Tabor City, North Carolina
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Tabor City ( ) is a town in Columbus County,
North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
, United States. It is the southernmost town in the county. It is located just north of the North Carolina/
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
line, about north of
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the "Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. Its ...
, and is just north of Loris, South Carolina. The population was 2,511 as of the 2010 census.The population was revised from the originally published figure of 2,511 based on corrected inclusion of the Tabor City Prison population:


History


Pre-European

According to Swanton (1952), before the arrival of the Europeans, the area was home to the Cape Fear Indians, the Waccamaw Indians, and the Saponas.


1670s–1830s

During the Revolutionary War, men from the area joined with the rebels in the Battle of Brown Marsh. The
Loyalists Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...
won, marking the high point of their efforts to defeat the revolution in the southern theater. Men from the area may have also aided the American forces in the
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was a minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought near Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington (present-day Pender County, North Carolina, Pender County), North Carolina, on February 27, 1776. The v ...
, which had a much more favorable outcome for the Americans. The
Siege of Charleston The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory in the American Revolutionary War, fought in the environs of Charles Town (today Charleston), the capital of South Carolina, between March 29 and May 12, 1780. The British ...
saw troops from the coastal Carolinas unsuccessfully defend the city from the British. Early settlers in the area farmed, raised cattle & pigs, and manufactured
naval stores Naval stores refers to the industry that produces various chemicals collected from conifers. The term was originally applied to the compounds used in building and maintaining wooden sailing ships. Presently, the naval stores industry are used to ...
. From the
longleaf pine The longleaf pine (''Pinus palustris'') is a pine species native to the Southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Virginia, extending into northern and central Florida. In this area it is also known as ...
trees come products used in shipbuilding. These products or "stores" are
turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principall ...
,
rosin Rosin (), also known as colophony or Greek pitch (), is a resinous material obtained from pine trees and other plants, mostly conifers. The primary components of rosin are diterpenoids, i.e., C20 carboxylic acids. Rosin consists mainly of r ...
, tar and pitch. Pitch was needed to coat the hulls of ships to protect them in tropical waters. Camp meetings filled an ecclesiastical and spiritual need in the unchurched settlements. The Honey Camp meeting site (which became the Green Sea Baptist Church) was one of the first large camp meetings in the region at nearby Green Sea, South Carolina. Population increased and settlement moved inland, which led to the founding of a congregation in the area just north of the state border. Around 1837, the congregation of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church erected their first building, constructed of logs.


1830s–1930s

The original community took its name from the first prominent church in the area, the Mount Tabor Baptist Church(now the Tabor City Baptist Church), which itself is named after the biblical
Mount Tabor Mount Tabor ( ; ; ), sometimes spelled Mount Thabor, is a large hill of biblical significance in Lower Galilee, Northern District (Israel), northern Israel, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, west of the Sea of Galilee. In the Hebrew Bi ...
, and was founded in 1838. A village coalesced around the area of the church which was organized as a town shortly after 1840. The town officially incorporated in 1904. The church was originally located near the intersection of what is now Stake Road and East 5th Street. Business activity started in Tabor City by the mid-1850s, with the development of a saw mill,
turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principall ...
still, grocery store and dry goods store. The
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967, it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast ...
located a station in the town in 1886. The turpentine industry was huge in the area throughout the 19th Century. Many wagonloads of turpentine, rosin and pitch were carried to the rail station in Grist, NC, for shipment to
Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...
and other environs. The town was officially incorporated in 1905. In 1906, William Fowler donated land for the Tabor City Baptist Church, at the site which has been in continuous use since the completion of the construction and is still currently in use, as of April 2023. The new church and sanctuary was completed in 1908. Mt. Tabor residents were greatly affected by the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. Many volunteered when the war began and many more were conscripted to fill the ranks as the war decimated the combatants. Men from the area were mainly in two different groups. At war's beginning, eager young men joined Capt. John B. Stanly's Co.(Columbus Guards # 4), 10th Regt NC Infantry (Volunteers), which became Co D, 20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, NC State Troops, which participated in most of the major battles in the
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
theater. At
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Gettysburg (; ) is a borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the borough had a population of 7,106 people. Gettysburg was the site of ...
, more than sixty-five percent of the regiment were casualties, either from wounds or death. Older men were later conscripted into Co. G, 51st NC Infantry Regiment, which performed garrison duty at forts in the
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
area and Fort Fisher. It also saw limited action in several of the campaigns in eastern Virginia. Townsmen participated in most of the large battles of the Eastern Theater of the war, fighting in the Carolinas and
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. In 1865,
William T. Sherman William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...
's army passed through the area, with outriders foraging for foodstuffs and supplies. The blue columns crossed the
Pee Dee River The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in the Carolinas of the United States. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course, above the mouth of the Uwharrie River, is known a ...
, the Lumber River, and the
Cape Fear River The Cape Fear River is a blackwater river in east-central North Carolina. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The river is formed at the confluence of the Haw River and the Deep River in the town of ...
, with the cavalry scouting ahead. Mt. Tabor was not spared by Sherman's foragers. Dozens of men never returned home. Widow's weeds were a common sight in this area. Census records in 1870 and 1880 show many households run by widows in South Williams Township. Strawberries became an important crop in the 1880s when the development of the railroad enabled them to be shipped to markets in the big cities. The Anderson Shingle Company made shipping containers for strawberries. In 1910, Bishop Anderson sold out to W.B. Roberts and David James (Dave) Hughes, three years later Dave Hughes bought out Mr. Robert's interest and it became D.J. Hughes & Company "Manufacturers of Anderson Make Strawberry, Cantaloupe, Peach and Grape Crates, Boxes Made to Order, and Lumber," with a yearly output of 150,000 crates. Cotton fell out of favor when boll weevils negatively impacted crop production. Tobacco became the golden crop and the Border Belt produced prime flue-cured leaf for tobacco companies around the world. The first
tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
warehouse was built in 1909, which became a major industry for both the town and the surrounding area. By 1925, the town had several tobacco auction warehouses, two tobacco re-drying warehouses, and a tobacco prizery(a packing plant where tobacco was packed into hogsheads for shipment to tobacco companies in Virginia), all within a block of the railroad tracks. The dominance of tobacco in the community continued until the 1990s. By 2022, only a few largescale farmers still grow tobacco in the area. The
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
took men from the town and deposited them in the trenches of France where they helped the Allied Forces achieve victory against the
Central Powers The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires,; ; , ; were one of the two main coalitions that fought in World War I (1914–1918). It consisted of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulga ...
. Originally named 'Mt. Tabor', many would shorten the name to 'Tabor' when writing correspondence. With mail delivery by the
USPS The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal serv ...
, Tabor would be confused with
Tarboro, North Carolina Tarboro is a town located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the town had a population of 10,721. It is the county seat of Edgeco ...
due to the similarities in spelling. By 1935, US Postal authorities demanded a name change and since
Tarboro Tarboro is a town located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 10,721. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. The town is o ...
was much larger, Mt Tabor was told to pick another name. The town denizens picked Tabor City as they expected phenomenal growth for the future of this tiny village. In May 1925, there were no paved streets, no fire department, nor a municipal water supply. Businesses included: a crate factory, several tobacco industries, a power plant, churches, train station, US Post Office, a hotel, a telephone exchange, many businesses, a prizery(tobacco packing house), agricultural, commercial, and industrial warehouses, a grist mill, a concert hall, and schools. Tobacco was the main industry. During the later 1920s, a
boarding house A boarding house is a house (frequently a family home) in which lodging, lodgers renting, rent one or more rooms on a nightly basis and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months, or years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and ...
opened, often the choice of traveling businessmen, tobacco buyers, and hunters. The owner of the business, would cook for her guests, leaving the pots on the stove for the boarders to serve themselves. A night's stay, including supper and breakfast was $2.00 per day. The business was operated by the family for three generations. The original buildings burned in 1971 and were rebuilt, operating with monthly rental units and a restaurant until 2018. It is now an event venue under new owners. By February 1934, the face of downtown was formed. A modern-day person would recognize many familiar buildings that appear on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. maps of the town for that year. There was a municipal-owned water source from a deep well. A 75,000 gal elevated water tank on a 75 ft steel tower rose above the town. There was one mile of 6" & 8" water lines, giving 45 lbs of domestic & fire water pressure. Businesses noted on those maps included: factories, commercial, and agricultural warehouses, churches, many commercial enterprises, schools, movie theatre, US Post Office, a town hall, a waterworks plant & water tower. Tobacco was the main industry.


1940s–1970s

The
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
saw many young men of the town face combat in both the European and Pacific Theaters of war. The war economy brought prosperity to the town and saw an expansion of new businesses began by war veterans taking advantage of GI Bill loan provisions. During the 1940s and 1950s, the area had at least two movie theaters. There were also several drive-in movie businesses. Gas stations appeared at the town's major intersections. The first supermarkets also opened replacing the smaller general stores that had previously served the public. Several car dealerships came to the town. The first Yam Festival was organized and held in 1948. The '' Tabor City Tribune'' is a
weekly newspaper Weekly newspaper is a general-news or Current affairs (news format), current affairs publication that is issued once or twice a week in a wide variety broadsheet, magazine, and electronic publishing, digital formats. Similarly, a biweekly newspap ...
established by W. Horace Carter (a Stanly County native) in 1946. In 1950, after witnessing a
Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to KKK or Klan, is an American Protestant-led Christian terrorism, Christian extremist, white supremacist, Right-wing terrorism, far-right hate group. It was founded in 1865 during Reconstruction era, ...
motorcade going through town, Carter began writing a series of editorials and reports critical of Klan activity. The Klan began a recruiting campaign in 1950, and were later convicted of
flogging Flagellation (Latin , 'whip'), flogging or whipping is the act of beating the human body with special implements such as whips, rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails, the sjambok, the knout, etc. Typically, flogging has been imposed ...
people and other offenses, based largely on Carter's work. Along with the '' Whiteville News Reporter'', the ''Tribune'' was awarded the 1953
Pulitzer Prize for Public Service The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service is one of the fourteen American Pulitzer Prizes annually awarded for journalism. It recognizes a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journali ...
for its
editorial An editorial, or leading article (UK) or leader (UK), is an article or any other written document, often unsigned, written by the senior editorial people or publisher of a newspaper or magazine, that expresses the publication's opinion about ...
s against the Ku Klux Klan. The Pulitzer Prize citation stated that the newspapers were awarded the prize "for their successful campaign against the Ku Klux Klan, waged on their own doorstep at the risk of economic loss and personal danger, culminating in the conviction of over one hundred Klansmen and an end to
terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...
in their communities." The newspapers were the first weeklies to win a
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...
. The name of the ''Tabor City Tribune'' was changed to the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'' in 1996. The small W. Horace Carter Newspaper Museum in Tabor City at the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'' offices has exhibits on Carter's life and work. A documentary of the struggles between Carter and the Klan, titled ''The Editor and the Dragon: Horace Carter Fights the Klan'', was shown on the North Carolina Public Broadcasting System in 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the struggle. In addition, part of Carter's story was entered into the ''
Congressional Record The ''Congressional Record'' is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Publishing Office and issued when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record Ind ...
'' in 2007. Carter's death in 2009 was noted in ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. Even with the Tribune's crusade against racism and the Klan, now in 2022, there is a business covered with Confederate flags which sells Klan and other racist merchandise on the main road coming into town. Thus, the battle against racism is at a stalemate in light of Carter's crusade in the 1950s. The Tabor City Methodist Church began services in 1953. Due to crimes in the area in the late 1950s and 1960s, especially fights at local bars, Tabor City earned the nickname "Razor City". Even though many of the crimes occurred just across the border in South Carolina, the Razor/Tabor near-
rhyme A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (usually the exact same phonemes) in the final Stress (linguistics), stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words. Most often, this kind of rhyming (''perfect rhyming'') is consciou ...
stuck. An economic downturn and severe recession, plus skyrocketing fuel costs, in the early/mid-1970s resulted in business closures and poverty becoming the norm for many families.


1980s–2010

By the eighties, tobacco use began declining. Along with global recession, the town and its people took another severe hit. More businesses closed and parts of downtown looked deserted as empty buildings fell into disrepair. Tens of millions in US government grants poured into the city beginning in the mid-1980s until present day. The decline in Tabor City was similar to neighboring towns of Fair Bluff, North Carolina, Broadman, North Carolina, Brunswick, North Carolina, Cerro Gordo, North Carolina, and
Chadbourn, North Carolina Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,574 at the 2020 census. History A post office called Chadbourn has been in operation since 1882. It was incorporated in 1883, being named after a local ...
. A town manager was hired to handle administrative duties of the town, The year 1984, saw a group of townspeople come together to promote economic development in the town. An investment fund was accumulated through donations. Several projects were completed over the following decades. Most projects have seen the group acquire properties which end up receiving multimillion-dollar government grants. The dismissal of Police Chief Willie Gore in 1993 sparked a period of weekly protest marches since many felt the chief's dismissal was racist in nature. The marches were peaceful, though overreaction by the all white police force led to the mostly African American crowd being met with pepper spray on multiple occasions. In late 1997, a massive facelift was performed on two blocks of S. Main Street in the downtown area.
Southern Living ''Southern Living'' is a lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, garden plans, and information about Southern culture and travel. It is published by Birmingham, Alabama Alabama ...
magazine made contact with town leaders about an article they were doing about Christmas celebrations in small southern towns. For many decades, the town traditionally held an annual daytime Christmas parade. Storefronts were painted, new retro lampposts installed, and other aesthetic improvements costing tens of thousands of dollars were made in order to have a nighttime Christmas parade. A photo of the parade and short write-up were included in an article in the December 1997 issue of
Southern Living ''Southern Living'' is a lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, garden plans, and information about Southern culture and travel. It is published by Birmingham, Alabama Alabama ...
magazine. Today, the town focuses on agriculture, light manufacturing, retail and tourism. In addition, a large state prison provides many jobs for the area. Being so close to the coastal areas of
Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the " Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. It ...
and the Brunswick County beaches has led to a growth in the area housing industry. The Centennial Clock celebrating the town's 100th anniversary was installed on Main Street. It was donated by a local business leader. The Freedom Flag Trilogy, which is located at the entrance to town on Hwy 701N, was first flown July 4, 2007.


2011–present

A local citizen donated the lot containing the ruined front brick wall of the former Ritz theater to the town. Millions in government grants resulted in a complete rebuild effort that was completed in 2014. The former theater is now the Ritz Center, a community center for the arts. The mayor of the town has a comedy act that is a frequent performer. The building sits empty for much of the year. In 2014, the
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, Orange and Durham County, North Carolina, Durham counties, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 United States census, making Chapel Hill the List of municipa ...
band, Campfires and Constellations, memorialized the town in their song about drug smuggling, "Fast Burn to Tabor City". On October 25, 2018, it was announced the Todd House would close after 100 years of operation. Town welcome signs were amended in 2019 to recognize country music legend
Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general and military officer who served during the American Civil War. He played a prominent role in nearly all military engagements in the eastern the ...
, a Tabor City native. In 2019, town leaders continued to develop a plan for a light rail link from the town to
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the "Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. Its ...
tourists via Conway. A matter to be addressed is how to get beach tourists to Conway in order to use the rail service. The Town Depot project, renamed the Community Center, is being built adjacent to the railroad tracks behind the town library. Community Center construction began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2022.
Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the " Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. It ...
city leaders are busy converting their railroad corridor to a 2.5 mile public trail for pedestrians and bikes


Climate

Tabor City has a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''Cfa''), with the following characteristics: Winters are generally mild with January highs in the mid 50s °F (11–14 °C) and lows in the mid 30s °F (1–3 °C). Snowfall does not occur in most years, and when it does, is generally light. Spring is reasonably lengthy, beginning in late February and lasting to early May. The presence of abundant dense vegetation in the area causes significant pollen dusting in the springtime that tends to turn rooftops and cars yellow. Summer brings high humidity with temperatures usually in the upper 80s to lower 90s °F (31–34 °C). Heat indices can easily break the mark, though the actual temperature does not in most years. Due to the proximity of warm Atlantic Ocean waters, the area may be hit by a
hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its ...
during the summer, at an average of once every seven years- although most are of a low level. About 40% of the annual rainfall is delivered from July to September. Autumn is also generally humid at the beginning, with the same tropical threats from hurricanes as in the summer. Some of the deciduous trees may lose their leaves; however most trees in the area are
evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...
s and therefore remain green year-round.


Culture

The North Carolina Visitors Center in the middle of town, on business highway 701, assists tourist and locals with these and other activities. The visitor center underwent a series of improvements, funded partially by a $100,000
North Carolina Department of Transportation The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina. History The North Carolina ...
allocation. As of 2022, the volume of visitors to the center is minuscule. The North Carolina Yam Festival takes place on the fourth Saturday in October. The festival celebrates with crafts, train rides, classic cars and trucks, arts and vendors. Also during the Yam festival, an annual art show is held, and a "Miss Yam Festival" pageant is held for various age groups. The annual parade is considered a highlight of the festival. Based somewhat on the success of the fall Yam Festival, an annual spring festival, the Spring Fling, began in 2013, celebrating the Town and people of the area. This week-long festival offers several activities. Lake Tabor is a one-star rated, 2 acre lake where boating events are often held. Lake Tabor went dry in 1998 after hurricane floods destroyed the retention dam. The dam was rebuilt and the lake restored. It was closed for a part of the 2013, and 2014 summer due to algae infestations. The Lake Tabor dam is still in danger during hurricane flooding events. The area boasts several restaurants and shops, and Tabor City has several parks and athletic fields as part of the Columbus County Parks and Recreation Department. A business in town offers access to batting cages. Hunting and fishing are popular activities, as well as the over 100 golf courses within of the town. A local campground has a small waterpark. A Fourth of July festival celebrating both past and current military personnel is held annually, with fireworks, food, and other activities. There is normally no charge for this event. An old train depot today serves as a small museum that operates primarily during the Yam Festival. A retired caboose is one of the displays available for exploration.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,781 people, 968 households, and 617 families residing in the town.


2010 census

As of the United States census of 2010, there were 2,511 people, 1,095 households, and 627 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,239 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 59.2%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 36.2%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.1% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.0%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino ethnicity were 2.3% of the population. Of the 1,095 households, 23% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99. The town has shown marked growth in the last 14 years. In the town, the population was spread out, with .4.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 20 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. The median income for a household in the town was $25,469, and the median income for a family was $40,044. Males had a median income of $32,528 versus $20,804 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $17,922. About 16.9% of families and 21.60% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.


Economic conditions

Since the 1970s, Tabor City has been beset by poverty and high unemployment, especially as the agricultural based economy of the past was no longer viable. Today, the town focuses on agriculture, light manufacturing, retail and tourism. A large state prison provides many jobs for the area. The town is served by two grocery stores, three drug stores, a number of restaurants, three banks and a credit union. Overall, the town has seen a steady decline in the commercial sector over the past 30 odd years. The downtown was thriving through the eighties, and since then it has seen vacant storefronts become more common, with dilapidated buildings throughout the downtown area. Poor city planning has industrial sites scattered throughout the small town with all residents impacted by heavy commercial and industrial traffic. This has significantly impacted residential property values throughout the town. The Tabor City Chamber of Commerce maintains a both a
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presence and its own website. The town has also upgraded its water, sewer and roads, in hopes of attracting new businesses but little has materialized. As of January 2022, the poverty rate is 47%, with a per capita income of $12,555 (national per capita income is $29,829). In 2019, the town manager was paid $127,923 according to public records. This salary is 308 percent higher than average. The Tabor City Industrial Park is located just northwest of town, a 36-acre certified industrial site perfect for small to medium-sized users seeking 5 to 10 acres of land. Existing tenants include a small packaging warehouse and the Tabor City Business Development Center, while most of the property has sat vacant for most of the existence of the park. A packaging company, owner and publisher of the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'', founded in 1946, continues to be a major employer for the area. It has sites throughout the town with almost every residential area being interspersed with industrial sites and associated traffic. They also operate a large facility offshore in the Dominican Republic. R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates the rail line servicing the town.


Geography

The town lies within the Carolina Border Belt, a regional network of tobacco markets and warehouses along both sides of the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Tabor City is approximately from the ocean at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and is due north of Myrtle Beach, SC. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , all land. It is located on the border with
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, approximately inland from the
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
, north of
Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the " Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. It ...
, and west of Wilmington. Lake Tabor, a lake, is on the eastern side of town. * * * U.S. Route 701 runs through the town in a generally north–south direction, while North Carolina Highway 904 generally runs thorough the town in an east–west direction. The two highways intersect at the center of town. In addition, a business loop of US 701 serves also as the main business corridor in Tabor. North Carolina Highway 410 starts at the NC/SC state line before going through the town and continuing on to
Chadbourn, North Carolina Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,574 at the 2020 census. History A post office called Chadbourn has been in operation since 1882. It was incorporated in 1883, being named after a local ...
Nearest cities: * Cerro Gordo, North Carolina (4.3 miles) *
Chadbourn, North Carolina Chadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,574 at the 2020 census. History A post office called Chadbourn has been in operation since 1882. It was incorporated in 1883, being named after a local ...
(14 miles) * Loris, South Carolina (7 miles) * Longs, South Carolina (13.27 miles) *
Conway, South Carolina Conway is a city in and the county seat of Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 24,849 at the 2020 census, up from 17,103 in the 2010 census, making it the 18th-most populous city in the state. The city is part of ...
(15.36 miles) * Whiteville, North Carolina (19.30 miles) * Aynor, South Carolina (16.5 miles) * Nichols, South Carolina (18.4 miles) Nearest city with pop. 50,000+:
Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...
(57.2 miles, pop. 126,000) Nearest city with pop. 200,000+:
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the "Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. Its ...
(43.2 miles, pop. 528,733)


Government

Tabor City has a town manager, assisted by the elected town mayor and town council. Past mayors have included: * W. A. Williams – 1953 * Howard Harrelson 1957–1969 * Robert Soles Sr * Marion Baxter Tabor City is in the 13th District for the North Carolina Senate, represented by Michael Walters as of September 2014, and in the 46th district for the North Carolina House of Representatives, where, as of September 2021, they are represented by Tabor City native and used car dealer Brenden Jones. Tabor City is in
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
' North Carolina 7th Congressional District, NC-7. The current Representative as of January 2022 is
David Rouzer David Cheston Rouzer ( ; born February 16, 1972) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 7th congressional district. Previously he was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representi ...
. The city offers its own water and sewer treatment plant and is connected to the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority.


Police and fire

Tabor City has its own police department. As of January 2022, the police chief is Donald Dowless. Several officers have run afoul of the law. Since 2019, Tabor City Police Department has maintained community out reach through an official Police Department page on Facebook. A Tabor City Jail was in operation as of 1939. As of 2014, the police department takes any persons needing detaining to the Columbus County Detention Center in Whiteville, NC. In addition, the city is also served by the Columbus County Sheriff. As of April 2021, the sheriff is Jody Greene. The Tabor City Court house is located on 5th street, and hears district court cases on an as needed basis. Superior Court cases for the area are heard in the Whiteville Courthouse. The crime rate in Tabor City is higher than the national average. Property crimes being 150% higher than the national average. There were 19 registered sex offenders living in Tabor City, North Carolina as of January 21, 2022. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Tabor City is 217 to 1. The Tabor City Fire Department, led by Chief Jeff Fowler, serves the city and assists several volunteer departments within the county. Cooperation is often necessary with various South Carolina departments. New trucks were delivered in 1939, 1947 and 1955. There was no fire department in existence in 1925. In February 1934, the fire department consisted of a chief, 14 men, one fire station, a Ford Model A truck with a Barton Pumper(capacity 300 g.p.m.), 1000 ft 2-1/2" hose, 2-35 gal. chemical tanks, & 500 ft 2-1/2" hose. There were 3 fire alarm boxes and the town hall had an electric siren mounted on the roof. One of the largest North Carolina Prisons, the Tabor City Correctional Institution is operated within the city limits. The construction of the Tabor City Correctional Institution (TCI) began in May 2006 and was completed in April 2008. TCI is located over two miles (3 km) northwest from the center of Tabor City, and its site was annexed by the town. The prison is not located continuously with the city. The cost to build the prison was approximately $94 million, The Tabor City Prison officially opened on August 18, 2008. Crime rates have risen due to the numerous prison guards that commit serious offenses, such as drug smuggling, hit-and-run, murder-for-hire, etc.


Media

In addition to the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'', published weekly since 1946, the town is served by AM-1370 station WTAB. The feed is also available on line a
WTAB RADIO – 1370 AM
For a while, from 1965 to 1998, WYNA served as the sister station to WTAB and was located in Tabor City. In 1998, Pamplico Broadcasting bought the station, which played country music at that time, and increased its power from 3,000 to 25,000 Watts. After stunting with classical music in October and November 1998, and Christmas music in December, WYNA went off the air in preparation for a move that included changing its community of license to Calabash, North Carolina. WGHW has a translator in the area to widen its broadcast area. Television, radio and daily newspapers from Wilmington, Fayetteville,
Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...
and
Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the East Coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as the " Grand Strand” in the northeastern part of the state. It ...
are easily accessible to the residents of the city. The '' Myrtle Beach Sun News'', Wilmington ''
Star-News ''StarNews'' is an American, English language daily newspaper for Wilmington, North Carolina, and its surrounding area (known as the Lower Cape Fear (region), Cape Fear). It is North Carolina's oldest newspaper in continuous publication. It was ...
'', and the ''
Fayetteville Observer ''The Fayetteville Observer'' is an American English-language daily newspaper published in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Founded in 1816, it is the oldest local newspaper published in North Carolina. The paper originally operated as the ''Carolin ...
'' are available daily to the area. The '' Whiteville News Reporter'' is available twice a week as well. Most provide at least some measure of coverage for the town.


Schools

A circa 1870 one-room school house was restored by the historical societies of Tabor City and Columbus County. This school house was built in 1870 using a floor plan and building technique which had been in use since 1820. This building was purchased and donated to the town of Tabor City by a local benefactor. Tabor City is home to South Columbus High School. Tabor City High School was in operation from the 1920s until 1992. The former high school campus became Tabor City Elementary School. Tabor City Middle School houses grades 6 through 8 and is housed in the former all-black Douglass School facility. After desegregation ended, Douglass School became Tabor City West Elementary School. These schools are part of the Columbus County School System.


Tabor City Post Office

The Tabor City Post Office was in operation as early as the 1880s. In May 1925, it was located near the north corner of Railroad St. & 5th St. It is noted at this location on the 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. In February 1934, it was located on the north corner of Railroad St and 4th St. It is noted at this location on the 1934 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. A new location was opened in 1942, and included delivery to some areas in South Carolina. A new route was established in 1947, which was the longest highway post office route in the U. S. with a 360-mile daily run. Growth necessitated a new building in 1964, still in use as of January 2022. The post office for Tabor city is located at 200 East 5th street. South Carolina delivery from the Tabor City Post Office was terminated in 1981, and transferred to the Loris, SC post Office.


Notable people

* W. Horace Carter, newspaper editor, Pulitzer Prize winner * Joseph Chambers, noted Pentecostal author, pastor in Tabor City, 1957–1958 * Amanda Dowe, American professional basketball player * Golden Frinks, an American civil rights activist and a Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) field secretary *
Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general and military officer who served during the American Civil War. He played a prominent role in nearly all military engagements in the eastern the ...
, country music star in the 1950s * Brenden Jones, politician, NC House of Representatives, 2016 to present * R. C. Soles, Jr., politician/lawyer, NC House 1968–1976, NC Senate 1977–2011, longest-serving North Carolina legislator * Wilmer Watts, an American old time singer, banjo player and bandleader in the 1920s, who did the first known recorded version of "The Midnight Special" * Taffy Wright, Major League Baseball Player, 1938–1949 Finished an 11 season MLB career with a batting average of .311


References


External links


TABOR CITY NC OFFICIAL WEBSITE


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Oral Histories of the American South



TABOR CITY NC OFFICIAL Corruption Website
{{authority control Towns in Columbus County, North Carolina Towns in North Carolina