Rocky Mount, city, Nash and Edgecombe counties, northeastern North Carolina, at rocky mounds on the Tar River (hence the city's name); settled before 1734, incorporated as a city 1907. One of the world's largest bright-leaf tobacco markets, it is also a textile-manufacturing hub. The city is the seat of North Carolina Wesleyan College (1956). In 1818, the first textile mill (still in operation) was established here. The community was reached by railroad in 1839. During the American Civil War, the town was partially burned (1863) by Union forces. Population 41,283 (1980); 55,893 (2000).
