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 is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina. It's the southernmost town in the county, located close to the border with South Carolina. It's about 39 miles north of Myrtle Beach. In 2020, the town had a population of 3,781 people.

History of Tabor City

Early Native American Life

Before Europeans arrived, the area was home to several Native American tribes. These included the Cape Fear Indians, the Waccamaw Indians, and the Saponas. The Waccamaws were known as a peaceful tribe. When European settlers started to arrive, many Waccamaws moved west. Some joined the Catawba people, and others joined the Seminoles in Florida.

Revolutionary War Era (1760s – 1830s)

During the American Revolutionary War, local men joined the fight for independence. They participated in battles like the Battle of Brown Marsh. Around 1830, the first building for what is now the Tabor City Baptist Church was built using logs.

Growth and Development (1840s – 1930s)

The town was named after Mount Tabor Baptist Church. This church was named after the biblical Mount Tabor. The town was first organized around 1840. It was officially made a town in 1905.

Business started to grow in Tabor City by the mid-1850s. A saw mill, a turpentine factory, and stores opened. In 1886, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad built a station here. This helped the town grow even more.

In 1909, the first tobacco warehouse was built. Tobacco became a very important industry for the town. A factory that made wooden crates was built in 1910. The town's name was officially changed to "Tabor City" in the mid-1930s.

During the 1920s, a place called the Todd House Restaurant opened. It was a boarding house where travelers and business people could stay. It became famous for its buffet-style meals.

Mid-20th Century (1940s – 1970s)

In the 1940s and 1950s, Tabor City had at least two movie theaters. The first Yam Festival was held in 1948. This festival celebrates the sweet potato, which is a big crop in the area.

The Tabor City Tribune is a weekly newspaper that started in 1946. In 1950, the newspaper's editor, W. Horace Carter, wrote articles against the Ku Klux Klan. His brave reporting helped lead to the arrest and conviction of many Klan members. Because of this important work, the Tabor City Tribune and another local paper won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. They were the first weekly newspapers to ever win this award. The Tabor City Tribune later changed its name to the Tabor-Loris Tribune in 1996.

There is a small museum in Tabor City that tells the story of W. Horace Carter's life and work.

Modern Tabor City (1980s to Present)

Today, Tabor City focuses on farming, light manufacturing, and tourism. A large state prison also provides many jobs. Being close to popular beaches like Myrtle Beach has helped the housing industry grow.

In 2014, the old Ritz theater was renovated. It is now the Ritz Center, a community center for the arts.

Climate and Weather

Tabor City has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters.

Winters are generally mild. Temperatures in January are usually around 50s °F (11–14 °C). Snowfall is rare.

Spring starts in late February and lasts until early May. Many plants release pollen during this time, which can cover cars and rooftops in yellow dust.

Summers are very humid. Temperatures are usually in the upper 80s to lower 90s °F (31–34 °C). The area can sometimes be affected by tropical cyclones (hurricanes) during the summer.

Autumn is also humid at first. Most trees in the area are evergreens, so they stay green all year.

Culture and Activities

The North Carolina Visitors Center in Tabor City helps tourists and locals find things to do.

The North Carolina Yam Festival is a big event held every year in October. It celebrates the sweet potato with crafts, train rides, classic cars, and an art show. There's also a "Miss Yam Festival" pageant and a parade.

A spring festival called the Spring Fling started in 2013. It's a week-long event with many activities that celebrate the town.

Lake Tabor is a small lake where boating events are sometimes held. The lake dried up in 1998 after a hurricane damaged its dam, but it was rebuilt.

Tabor City has several restaurants and shops. There are also parks and athletic fields. Popular activities include hunting, fishing, and playing golf at the many courses nearby. A local campground even has a small waterpark. The town also hosts an annual Fourth of July festival with fireworks and food.

An old train depot in town now serves as a small museum. It's usually open during the Yam Festival. You can even explore a retired caboose there!

Population Information

2020 Census Details

In 2020, there were 3,781 people living in Tabor City. There were 968 households and 617 families.

2010 Census Details

In 2010, the population was 2,511 people. The town had 1,095 households. About 59.2% of the population was White. About 36.2% was African American.

Economy and Jobs

Tabor City's economy today focuses on farming, light manufacturing, and retail. Tourism also plays a role. A large state prison in the area provides many jobs.

The town has two grocery stores, three drug stores, and several restaurants. There are also three banks and a credit union. The Tabor City Chamber of Commerce works to help local businesses. The town has also improved its water, sewer, and roads to attract new businesses.

The Tabor City Industrial Park is a place for businesses to set up. It has a packaging warehouse and a business development center. The company that owns the Tabor-Loris Tribune newspaper is also a major employer.

R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates the train lines that serve the town.

Geography and Location

Tabor City is about 30 miles from the ocean at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is located on the border with South Carolina.

The town has a total area of about 3.2 square miles (8.2 km2). All of this area is land. Lake Tabor, a 149-acre lake, is on the east side of town.

Major Roads

• US Route 701 runs north-south through the town.
• North Carolina Highway 904 runs east-west through the town.
• North Carolina Highway 410 also goes through Tabor City.

Nearby Cities

Tabor City is close to several other towns and cities:

• Cerro Gordo, North Carolina (4.3 miles)
• Chadbourn, North Carolina (14 miles)
• Loris, South Carolina (7 miles)
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (28 miles)
• Wilmington, North Carolina (58 miles)

Public Safety

Police Department

Tabor City has its own police department. The police chief is Donald Dowless. The police department uses a Facebook page to connect with the community. If someone needs to be held, they are taken to the Columbus County Detention Center. The Columbus County Sheriff's office also serves the area.

Fire Department

The Tabor City Fire Department serves the city. Chief Jeff Fowler leads the department. They often work with volunteer fire departments in the county and in South Carolina. The fire department has been around since at least the 1930s.

Correctional Institution

One of North Carolina's largest prisons, the Tabor City Correctional Institution, is located near the town. It opened in 2008 and provides many jobs for the area.

Media and News

Besides the Tabor-Loris Tribune newspaper, Tabor City has a local radio station, AM-1370 WTAB. You can also listen to it online.

Other radio and TV stations from nearby cities like Wilmington, Fayetteville, and Myrtle Beach are also available. Daily newspapers like the Myrtle Beach Sun News and the Star-News are sold in the area.

Schools in Tabor City

A one-room school house from around 1870 has been restored in Tabor City. It shows what schools were like a long time ago.

Tabor City is home to South Columbus High School. The old Tabor City High School building is now Tabor City Elementary School. Tabor City Middle School, for grades 6 through 8, is in the building that used to be Douglass School. These schools are part of the Columbus County School System.

Tabor City Post Office

The Tabor City Post Office has been open since the 1880s. It has moved locations a few times over the years. A new building was opened in 1942. The current post office building has been in use since 1964.

Notable People from Tabor City

Many interesting people have connections to Tabor City:

• W. Horace Carter: A newspaper editor who won a Pulitzer Prize.
• Joseph Chambers: A well-known author and minister.
• Amanda Dowe: A professional basketball player.
• Golden Frinks: An important civil rights activist.
• Stonewall Jackson: A country music star from the 1950s.
• Brenden Jones: A politician who serves in the NC House of Representatives.
• R. C. Soles, Jr.: A politician and lawyer who served a very long time in the North Carolina legislature.
• Wilmer Watts: An old-time singer and banjo player.
• Taffy Wright: A Major League Baseball player from 1938 to 1949.

See also

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