Robersonville, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robersonville, North Carolina
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Robersonville Old Town Hall
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Location of Robersonville, North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Martin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.21 sq mi (3.14 km2) |
| • Land | 1.21 sq mi (3.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,269 |
| • Density | 1,047.03/sq mi (404.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
27861, 27871
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| Area code(s) | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-57100 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407229 |
Robersonville is a town in Martin County, North Carolina, United States. It became a town in 1872. In 2020, about 1,269 people lived there. Robersonville is in North Carolina's Inner Banks area. It is also home to the East Carolina Motor Speedway, a popular racetrack.
Contents
Geography
Robersonville covers about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Population Facts
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Robersonville has changed over the years. In 1880, only 148 people lived here. The population grew to 1,981 in 1980, but by 2020, it was 1,269 people.
Who Lives in Robersonville?
In 2020, there were 1,269 people living in Robersonville. About 23.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.40 people.
Most people in Robersonville identify as White (59.89%) or Black/African American (29.50%). There are also smaller groups of people from other backgrounds, including Asian, Native American, and those of mixed race. About 4.96% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
History of Robersonville
Early Days and Founding
The first people known to live in the Robersonville area were the Tuscarora and Morotock Native Americans. Settlers from Europe arrived many years before the American Revolutionary War. One early church, Flat Swamp Primitive Baptist Church, started in 1776.
The Roberson family was among the first settlers. The town was named after Henry, William, and George Roberson. Henry D. Roberson is often called the "Father of Robersonville" because he helped bring the railroad to the area.
Robersonville became an official town on February 16, 1872. It was the first town in Martin County not built along the Roanoke River. This meant it relied on the railroad for trade and communication. After the railroad was finished in 1882, the town grew quickly. By 1884, it had many stores, doctors, and businesses. The first mayor was William W. Roberson.
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Jewish Community
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, some Jewish families moved to Robersonville from Russia. They came to farm and also opened stores. In 1902, they started a synagogue called Adath Shalom. The first synagogue building was built in 1907 but burned down in the late 1940s. Most Jewish families eventually moved to bigger cities.
Town Services and Buildings
Postal service started in Robersonville on July 10, 1874. The town got its first electric plant around 1914. Water and sewage systems were installed in 1924.
The Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church was built in 1883. Today, this old church building is home to the St. James Place Museum. The museum shows off southern folk art, including quilts and pottery. You can visit the museum by scheduling a free tour through the Robersonville Town Library.
Tobacco and Growth
Robersonville became very important for tobacco. On August 7, 1900, it held the county's first tobacco market. The town grew quickly, becoming a major trading center for farm products. At one point, its tobacco market was said to be the largest in the world with a single group of buyers. Many tobacco warehouses were built and operated in town.
Even though the tobacco market changed a lot after 2001, Robersonville still has a tobacco receiving station today. This means tobacco is still a very important crop in the area. Cotton is also a big crop.
Industries and Entertainment
Robersonville also became a leader in industry. In the early 1900s, many businesses focused on farming products like cotton and lumber. Over time, other industries came to town. These included a poultry processing company, a children's clothing factory, and a company that made display fixtures for stores.
Today, one of the town's biggest attractions is the East Carolina Motor Speedway. This racetrack opened in 1989 and is popular with racing fans. It's a D-shaped track, 3/8 mile long, with steep turns for exciting races. The grandstand can hold 3,000 fans.
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The Filling Station Restaurant Mural
The Filling Station Restaurant has a special piece of art. In the 1940s, an artist named Bill Bemis painted a mural on the walls of a store in Gold Point, North Carolina. This mural shows the store owner and his daughters in a fox hunt scene. The store was later moved to Robersonville and became part of the restaurant. Bill Bemis even touched up his painting, so it looks bright and colorful today.
Community Services
The town's volunteer fire department started in 1924. The rescue squad was formed in 1959 and was the first in Martin County. These services, along with the police department and public library, are all located in the municipal building.
Even though the main highway has replaced the railroad as the town's biggest link to the outside world, Robersonville continues to be a lively place. It offers services, jobs, and fun for both local people and visitors.
Nationally Registered Historic Places
Some buildings in Robersonville are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- First Christian Church (listed 2005)
- W.J. Little House (listed 1985)
- Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church (listed 2005)
Education
Martin County Schools runs the public schools in Robersonville. The BHM Regional Library operates the Robersonville Library. Martin Community College is the local community college.
History of Schools
The first classes in Robersonville were held in 1881 at the Stonewall Masonic Hall. This building, built in 1871, is one of the oldest still standing in town. Stephen W. Outterbridge was a very important teacher in Robersonville. He and his wife, Susan, helped open the Robersonville Graded School.
In 1902, Mr. C. H. McLaurin became the first principal of Robersonville Graded School. Students from nearby areas would come to Robersonville to live and go to school. The first female student graduated in 1908, and the first male student graduated soon after.
In 1924, a new brick school building opened for white students. It had modern features like electric lights and indoor toilets. This school, called Outterbridge Grammar School, was the first accredited grammar school in Martin County.
In 1929, a new Robersonville High School opened. It had many rooms, including an auditorium, a gym, and a library. In 1936, a brick school was built for Black students on Cochran Street, in an area called New Town. This was called Robersonville Colored Graded School.
A school lunchroom program started in 1931 to help feed children, especially those in need. Farmers would trade food like chickens and eggs for meals for their children.
The school band was very popular and performed at town festivals. In 1939, the twelfth grade was added to the high school. A community building, also called the teacherage, was built in 1942 for teachers to live in. A gymnasium was added in 1947, and an athletic field was developed in 1949.
When the Parmele colored high school burned down in 1953, East End High School was built for Black students. In 1970–71, East End School and Robersonville High School became integrated, meaning students of all races attended together.
When Robersonville Elementary School burned down in 1974, new classrooms were added to East End School. The old elementary school property became a baseball park, tennis court, and playground. Robersonville High School became a junior high school in 1975 and later closed in 2000. Roanoke Middle School opened in 2001.
The Black community has saved the old East End School building. It is now a historical landmark called the W.C. Chance Alumni Cultural Center. This center offers after-school programs, summer camps, and scholarships. It also hosts many community events.
Churches
- Robersonville First Baptist Church – Railroad & Outerbridge Streets
- First Christian Church (Robersonville, North Carolina) - N. Main Street
- Lloyd's Chapel Church Of God In Christ – Lee House Road
- Grace Family Fellowship – S. Main Street
- Providence Missionary Baptist Church – Purvis & Mae Streets
- Roberson Missionary Baptist Church – Third & Cochran Streets
- Robersonville United Methodist Church – W. Second Street
- Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church (now St. James Place Museum) – N. Outerbridge Street
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Robersonville First Baptist Church
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Robersonville United Methodist Church
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First Christian Church (Robersonville, North Carolina)
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Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church
Notable People
- William Drew Robeson I: A minister and the father of famous singer and actor Paul Robeson. He was enslaved on a Roberson plantation but escaped to freedom in 1860.
- Marcus Crandell: A professional football quarterback who played for East Carolina and in the Canadian Football League. He was named MVP of the Grey Cup in 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Robersonville para niños
