making use of the bones of these fringe cities like Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount’s mix of historic mills, underused parcels, and a grid system to support mixed-use growth within the walkshed of Downtown.

Efforts should also be made to establish a sense of connection between Downtown Rocky Mount and the Rocky Mount Mills riverfront area which is about a mile away to ensure seamless levels of activity.

Rocky Mount’s location also falls on an Amtrak corridor providing easier access to Raleigh, Charlotte, DC, and the entire Eastern seaboard.

Stay tuned next time as we explore the future of Wilson.

Phil Veasley is a registered Professional Engineer in NC and GA. Opinions and insights are my own and are not representative of my employer or any organization. Any ideas displayed on this site are purely that – just ideas to help improve the future of the built environment and begin discussions.

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