Bahama, North Carolina | |
Pushpin Map: | USA North Carolina |
Pushpin Label: | Bahama |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of North Carolina |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Durham |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population As Of: | 2000 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Coordinates: | 36.1661°N -78.8767°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Bahama [1] is an unincorporated community in northern Durham County, North Carolina, United States.
Prior to European colonization, the present location of Bahama and the surrounding upper Neuse River basin were home to native peoples including the Eno, Shakori, and Adshusheer.[2]
The origins of the town of Bahama can be traced back to the construction of a log meetinghouse which was the first of several structures that would house what is now Mount Bethel United Methodist Church;[3] the meetinghouse was likely built in the early 1780s. The settlement was subsequently known by various names, including Balltown, Round Hill, and Hunkadora. The latter two names specifically referred to the community centered on the post office founded by William Horner in 1832. In 1891 the town, then known as Hunkadora, was given the new name of Bahama, a portmanteau of the names of three families in the area: (Ba)ll, (Ha)rris, and (Ma)ngum.[4] A new railroad station came to eclipse the post office as the center of activity.
Bahama's Zip Code Tabulation Area (Zip Code 27503) has a population of 3,304 as of the 2000 census. The population is 50.2% male and 49.8% female. About 87.7% of the population is white, 10.3% African-American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 1.2% Hispanic, and 0.6% of other races. 0.6% of people are two or more races. There is one native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander.
The median household income is $55,272, with 4.7% of the population living below the poverty line.
Bahama is home to Mangum Elementary School (formerly Mangum Primary School). Mangum Elementary is a Durham Public School (Kindergarten-5th grade).
The following sites in Bahama are listed in the National Register of Historic Places: