Newcomer's Guide - Richmond County Chamber of Commerce

This information about Richmond County, North Carolina is provided to you, the newcomer, to make your first days here a little easier and more pleasant. If you have other questions about our county which are not answered here, please call us at (910) 895-9058 or come by our office at 505 Rockingham Road, Rockingham NC. Our toll-free phone number is 800-858-1688.

North Carolina required minimum liability insurance of $30/60/25,000. Vehicles must be insured by a company licensed in the state of North Carolina. Owner must have proof of insurance at the time license plates are purchased.

All new residents of North Carolina are required, upon establishing residence to register their vehicle(s). Registration and sales of North Carolina plates are handled by the North Carolina License Plate Agency, located at Broad Street Square, Hwy. #74 East. Phone: (910) 997-4014.

The Richmond County Chamber of Commerce recommends that you check the reputation of any firm unfamiliar to you. The Better Business Bureau is located in Charlotte, NC. Phone: (877)-317-7236 or (704) 527-0012.

Many businesses are required to have a county privilege license. Contact Richmond County Tax Collector at the County Courthouse, (910) 997-8270.

Cable service is available in most areas of the county.
For more information contact:
Time Warner Cable
349 County Home Road
(910) 997-3106.

Most denominations are represented in approximately 100 churches in Richmond County and are listed in the classified section of the telephone directory.

A listing of Civic and Business Organizations is available at the Chamber of Commerce.

There are a number of private day nurseries and church operated nurseries in the Richmond County area. A complete listing of legally operating child care facilities and resources in the Richmond County area can be obtained by calling the Richmond County Partnership for Children at (910) 997-2273 or by visiting www.richmondsmartstart.org A listing of Day Cares obtained from the NC Department of Human Resources is also available at the Chamber of Commerce.

All dogs in Richmond County must wear tags proving inoculation for rabies. All dogs 4 months or older are required to have a three year inoculation.

All new residents of North Carolina are required to obtain a drivers license immediately upon establishing residence in the state. License may be secured at the State Highway Patrol Office, Hwy. #74 East, at the Richmond Community College exit. Phone (910) 582-7032. Manuals may be obtained free of charge at the Patrol Office. License is valid for 5 years.

State Primaries are the first Saturday in May, every two years (2006, 2008, etc.)
General elections are the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every two years (2006, 2008, etc.)

Registration forms may be obtained from the Board of Elections, phone (910) 997-8253.

Progress Energy, 1-800-452-2777. Bills for Progress Energy may be paid at Bryant's Turf in Rockingham and the Cellular Store in the Falling Creek Plaza, next to the Super Wal-Mart. Pee Dee Electric Membership Corp. off Midway Road, (910) 997-4441.

Emergencies: 911
FirstHealth Richmond EMS: (910) 895-0955
Hamlet Police: (910) 582-2551
Richmond County Rescue Squad: (910) 895-6959
Rockingham Police: (910) 895-2468
Sheriff: (910) 997-8283
State Highway Patrol: (910) 582-7018
State Bureau of Investigation: (910) 997-8280
Federal Bureau of Investigation; (704)-377-9200

Employment Security Commission of NC
115 W. Franklin Street
(910) 997-9180

Mega Force Staffing Services
1194 B Rockingham Road,
(910)895-0510.

Staffing Connection
807 West Hamlet Avenue, Whistle Stop Square
Hamlet, NC
(910) 205-1482

Fishing and hunting licenses may be obtained from local sporting goods stores and many other retail establishments. For fishing and hunting rules and regulations write to:

Regulations Digest
Wildlife Resources Commission
512 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834)

Excellent white bass, large-mouth bass, crappie, and bream fishing is found at Blewett Falls Lake on the Pee Dee River, 10 miles west of Rockingham on Hwy. #74. Free wildlife access area including boat launch. Sandhills Recreation area is located 13 miles north of Rockingham on Hwy. #1. Deer and bird hunting are some of the finest in the state. This is also the location of Lake McKinney, a federal pond-fish hatchery, fishing allowed.

Natural gas service and propane: Piedmont Natural Gas Corp. Phone: 1-800-275-6264.
L.P. Gas: Amerigas, 905 Airport Road, Hamlet, NC, Phone: (910) 582-2215; Central Carolina Gas, 467 Louis Breeden Blvd., Hamlet, NC, Phone: (910) 582-2041; Big K LP Gas at 1206 E. Broad Avenue, Rockingham, NC, Phone: (910) 895-5008

Loch Haven Golf - 612 Loch Haven Road, Phone: (910) 895-3295. 18 holes, carts and club rental, driving range.

Richmond Pines Country Club - Hwy. #1 North, Phone: (910) 997-2300. 18 holes, daily green fees welcome, carts, swimming pool, snack bar, lessons available.

For assistance with health problems, regulations, etc. contact:

Richmond County Health Department
125 Caroline Street
Rockingham
(910) 997-8300.

For information on vaccinations and immunizations, see 'Vaccinations' at the bottom of this page.

Richmond County maps are available at the Chamber of Commerce office or in the Mapping Department at the Richmond County Courthouse at a cost of $3. North Carolina state maps are available at the Chamber free of charge.

License is purchased at the Register of Deeds, Richmond County Courthouse, Phone: (910) 997-8250. Written consent of a parent is necessary if couple is under 18 years old.

The Richmond County Daily Journal is a morning newspaper, published Tuesday-Sunday. Business office is located at 105 East Washington Street, Rockingham, phone 997-3111 for rates and home delivery.

WAYN, 900 AM, located behind Richmond Plaza, Phone: (910)895-4041, 1000 watts, operates 6 AM - 10 PM.
WJSG, 104.3 FM, located on Airport Road, Phone: (910) 895-3787, 6000 watts, 24 hrs/day.
WKDX, 1250 AM, located at 310 5th St. Hamlet, Phone: (910) 582-1997, 1000 watts, operates 9 AM - 5 PM.
WLWL, 770 AM, located on Old Steele Mill Road, Phone: (910) 997-2526, 5000 watts, operates during daytime hours.

A list of Richmond County area real estate brokers may be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce office.

Boy Scouts, Tom Moose, District Executive, phone: (704) 982-0141
Girl Scouts of Richmond County, Linda Nagel, phone: (910) 997-4040

Business District - 20 MPH*
Residential District - 35 MPH *
* unless otherwise posted.

For information concerning Richmond County public schools contact:

Richmond County Schools
Administrative Offices
522 Hamlet Avenue, Hamlet
(910) 582-5860
www.richmond.k12.nc.us

All residents of North Carolina are required to list both personal and real property for taxes. Listing period is the entire month of January. There is a 10% penalty if taxes are not listed during the listing period. County taxes are paid at the Richmond County Courthouse. Phone: (910) 997-8270.

Gardner-Webb University offers classes at Richmond Community College. Call 1-800-288-4625 for more information and start working on that bachelor's degree today! The University of North Carolina at Pembroke also offers classes at Richmond Community College at night, 4 year and graduate degrees. For information call (910) 582-7180.

Richmond Community College offers an Associate in Arts Degree for completion of the college transfer curricula. If you complete a technical curricula, you are awarded an Applied Science Degree. Diplomas are awarded for completion of vocational or technical specialty curricula and certificates are awarded for programs of one or more quarters in length. You can transfer to a four-year institution with most of the associate degrees. The Curricula at RCC includes: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Accounting, Administrative Office Technology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Electrical Installation, Electronics Engineering Technology, General Occupational Technology, Human Services Technology, Industrial Electronics, Industrial Maintenance, Machinist, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Microcomputer Systems Technology, Practical Nursing, Welding, Literacy Education, GED Testing, and Emergency Services.

Richmond Community College is located between Rockingham and Hamlet on Hwy. #74 , four miles east of Rockingham. It is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For information call (910) 582-7000/(910) 997-3333.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke - holds evening classes at RCC (to holders of associate degrees) in General Education. You may earn a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or Sociology or earn credits towards a degree in Criminal Justice.

St Andrews Presbyterian College, located 25 miles from Rockingham in Laurinburg, is a four year liberal arts college and is attended by many local residents.

Sandhills Community College, located 25 miles from Rockingham at Southern Pines, is fully accredited and offers two-year courses, which are transferable to four-year colleges and universities.

For installation of service call BellSouth at 780-2355 (outside NC 1-800-767-2355). To pay a bill locally, you may contact:

Bryant's Turf & Landscaping
427 Long Drive
Rockingham
(910) 997-5952

Cellular Store
Falling Creek Plaza (next to the Super Wal-Mart)
910-582-4412

Birmingham Drug
27 Main Street
Hamlet
(910) 582-3585

For telephone service in Ellerbe contact:

Ellerbe Telephone Co.
119 Sunset Avenue
(910) 652-2221

The Richmond County Health Department provides immunizations without charge to all residents of the County for Smallpox, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Typhoid Fever and Measles. Oral vaccine for polio is also available. For a more detailed explanation of the services offered stop by the Health Department at 125 Caroline Street or phone (910) 997-8300.

You must be registered to vote in Richmond County. The cut-off for registering is 21 working days before the election. Town's voting is on odd years ('91, 93). County, state and national elections are held on even years ('92, '94).

You may register at the Drivers License office, the Library, or the Richmond County Board of Elections.

For more information call the Board of Elections at (910) 997-8253.

City of Hamlet residents call the Water Department at (910) 582-7983. City of Rockingham residents call the City at (910) 895-9088 and ask for the water department. Other Richmond County residents may contact the Richmond County Water Department at (910) 997-8200.

Monthly Newsletter - The Chamber Focus is published monthly and is mailed to over 400 chamber members. All Chamber members receive a copy every month. This publication keeps members informed about chamber progress and events.

Richmond County Chamber of Commerce
505 Rockingham Road - Post Office Box 86 - Rockingham, NC 28380
CALL: (910) 895-9058 - FAX: (910) 895-9056