Roper is a town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 611 at the 2010 census. It was known as Lee's Mill until 1890, when the John L. Roper Lumber Company was established in the town and its name changed to Roper.Roper is located at 35°52′33″N 76°36′54″W / 35.87583°N 76.61500°W / 35.87583; -76.61500.According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles, all of it land.As of the census of 2000, there were 613 people, 238 households, and 165 families residing in the town. The population density was 706.9 people per square mile. There were 268 housing units at an average density of 309.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 20.55% White, 75.20% African American, 3.43% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.06% of the population.There were 238 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.