Poultry is a reason to celebrate in Rose Hill
Rose Hill was settled in the late 1840s and quickly grew into an agricultural hub and chicken farming. Today, Rose Hill is still centered around the poultry industry, which is such a focus of the community that it even hosts an annual chicken celebration. It's a “very southern town, everybody knows everybody, and that’s a good thing. It’s a delightful (place),” says Sue Mills, a real estate agent with Associated Realty of Wallace, Inc., and a Duplin County resident. “It’s just a fine little town.”
In Rose Hill, single-family homes with no HOA activity
Mills says that Rose Hill attracts a mix of retirees and families to the community, not out-of-state movers. “You’re not going to find someone from Long Island moving into Rose Hill,” says Mills. The median housing price is around $148,000, lower than the state and national median. Homes include ranch styles, Colonial Revivals and new traditionals. Neighborhoods generally have a gridded layout, and properties tend to have large front lawns and backyards. Oak trees often accent the streets. Large farmsteads and plots of land are also available for purchase, often on the edges of the town. Mills says there are no homeowners’ associations in the area.
North Carolina Poultry Jubilee breaks out world’s largest frying pan
Every fall, Rose Hill hosts the North Carolina Poultry Jubilee, which features a parade, carnival, live music and plenty of cooking using the world’s largest frying pan. The 15-foot pan was a gift from a steel producer in the 1960s, and when it's not in use, it's displayed in a gazebo on Sycamore Street. Year round entertainment options include Duplin Winery, the South’s oldest and largest muscadine winery, where visitors can enjoy wine tastings and tours of its facility. Jimmy Jerome Park has several baseball diamonds, a playground and a picnic shelter.
Flooding and hurricane risks, but distance inland is a buffer
Hurricanes and severe weather can be a part of life for people in Rose Hill, but Mills notes that the area is inland from the coast, making storms less impactful. Flood maps from the state of North Carolina show flooding risks near local creeks.
Duplin County Schools for Rose Hill kids
Students attend B-minus-graded Duplin County Schools. Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School, where kids go for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, earns a C rating from Niche, while Wallace-Rose Hill High School gets a C-plus.
Restaurants on Sycamore Street with shopping in Rose Hill and Wallace
Rose Hill’s dining and shopping spots spots are concentrated along Sycamore Street. The Rose Hill Restaurant serves barbecue pork, fried chicken and seafood, while El Buen Sabor has breakfast items along with tacos, plantains and empanadas. Along with its vino, Duplin Winery offers a bistro with salads, sandwiches and soups. Godwin's IGA grocery store and a Family Dollar are also on Sycamore. Several boutique and locally owned stores sit nearby on Church Street. Seven miles south, the town of Wallace has a Piggly Wiggly and Food Lion for more grocery options, as well as a Walmart and Bealls. For health care, there are several small clinics in the area, and ECU Health Duplin Hospital is 12 miles north in Kenansville.
Access to Interstate 40 and several airports
Interstate 40 is west of the community, with the entrance on Fire Tower Road. Albert J. Ellis Airport is 28 miles east and has flights to Atlanta and Charlotte. Downtown Wilmington is 47 miles south on I-40 and home to Wilmington International Airport, which offers more flight options.
