BAHAMA, NC

Bahama is an unincorporated community in northern Durham County, North Carolina, United States.

History

Bahama was originally settled around 1750 as the community of Balltown until the name was changed to reflect three leading families of the community: (Ba)ll, (Ha)ll, and (Ma)ngum. Another unusual name associated with the community is Hunkadora, a name for the post office here during a period of the 19th century . Former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs hails from Bahama.

Demographics

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.

Education

Bahama is home to Mangum Elementary School (formerly Mangum Primary School). Mangum Elementary is a Durham Public School. (kindergarten-5th grade)

Historic Marker

Mount Bethel Church - NC Highway Marker G-65

Marker Text:
Non-denominational meeting house built ca. 1784 by Archer Harris. By 1808 Methodist. Home church to Washington Duke.

Essay:

Nathaniel Harris in the mid-eighteenth century acquired a tract of in what is now the community of Bahama in northern Durham County. Thereon his son Archer built a meeting house around 1784 which operated for the benefit of all denominations until 1808 when it affiliated with the Methodist Church. The first building was a log structure and was used by all who desired to worship, white and black. The meeting house, originally known as Crossroads, is mentioned in a deposition filed against Archer Harris in 1784 as part of a boundary dispute.

In 1812 a tract was conveyed to church trustees. The church was placed within the Granville Circuit of the Virginia Conference. Washington Duke, who was born on December 20, 1820 and became the patriarch of the “Dukes of Durham,” was converted to Methodism at the church. His parents, Taylor and Dicey Jones Duke, were members at Mount Bethel. The gifts of the Duke family to Methodist causes, not the least of them the establishment of Duke University, are many. Duke is said to have claimed that “whatever I am, I accredit to the Methodist circuit riders.”

The present church building was completed in 1949 and is the congregation’s sixth. The raising was the culmination of a prolonged fundraising effort. Harley Chester, minister, recalled that “gallons of Brunswick stew were made and sold, suppers were given, bazaars were held, Negro minstrels, plays, a womanless wedding and almost anything to make an honest dollar.”

The church hands out food the first Wednesday of every month, and will hand out clothes and shoes if needed. During the pandemic they have services available through your car radio (91.7 fm) and socially distanced services inside.

Notable People