Lumberton, North Carolina

Lumberton is a city in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. As of 2020, its population was 19,025.[4] It is the seat of Robeson County's government.[5]

Lumberton, North Carolina
City
A view down Elm Street in Lumberton
Seal
Lumberton
Location within the state of North Carolina
Lumberton
Lumberton (the United States)
Coordinates: 34°37′38″N 79°0′43″W
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyRobeson
Government
Area
[1]
 • Total17.84 sq mi (46.20 km2)
 • Land17.76 sq mi (46.00 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2)
Elevation
131 ft (40 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,025
 • Density1,071.29/sq mi (413.62/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
28358-28360
Area code910
FIPS code37-39700[2]
GNIS feature ID0989128[3]
Websitewww.ci.lumberton.nc.us

Located in southern North Carolina's Inner Banks region, Lumberton is located on the Lumber River. It was founded in 1787 by John Willis, an officer in the American Revolution. This was developed as a shipping point for lumber used by the Navy, and logs were guided downriver to Georgetown, South Carolina. Most of the town's growth took place after World War II.

History

Robeson County, North Carolina, was formed in 1787. General John Willis, owner of the Red Banks plantation, lobbied to have the county's new seat of government located on his land. The site of Lumberton was chosen due to its central location in the county, proximity to a reliable ford of the Lumber River, and as it was where several roads intersected. Willis turned over 170 acres which were surveyed and disbursed in a lottery held under the auspices of the county court on August 14, 1787. As the site was heavily forested, trees were felled to make way for a courthouse, business and residential lots, streets, a commons, and a public square. The first courthouse was a wooden residence sold by Willis to the county and moved into place after the land was clear. Lumberton was formally created by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly on November 3, 1788, which granted the town a charter and the power to levy taxes. The community was named in homage to the Lumber River.[6]

Aside from the courthouse, the first buildings in Lumberton were a handful of brick structures built near the river, which included a hotel, stores, and warehouses, which were stocked by goods sent up the river from Georgetown, South Carolina.[6] The community's first school was established by Willis in 1791.[7] The town had a post office by 1796. It was formally incorporated in 1852 and granted a municipal government with a mayor and a board of commissioners.[6] The town was connected by rail with Wilmington in 1860, which reduced its reliance on river trade from Georgetown. Much of the business district was burnt down in a fire in 1870 and another in 1876.[8]

Robeson County Courthouse in Lumberton, 1948

For four seasons, 1947–50, Lumberton fielded a professional minor league baseball team in the Tobacco State League. Affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, the team was known as the Lumberton Cubs in 1947 and '48, and the Lumberton Auctioneers in 1949 and '50.[9]

In 1970, Lumberton was named an All-American City, presented by the National Civic League.[10] It won the award a second time in 1995.

In 2010, the North Carolina Legislature designated Lumberton as the first "Certified Retirement Community" in North Carolina. This certification signals that Lumberton offers an unprecedented quality of living and range of amenities, services and opportunities which make it desirable to retirees. This program captured the Governor's Innovative Small Business Community Award in 2011.[11]

The Baker Sanatorium, Luther Henry Caldwell House, Carolina Theatre, Humphrey-Williams Plantation, Lumberton Commercial Historic District, Planters Building, Robeson County Agricultural Building, Alfred Rowland House, and US Post Office-Lumberton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[12][13]

Geography

Lumberton is located at 34°37′38″N 79°00′43″W.[14] 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.[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 square miles (40.9 km2), of which 15.7 square miles (40.7 km2) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.44%) is water.

Lumberton is located on the Lumber River in the state's Coastal Plains region. The Lumber River State Park, 115 miles (185 km) of natural and scenic waterway, flows through Lumberton.

Lumberton is served by Interstate 95 and Interstate 74.

Climate

Lumberton experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool winters.

Climate data for LUMBERTON MUNI AP, NC, 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1903-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 82
(28)		 84
(29)		 96
(36)		 96
(36)		 101
(38)		 104
(40)		 108
(42)		 106
(41)		 104
(40)		 99
(37)		 87
(31)		 83
(28)		 108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 54.6
(12.6)		 58.6
(14.8)		 65.8
(18.8)		 74.7
(23.7)		 82.5
(28.1)		 88.8
(31.6)		 91.0
(32.8)		 89.1
(31.7)		 84.2
(29.0)		 75.9
(24.4)		 65.9
(18.8)		 57.5
(14.2)		 74.1
(23.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 44.9
(7.2)		 48.0
(8.9)		 54.5
(12.5)		 62.7
(17.1)		 71.0
(21.7)		 78.8
(26.0)		 81.6
(27.6)		 80.0
(26.7)		 74.5
(23.6)		 64.2
(17.9)		 54.1
(12.3)		 47.5
(8.6)		 63.5
(17.5)
Average low °F (°C) 35.3
(1.8)		 37.4
(3.0)		 43.1
(6.2)		 50.7
(10.4)		 59.5
(15.3)		 68.7
(20.4)		 72.3
(22.4)		 70.9
(21.6)		 64.8
(18.2)		 52.5
(11.4)		 42.4
(5.8)		 37.5
(3.1)		 52.9
(11.6)
Record low °F (°C) −1
(−18)		 3
(−16)		 9
(−13)		 22
(−6)		 29
(−2)		 40
(4)		 50
(10)		 44
(7)		 35
(2)		 20
(−7)		 12
(−11)		 −2
(−19)		 −2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.55
(65)		 2.77
(70)		 3.26
(83)		 2.85
(72)		 3.41
(87)		 4.92
(125)		 4.61
(117)		 4.77
(121)		 4.93
(125)		 2.29
(58)		 2.95
(75)		 3.31
(84)		 42.62
(1,083)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.1 8.7 9.6 8.3 10.0 11.5 12.2 13.4 10.3 7.8 7.9 9.3 118.1
Source: NOAA[16][17]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870615—
1880533−13.3%
18905849.6%
190084945.4%
19102,230162.7%
19202,69120.7%
19304,14053.8%
19405,80340.2%
19509,18658.3%
196015,30566.6%
197016,96110.8%
198018,2417.5%
199018,6012.0%
200020,79511.8%
201021,5423.6%
202019,025−11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
Location of the Lumberton-Laurinburg CSA and its components:
  Lumberton Micropolitan Statistical Area
  Laurinburg Micropolitan Statistical Area

Lumberton is the larger principal city of the Lumberton-Laurinburg CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Lumberton (Robeson County) and Laurinburg (Scotland County) micropolitan areas,[19][20] which had a combined population of 159,337 at the 2000 census.[2]

2020 census
Lumberton racial composition[21]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 6,657 34.99%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,764 35.55%
Native American 2,500 13.14%
Asian 379 1.99%
Pacific Islander 23 0.12%
Other/Mixed 814 4.28%
Hispanic or Latino 1,888 9.92%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,025 people, 7,142 households, and 4,536 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,542 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 39.0% White, 36.7% Black, 12.7% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 2.2% from two or more races. 6.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 20,795 people, 7,827 households and 5,165 families residing in Lumberton. The population density was 1,322.4 people per square mile (510.8/km2). There were 8,800 housing units at an average density of 559.6 per square mile (216.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 48.54% White, 35.44% African American, 12.79% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.30% of the population.

Of the 7,827 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 38.8% were married couples living together; 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.01. Children of high school age (grades 9-12) attend Lumberton High School, which is run by the Public Schools of Robeson County,[22] as it is in Robeson County.

The city's population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18; 9.3% from 18 to 24; 28.2% from 25 to 44; 21.3% from 45 to 64; and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in Lumberton was $26,782, and the median income for a family was $33,839. Males had a median income of $28,903 versus $24,503 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,504. About 23.9% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.4% of those under age 18 and 23.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Lumberton is headed by a council–manager government.[23]

Education

Public Schools of Robeson County operates public schools.

Notable people
  • Angus Wilton McLean (1870–1935), served as 56th Governor of North Carolina from 1925–1929
  • Brad Allen, NFL referee
  • Velma Barfield (1932–1984), serial killer who murdered six people, born in South Carolina and Lumberton resident
  • Benjamin Crump (born 1969), American civil rights attorney
  • Brad Edwards (born 1966), defensive back who played for NFL's Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons; director of athletics at George Mason University
  • Hunter Foster (born 1969), Tony Award-nominated actor
  • Penny Fuller (born 1940), film, television and Broadway actress; moved to Lumberton at age 12
  • Tommy Greene (born 1967), Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Carmen Hart, pornographic film actress and erotic dancer
  • Dr. Johnny Hunt, elected president of Southern Baptist Convention in 2008
  • Dennis F. Kinlaw, academic, president of Asbury University; author of Christian theological works
  • Vonta Leach (born 1981), fullback for NFL's Baltimore Ravens
  • Ashton Locklear (born 1998), gymnast
  • Gene Locklear (born 1949), Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Sean Locklear (born 1981), football offensive tackle
  • Dwight Lowry (1957–1997), Major League Baseball player for Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins
  • Mike McIntyre (born 1956), U.S. Representative of North Carolina's 7th Congressional District from 1997 to 2015, also practiced law in city prior to election to Congress
  • M. Warley Platzek (1854–1932), lawyer and New York Supreme Court Justice
  • Afeni Shakur (1947–2016), prominent member of Black Panther Party and mother of rapper Tupac Shakur
  • John Small (1946–2012), linebacker with NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions
  • Ida Van Smith (1917–2003), pilot and flight instructor
  • Jamain Stephens (born 1974), NFL offensive tackle for Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals
  • Donnell Thompson (born 1958), NFL defensive end
  • Betty Rose Wishart (born 1947), composer
  • Tim Worley (born 1966), former running back for the Georgia Bulldogs and NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears

    References
    1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
    2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
    3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
    4. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
    5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    6. "Lumberton Lots Disposed Of By Lottery; By 1852 Town Had Mayor, Three Stores; Growth Phenomenal In Last Century". The Robesonian. February 26, 1951. p. 1A.
    7. "Lumberton's First School Began 1791". The Robesonian. February 26, 1951. p. 1A.
    8. "Customs Were Different Then-- Fishing Parties, Cider Shops". The Robesonian. February 26, 1951. p. 4A.
    9. Holaday, Chris (2016). "The Tobacco State League; A North Carolina Baseball History, 1946–1950".. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6670-9.
    10. "High Point of City's History Was Being Named All-American". The Robesonian. March 23, 1971. pp. 1E, 4E.
    11. "About Us". May 24, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
    12. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
    13. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 4/16/12 through 4/20/12. National Park Service. April 27, 2012.
    14. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
    15. Yeargin, W.W. (2006). "Tobacco Belts". NCPedia. North Carolina Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
    16. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
    17. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
    18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
    19. MICROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS Archived 2007-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
    20. COMBINED STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENT CORE BASED STATISTICAL AREAS Archived 2007-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, Office of Management and Budget, 2007-05-11. Accessed 2008-08-01.
    21. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
    22. "Contact Us / School Contact Numbers".
    23. "History". City of Lumberton. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
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