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Lumberton, located in Robeson County, is situated on the Lumber River in the lower southern area of North Carolina near the border of South Carolina. The area of the city is about 15.8 square miles and has a relatively humid subtropical climate.[2] The average high during the summer season generally stays in the 90s and the average low in the winter tends to be in the lower 30s.[4] The name of the city derives from its designation as a shipping point for lumber to be used by the US Navy and its location on the Lumber River.[6] Much of the recreation in Lumberton consists of fishing, kayaking, canoeing, golfing, and hiking, most of which can be found in Lumber River State Park or other parks within the area. Many visitors typically fish along the pier or riverbank in Lumber River State Park to catch catfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, and other types of fish.[7] Lumberton fielded a professional minor league baseball team in the Tobacco State League from 1947-1950. They were known as the Lumberton Cubs, as they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.[2]
Lumberton is a city located in Robeson County, North Carolina, with a population of 19,972 people as of 2020. It ranks 48th among the largest cities of North Carolina. Since the most recent census, the population has decreased by -7.29% with an annual declining rate of -1.27%. The population density of Lumberton is 1,127 people per square mile over the span of 18 miles. The majority of demographics is made up of Caucasians with 41.11%, while 35.35% of Lumberton’s population is made up of Black or African American residents, and 12.93% is Native American.[1] Located on the Lumber River in the lower southern area of North Carolina, Lumberton is the county seat of Robeson County, which is the largest county in the state by land area.[2]
One of Lumberton’s most prominent attractions for children and younger visitors is the Exploration Station, featuring exhibits and educational programs that give a hands-on learning experience to kids. Visitors are able to reserve the Exploration Station for birthday parties or other similar celebratory events. The Exploration Station is run by a nonprofit organization known as the North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc., working with a local partnership called Smart Start, which provides early education funds for children of the ages 0-5 to enter school healthy.[5]
Lumberton contains several fishing areas such as Luther Britt Memorial Park, Lowery’s Fishing Farm, and Lumber River State Park.[6] Some of the possible fish species to catch along the pier or riverbank of Lumber River State Park are black crappie, largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish. In addition to fishing, Lumberton River State Park allows kayaking and canoeing.[7] Other activities within the city include frisbee golf, bowling, golf, camping, hiking, and roller skating, to name a few.[6]
One of Lumberton’s most notable shopping areas is Biggs Park Mall, featuring stores such as Bath & Body Works, Shoe Show, Rue 21, Rainbow, McNeil’s Jewelers, Belks, various nail and hair salons, and several restaurants. Additionally, nearby on Chestnut Street is Historic Downtown, which includes a plaza area with a metal art feature, a mural, benches, an outdoor stage for concerts, and an alley with art windows from local artists.[6]
The city’s total area is approximately 15.8 square miles, according to the United States Census Bureau. About 15.7 square miles of Lumberton is land, while the remaining 0.1 square mile is water. Some of the nearby or bordering cities around Lumberton include Hope Mills, Laurinburg, Fayetteville, Bennettsville, Elizabethtown, Rockingham, Charlotte, Florence, Dunn, Sanford, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, and Pinehurst.[2]
The area experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters.[2] On average, Lumberton, North Carolina receives 47 inches of rain annually, additionally with 1 inch of snow per year. Summer temperatures typically have an average high of around 91 degrees Fahrenheit in July, while the average low during the winter months, more specifically during January, is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.[4] The busiest month for tourism in Lumberton is in July, followed by April and January. December is typically the slowest month for tourism and it is more likely of an occurrence to find less expensive places to stay during this month. September through November are generally slower with tourism as well, with an average high of around 89.4 degrees Fahrenheit. During the fall Lumberton receives rain or snow about four to five days per month.[7]
Lumberton is located in the coastal plains region of North Carolina on the Lumber River. The Lumber River State Park is 115 miles of natural waterway and was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, additionally being part of the North Carolina Natural and Scenic River System. Some of the recreational activities include canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, nature study, camping, biking, swimming, jogging, and hunting for fossils/artifacts. Robeson County has had about 429 archaeological sites recorded.[9] Lumberton is the largest city in Robeson County and is situated on Interstate 95 in southeastern North Carolina. It is the midpoint between New York and Florida to travelers who stop along the I-95 corridor, as it is located 20 minutes north of the South Carolina border.[6]
In 1787, Robeson County was formed from Bladen County, named in honor of Colonel Thomas Robeson and Colonel Thomas Robeson Jr. who served as one of the leaders in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Elizabethton, also known as the battle of Tory Hole. The Tories of the southeastern part of North Carolina were crushed by the Patriots during this battle. From 1775 to 1779 Colonel Thomas Robeson Jr. was the first commandant over the Bladen County Regiment of Militia.[3] In 1787, an Act of the North Carolina General Assembly created the city of Lumberton and it was named the county seat of Robeson County. The land for the county seat was donated by General Willis who is credited for naming the county seat as Lumberton.[2] Lumberton was not incorporated until 1859, and the city was so named because of its location on the Lumber River and its designation as a shipping point for lumber to be used by the US Navy.[6]
The North Carolina Legislature designated Lumberton as the first “certified retirement community” in North Carolina in the year 2010. This declaration has often been found to appeal to retirees because this certification indicates that Lumberton offers amenities, services, and opportunities for a relatively desirable quality of living for retirees. In 2011, the program received the Governor’s Innovative Small Business Community Award.[2]
From 1947-1950 Lumberton fielded a professional minor league baseball team in the Tobacco State League. They were known as the Lumberton Cubs from 1947-1948, as they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, then changing their name to the Lumberton Auctioneers from 1949-1950.[2]
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