Robeson County, North Carolina

Robeson County Education, Geography, and History

Robeson County is the largest county in the state of North Carolina. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 134,168. Its county seat is Lumberton. The county was formed in 1787 from part of Bladen County. It was named in honor of Col. Thomas Robeson of Tar Heel, North Carolina, a hero of the Revolutionary War.

Robeson County comprises the Lumberton, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Fayetteville-Lumberton-Laurinburg, NC Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Robeson County Name

It was named in honor of Colonel Thomas Robeson, a soldier of the Revolution. He was one of the leaders at the battle of Elizabethtown which was fought in September 1781.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Robeson County History

Robeson was formed in 1787 from Bladen. It was named in honor of Colonel Thomas Robeson, a soldier of the Revolution. He was one of the leaders at the battle of Elizabethtown which was fought in September 1781. It is in the southeastern section of the State and is bounded by the state of South Carolina and Scotland, Hoke, Cumberland, Bladen and Columbus counties. The present land area is 948.84 square miles and the 2000 population was 123,245. The courthouse was erected on land which formerly belonged to John Willis. A lottery was used to dispose of the lots and to establish the town. In 1788, Lumberton was established and is the county seat.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 951 square miles (2,460 km²), of which 949 square miles (2,460 km²) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) (0.2%) is water.It is the largest county in North Carolina by land area, but not by total area, that title going to Dare County.

Robeson County is bordered by the state of South Carolina, and the North Carolina counties of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland.

The topography is mostly level to undulating coastal plain, largely made up of sandhills and coastal dunes with elevations above mean sea level that vary from 60 feet in the extreme southeastern portion of the county to 250 feet in the north, to the west of Parkton, North Carolina. Moreover, numerous swamps that generally flow in a northwest to southeast course, characterize the area and eventually drain into the Lumber River. The highest density of swamps is in that part of the county that is most populated by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, a state recognized tribe.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Cumberland County - northeast
• Bladen County - east
• Columbus County - southeast
• Horry County, South Carolina - south
• Dillon County, South Carolina - southwest
• Marlboro County, South Carolina - west
• Scotland County - northwest
• Hoke County - northwest

Education

Compare More Colleges and Universities

Find more schools to match to your needs.

Start Now