Moore County, NC: Where is it, what makes it special?
Where is Moore County — the place where a targeted attack on two electrical substations on Saturday cut power to tens of thousands of people — and what is special about it?
Situated near the middle of North Carolina, Moore County is on the border of the state’s Sandhills and Piedmont regions.
In terms of major landmarks, it is next door to Fort Bragg (America’s most populated Army base), northwest of Fayetteville (about a 50-minute drive) and southwest of Raleigh (about a 70-minute drive). Due to its proximity to Fort Bragg, a number of soldiers and their families live in Moore County.
Here are some things to know:
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Fore! Moore County is famous for golf
Moore County may be best known nationally for its top-level golf courses in Pinehurst, a resort and wealthy retirement community.
The U.S. Open Championship golf tournament is scheduled to be played at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in 2024. The local convention and visitors bureau says the U.S. Open previously was held there in 1999, 2005 and 2014, and the contest is also set to be held there in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.
The U.S. Women’s Open Championship was held in Moore County in 1996, 2001, 2007, 2014 and this past June, and it’s scheduled again for Moore County in 2029.
Numerous amateur tournaments are also held at Moore County golf courses.
What else is in Moore County?
Southern Pines has a locally owned bookstore, The Country Bookshop, with a devoted following.
Also in Southern Pines is the Taxidermy Hall of Fame of North Carolina, Creation Museum, and Antique Tool Museum — known mostly as “The Creation Museum” — which is a must-see while in town.
The area has craft brewers, including Hatchet Brewing Co., James Creek Cider House, Pinehurst Brewing Co., Southern Pines Growler Co., Southern Pines Brewing Co., and the Southern Pines Brewing Co. on Pennsylvania.
Who lives in Moore County?
The U.S. Census Bureau says Moore County had just under 103,000 people, as of summer 2021, in 40,475 households.
It was 83% white, 11.6% African-American, with the rest made up of other races or of multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The median home value was $229,400 and median income $63,324.
Politically, Moore County is a Republican area.
As of Dec. 3, its voter registrations had 15,812 Democrats, 31,387 Republicans, four people in the Green Party, 613 Libertarians, no one in the Constitution Party and 28,112 who are independent voters unaffiliated with any political party.
In the November election, 63.51% of those voting cast ballots for Republican Tedd Budd in the U.S. Senate race. 34.47% voted Democrat Cheri Beasley.
Cities and towns in Moore County
The main communities in Moore County are Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen.
Other places include Carthage (which is the county seat), Robbins, West End, Whispering Pines, Cameron, Vass, Foxfire, Pinebluff, Taylortown, Eagle Springs, Jackson Springs and Seven Lakes.
Famous people from Moore County
Donald Ross, the golf architect, lived in Pinehurst.
Former U.S. Senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards grew up in Robbins.
Professional wrestler Matt Hardy and his wife, former pro wrestler Rebecca Hardy (also known as Reby Sky), live out in the country in Moore County. Matt Hardy and his brother, fellow wrestler Jeff Hardy, grew up there.
Astronaut Charles Brady Jr. was born in Pinehurst and raised in Robbins.
Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Moore County, NC: Everything to know about the community
