As some have said Distemper is more of an issue here with raccoons. But they CAN still get Rabies. They might not be as likely to have it as in other parts or as other animals here, but they for sure can get and transmit it. If a rabid skunk bites a raccoon he is going to get rabies.
With that said, we used to have a Opossum visit our cat bowl most nights right along with the cats, when I lived in the country. Never bothered anyone and we left it alone. Like many have said, they get a bad rap, but they are really great animals.
I have relatives that have spent a lot of time over the years hunting raccoon. I have not heard recently, but I know for a few years the numbers had went down some. But also the price for pelts has been really bad too. About a decade or so they would make a nice bonus to their income from them, especially nice as the season is during the holidays. Brining in several thousand dollars every season, worth of pelts, good years $10K+, but I don't believe it has been that good for a quite a few years now.