Raeford, North Carolina
Raeford is a city of 4,552 people in Hoke County, North Carolina.
Why visit Raeford
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 17 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Hoke County Courthouse and Raeford Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in Raeford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Raeford
Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County.
From the Wikipedia article Raeford, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
Hoke County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Courthouse in Raeford, North Carolina
Raeford Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes17
Wangz Bar and Grill
Restaurant · Chicken, American · 0.4 mi
216 South Main Street, Raeford
Mo-Th 11:00-18:00; Fr-Su 11:00-00:00
Kayla Renee Cakes
Bakery
107 North Main Street, Raeford
Tu-Fr 08:00-16:00; Sa 08:00-14:00; Su-Mo Closed
Edinborough Family Restaurant
Restaurant · Burger, American · 0.4 mi
234 South Main Street, Raeford
Virgil's Drive-In Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.7 mi
2402 Fayetteville Road, Raeford
5 more on the map.
Where to stay1
History
John McRae and A.A. Williford operated a turpentine distillery and general store, respectively. Each took a syllable from his name and came up with the name Raeford for the post office they established. The McRae family, who lived at the "ford of the creek", was at one time made up primarily of old Highland Scot families. Likewise, the Upper Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina was, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest settlement of Gaelic-speaking Highland Scots in North America. Today, many of these old families continue to live in the area, though their presence is noticeably diminished by the great numbers of newcomers to the area as a result of Fort Bragg. Since World War II, many Lumbee Indian families have moved northward from Robeson County and now constitute a significant element of the population that is otherwise European and African American.
The Hoke County Courthouse and Raeford Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Raeford, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship15
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.0 mi
454 West Palmer Street, Raeford
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries19
Healthcare5
Map of Raeford
72 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 30°F | 3.7 in | 1.6 in |
| Feb | 57°F | 31°F | 3.7 in | 0.8 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 38°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 46°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 56°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 61°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 64°F | 38°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 56°F | 33°F | 3.5 in | 0.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Raeford (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Hoke County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Laurinburg-Maxton Airport (MXE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Hope Mills 15 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Fayetteville 16 mi northeast, about 26 min by car
- Pinebluff 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
- Southern Pines 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Maxton 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Spring Lake 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Pinehurst 20 mi northwest, about 32 min by car
- Laurinburg 21 mi southwest, about 33 min by car
- Pembroke 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Spout Springs 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Raeford, North Carolina, Indy beetle, CC0
- RAEFORD HISTORIC DISTRICT, HOKE COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HOKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, RAEFORD, NC, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.