Tabor City, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tabor City, North Carolina
Town
Tabor City Welcome Arch
Flag Seal
Tabor City, North Carolina Location in North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Columbus
Area
• Total	3.37 sq mi (8.72 km2)
• Land	3.36 sq mi (8.71 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	102 ft (31 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,781
• Density	1,124.63/sq mi (434.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28463
Area codes	910, 472
FIPS code	37-66520
GNIS feature ID	2406708

Tabor City (/ˈteɪbɜːr/ TAY-bur) is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. It is the southernmost town in the county. It is located just north of the North Carolina/South Carolina line, about 39 miles (63 km) north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is just north of Loris, South Carolina. The population was 2,511 as of the 2010 census.

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. The Waccamaws were a peaceful tribe, and when the European immigrants began to show up they withdrew and joined the Catawba people further west, and some, at least, joined the Seminoles in Florida. It is said that the celebrated chief of the Seminoles, Osceola, was born on the Waccamaw River, and tradition says that his father was John Powell, a white man living in what is now the present-day area of Columbus County.

1760s – 1830s

During the Revolutionary War, men from the area joined with the rebels in the Battle of Brown Marsh. The Loyalists 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, which had a much more favorable outcome for the Americans.

Around 1830, the first building of what is now the Tabor City Baptist Church was constructed of logs.

1840s – 1930s

The town was named after Mount Tabor Baptist Church (now Tabor City Baptist Church), which itself is named after the biblical Mount Tabor, and was organized as a town shortly after 1840, although the official incorporation was still about 70 years in the future. The church was originally located near the intersection of what is now Stake Road and East 5th Street. Originally named Mt. Tabor, the town adopted its current name after postal authorities confused it with Tarboro, North Carolina. A tree located at the local Dale's Seafood Restaurant has been recognized as being older than the town itself.

Business activity started in Tabor City by the mid-1850s, with the development of a saw mill, turpentine still, grocery store and dry goods store. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad located a terminus in the town in 1886. 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 October 2014. The new church and sanctuary was completed in 1908.

The first tobacco warehouse was built in 1909, which became a major industry for both the town and the surrounding area. A crate factory was built in 1910. The railroad used the name "Mt. Tabor" and the post office used "Tabor" until the mid-1930s when both were changed to "Tabor City". Some of the other businesses active during this time include the Tabor City Furniture and Manufacturing Company, opening in 1928. In 1938, the Chamber of Commerce began an effort to improve the town.

During the 1920s, what is now the Todd House Restaurant opened as a boarding house, often the choice of traveling businessmen, tobacco buyers, and hunters. Mary Todd, the owner of the business, would cook for her guests, leaving the pots on the stove for the boarders to serve themselves. (The restaurant remains a buffet-style restaurant as of September 2014, albeit in a more modern form.) A night's stay, including supper and breakfast was $2.00 per day. Mary Todd died in 1963, but a daughter continued to operate the business. The original buildings burned in 1971.

In 1937, the Tabor City Lumber Company, a family owned business, specializing in all areas of the timber, lumber, and land management business, opened. The business remains in operation as of September 2014.

1940s – 1970s

During the 1940s and 1950s, the area had at least two movie theaters, one of which was named the Ritz Theater. The first Yam Festival was organized and held in 1948.

The Tabor City Tribune is a weekly newspaper established by W. Horace Carter (a Stanly County native) in 1946. In 1950, after witnessing a Ku Klux Klan 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 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 for its editorials 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 in their communities." The newspapers were the first weeklies to win a Pulitzer Prize. 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 in 2007. Carter's death in 2009 was noted in The New York Times.

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 stuck.

As tobacco use declined beginning in the 1970s, the economy of the area suffered. Tobacco warehouses began closing, and the area suffered an economic downturn. In the early 1970s, the Ritz closed and the theater then lay dormant for years, eventually becoming an empty shell.

1980s to 2010

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 and the Brunswick County beaches has led to a growth in the area housing industry.

The Freedom Flag Trilogy located at the entrance to town was first flown July 4, 2007, as does the Centennial Clock celebrating the town's 100th anniversary.

2011–present

A revitalization effort of the Ritz theater was completed in 2014, and the former theater is now the Ritz Center, a community center for the arts.

Climate

Tabor City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen 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 100 °F (38 °C) 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 tropical cyclone 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 as the summer. Some of the deciduous trees may lose their leaves; however most trees in the area are evergreens 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 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 40 miles (64 km) 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 852.2 people per square mile (329.5/km²). There were 1,239 housing units at an average density of 379.1 per square mile (146.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.2% White, 36.2% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic 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 for the town was $17,922. About 16.9% of families and 21.60% of the population were below the poverty line, 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 Facebook 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

Tabor City is approximately 30 miles (48 km) from the ocean at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²), all of it land. It is located on the border with South Carolina, about 30 miles (48 km) inland from the Atlantic, 28 miles (45 km) north of Myrtle Beach, and 58 miles (93 km) west of Wilmington. Lake Tabor, a 149-acre (60 ha) lake, is on the east side of town.

• US 701
• NC 410
• NC 904

US 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

Nearest cities:

• Cerro Gordo, North Carolina (4.3 miles)
• Chadbourn, North Carolina (14 miles)
• Loris, South Carolina (7 miles)
• Longs, South Carolina (13.27 miles)
• Floyds, South Carolina (15.74 miles)
• Conway, South Carolina (15.36 miles)
• Whiteville, North Carolina (19.30 miles)
• Aynor, South Carolina (16.5 miles)
• Nichols, South Carolina (4.4 miles)

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Wilmington, North Carolina (57.2 miles, pop. 75,838)

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Raleigh, North Carolina (122.5 miles, pop. 276,093)

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. .....

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. .....

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 at 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 and Myrtle Beach are easily accessible to the residents of the city. The Myrtle Beach Sun News, Wilmington Star-News, and the Fayetteville Observer 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, 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

See also

In Spanish: Tabor City (Carolina del Norte) para niños