Editing Tabor City, North Carolina (section)

== History ==

=== Pre-European ===
According to Swanton (1952), before the arrival of the Europeans, the area was home to the [[Cape Fear Indians]], the [[Waccamaw]] Indians, and the [[Saponas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/columbus_county_nc.html |title=Columbus County, North Carolina |publisher=Carolana.com |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>

=== 1670s–1830s ===
During the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], men from the area joined with the rebels in the Battle of Brown Marsh. The [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] won, marking the high point of their efforts to defeat the revolution in the southern theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ncpedia.org/browns-marsh-battle |title=Brown's Marsh, Battle of |publisher=NCpedia |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> Men from the area may have also aided the American forces in the [[Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge]], which had a much more favorable outcome for the Americans.  The [[Siege of Charleston]] saw troops from the coastal Carolinas unsuccessfully defend the city from the British.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Charleston |title=Siege of Charleston - American Revolution (1780) |date= |website=britannica.com |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>

Early settlers in the area farmed, raised cattle & pigs, and manufactured [[naval stores]].<ref name="naval stores">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/mocr/learn/historyculture/upload/Naval-Stores.pdf |title=Moores Creek National Battlefield - Naval Stores |website=nps.gov |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> From the [[longleaf pine]] trees come products used in shipbuilding. These products or "stores" are [[turpentine]], [[rosin]], [[tar]] and pitch. Pitch was needed to coat the hulls of ships to protect them in tropical waters.<ref name="naval stores" />

[[Camp meetings]] filled an ecclesiastical and spiritual need in the unchurched settlements.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/camp-meeting |title=camp meeting |website=britannica.com |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>  The Honey Camp meeting site (which became the Green Sea Baptist Church) was one of the first large camp meetings in the region at nearby [[Green Sea, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=26753 |title=Green Sea Baptist Church Historical Marker |website=hmdb.org |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>  Population increased and settlement moved inland, which led to the founding of a congregation in the area just north of the state border. Around 1837, the congregation of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church erected their first building, constructed of logs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=862 |title=Mt. Tabor Historical Marker |website=hmdb.org |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><ref name="columbusco.org">{{cite web|url=http://columbusco.org/Portals/0/Library/1924-1981T-V.pdf|date=August 29, 2007|title=Tabor City|access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref>

=== 1830s–1930s ===
The original community took its name from the first prominent church in the area, the Mount Tabor Baptist Church(now the Tabor City Baptist Church), which itself is named after the biblical [[Mount Tabor]], and was founded in 1838.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcbaptist.net/about/|title=Tabor City Baptist Church|date=April 25, 2016}}</ref> A village coalesced around the area of the church which was organized as a town shortly after 1840.  The town officially incorporated in 1904.<ref name="columbusco.org" /> The church was originally located near the intersection of what is now Stake Road and East 5th Street.

Business activity started in Tabor City by the mid-1850s, with the development of a saw mill, [[turpentine]] still, grocery store and dry goods store. The [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] located a station in the town in 1886. The turpentine industry was huge in the area throughout the 19th Century.  Many wagonloads of turpentine, rosin and pitch were carried to the rail station in Grist, NC,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/us/north-carolina/grist-nc-283435394|title=Grist, NC - Grist, North Carolina Map & Directions - MapQuest|website=www.mapquest.com}}</ref> for shipment to [[Wilmington, North Carolina]] and other environs. The town was officially incorporated in 1905.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090901/ARTICLES/909019983?tc=ar |title=Tabor City becomes center of media attention |publisher=StarNewsOnline.com |date=September 1, 2009 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> In 1906, William Fowler donated land for the Tabor City Baptist Church, at the site which has been in continuous use since the completion of the construction and is still currently in use, as of April 2023. The new church and sanctuary was completed in 1908.

Mt. Tabor residents were greatly affected by the [[American Civil War]].  Many volunteered when the war began and many more were conscripted to fill the ranks as the war decimated the combatants.  Men from the area were mainly in two different groups.  At war's beginning, eager young men joined Capt. John B. Stanly's Co.(Columbus Guards # 4), 10th Regt NC Infantry (Volunteers), which became Co D, [[20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment]], NC State Troops, which participated in most of the major battles in the [[Virginia]] theater.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/north-carolina/20th-north-carolina-infantry-regiment/|title=History of the 20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Civil War}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/historical-publications/roster|title=Civil War Roster &#124; NC DNCR|website=www.ncdcr.gov}}</ref>  At [[Gettysburg, Pennsylvania]], more than sixty-five percent of the regiment were casualties, either from wounds or death.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm|title=Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref>  Older men were later conscripted into Co. G, 51st NC Infantry Regiment,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://civilwarintheeast.com/confederate-regiments/north-carolina/51st-north-carolina-infantry-regiment/|title=History of the 51st North Carolina Infantry Regiment in the Civil War}}</ref> which performed garrison duty at forts in the [[Charleston, South Carolina]] area and [[Fort Fisher]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Civil_War/51st_nc_regiment.html|title=North Carolina in the American Civil War - 51st NC Regiment (Infantry)|website=www.carolana.com}}</ref>  It also saw limited action in several of the campaigns in eastern Virginia.<ref name="auto"/>  Townsmen participated in most of the large battles of the Eastern Theater of the war, fighting in the Carolinas and [[Virginia]].<ref>https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2322/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>  
In 1865, [[William T. Sherman]]'s army passed through the area, with outriders foraging for foodstuffs and supplies. The blue columns crossed the [[Pee Dee River]], the [[Lumber River]], and the [[Cape Fear River]], with the cavalry scouting ahead.  Mt. Tabor was not spared by Sherman's foragers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourstate.com/shermans-march/|title=Sherman's March to the Sea|date=February 6, 2015|website=Our State}}</ref>  Dozens of men never returned home. Widow's weeds were a common sight in this area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1911763|title=FamilySearch.org|website=www.familysearch.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/widow%27s_weeds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024132657/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/widow%27s_weeds|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2021|title=WIDOW'S WEEDS English Definition and Meaning &#124; Lexico.com|website=Lexico Dictionaries &#124; English}}</ref>  Census records in 1870 and 1880 show many households run by widows in South Williams Township.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/populationschedu1131unit|title=Population schedules of the ninth census of the United States, 1870, North Carolina [microform]|date=January 26, 1965|publisher=Washington : National Archives and Records Service, General Records Administration|via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/10thcensus0959unit|title = 10th census, 1880, North Carolina &#91;microform&#93;}}</ref>

Strawberries became an important crop in the 1880s when the development of the railroad enabled them to be shipped to markets in the big cities.  The Anderson Shingle Company made shipping containers for strawberries.  In 1910, Bishop Anderson sold out to W.B. Roberts and David James (Dave) Hughes, three years later Dave Hughes bought out Mr. Robert's interest and it became D.J. Hughes & Company "Manufacturers of Anderson Make Strawberry, Cantaloupe, Peach and Grape Crates, Boxes Made to Order, and Lumber," with a yearly output of 150,000 crates.

Cotton fell out of favor when boll weevils negatively impacted crop production. Tobacco became the golden crop and the Border Belt produced prime flue-cured leaf for tobacco companies around the world.  The first [[tobacco]] warehouse was built in 1909, which became a major industry for both the town and the surrounding area. By 1925, the town had several tobacco auction warehouses, two tobacco re-drying warehouses, and a tobacco prizery(a packing plant where tobacco was packed into hogsheads for shipment to tobacco companies in Virginia), all within a block of the railroad tracks.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://digitalsanbornmaps-proquest-com.proxy044.nclive.org/browse_maps/28/5255/25376/26459/337133|title = NC LIVE: Proxy server login}}</ref>  The dominance of tobacco in the community continued until the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nrcolumbus.com/when-tobacco-was-king/|title=When Tobacco was King|date=February 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/north-carolina/tobacco-historic-photos-nc/|title=These 15 Rare Photos Show North Carolina's Tobacco History Like Never Before|author=OnlyInYourState Staff|date=January 24, 2017|website=OnlyInYourState}}</ref>  By 2022, only a few largescale farmers still grow tobacco in the area.

The [[First World War]] took men from the town and deposited them in the trenches of France where they helped the Allied Forces achieve victory against the [[Central Powers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2568864|title=FamilySearch.org|website=www.familysearch.org}}</ref>

Originally named 'Mt. Tabor', many would shorten the name to 'Tabor' when writing correspondence.  With mail delivery by the [[USPS]], Tabor would be confused with [[Tarboro, North Carolina]] due to the similarities in spelling. By 1935, US Postal authorities demanded a name change and since [[Tarboro]] was much larger, Mt Tabor was told to pick another name.  The town denizens picked [[Tabor City]] as they expected phenomenal growth for the future of this tiny village.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://townoftaborcity.org/history/ |title=History |publisher=townoftaborcity.org |access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref>

In May 1925, there were no paved streets, no fire department, nor a municipal water supply.  Businesses included: a crate factory, several tobacco industries, a power plant, churches, train station, US Post Office, a hotel, a telephone exchange, many businesses, a prizery(tobacco packing house), agricultural, commercial, and industrial warehouses, a grist mill, a concert hall, and schools.  Tobacco was the main industry.<ref name="auto4"/>

During the later 1920s, a [[boarding house]] opened, often the choice of traveling businessmen, tobacco buyers, and hunters. The owner of the business, would cook for her guests, leaving the pots on the stove for the boarders to serve themselves. A night's stay, including supper and breakfast was $2.00 per day. The business was operated by the family for three generations. The original buildings burned in 1971 and were rebuilt, operating with monthly rental units and a restaurant until 2018.  It is now an event venue under new owners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wect.com/2018/10/25/tabor-city-restaurants-closing-leaves-residents-heartbroken/|title=Tabor City restaurant's closing leaves residents heartbroken|first=Caroline|last=Burkard|website=wect.com|date=October 26, 2018 }}</ref>

By February 1934, the face of downtown was formed.  A modern-day person would recognize many familiar buildings that appear on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. maps of the town for that year.  There was a municipal-owned water source from a deep well. A 75,000 gal elevated water tank on a 75&nbsp;ft steel tower rose above the town. There was one mile of 6" & 8" water lines, giving 45&nbsp;lbs of domestic & fire water pressure.  Businesses noted on those maps included: factories, commercial, and agricultural warehouses, churches, many commercial enterprises, schools, movie theatre, US Post Office, a town hall, a waterworks plant & water tower.  Tobacco was the main industry.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://digitalsanbornmaps-proquest-com.proxy044.nclive.org/browse_maps/28/5255/25377/26460/337134|title = NC LIVE: Proxy server login}}</ref>

=== 1940s–1970s ===
The [[Second World War]] saw many young men of the town face combat in both the European and Pacific Theaters of war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?do=q&state=NC&county=Columbus&war=World+War+II&p=1|title=U.S. War Casualties North Carolina, Columbus County, World War II : page 1 of 10|website=www.honorstates.org}}</ref>  The war economy brought prosperity to the town and saw an expansion of new businesses began by war veterans taking advantage of GI Bill loan provisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/business/2009/07/03/gi-bill-created-generation-business/21575189007/|title=GI Bill created generation of business leaders|first=Mary|last=Paulsell|website=Columbia Daily Tribune}}</ref>  During the 1940s and 1950s, the area had at least two movie theaters. There were also several drive-in movie businesses. Gas stations appeared at the town's major intersections.  The first supermarkets also opened replacing the smaller general stores that had previously served the public. Several car dealerships came to the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classmates.com/?s=80622|title=Reconnect with friends from high school, find reunions, view yearbook photos and more.|website=Classmates.com}}</ref> The first Yam Festival was organized and held in 1948.<ref name="history"/>

The ''[[Tabor City Tribune]]'' is a [[weekly newspaper]] established by [[W. Horace Carter]] (a [[Stanly County, North Carolina|Stanly County]] native) in 1946. In 1950, after witnessing a [[Ku Klux Klan]] motorcade going through town, Carter began writing a series of editorials and reports critical of Klan activity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://south.unc.edu/programming/editorandthedragon-sources/ |title=Editor and the Dragon – Sources – The Center for the Study of the American South |publisher=The Center for the Study of the American South |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> The Klan began a recruiting campaign in 1950, and were later convicted of [[flogging]] people and other offenses, based largely on Carter's work.<ref name="unc">{{cite web |url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/biblio.html?base_file=B-0035&duration=01:19:22 |title=Walter Horace Carter (Oral History Interview) |publisher=docsouth.unc.edu |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> Along with the ''[[Whiteville News Reporter]]'', the ''Tribune'' was awarded the 1953 [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service]] for its [[editorial]]s against the Ku Klux Klan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carter-klan.org/Editorials.html |title=The Carter-Klan Documentary Project &#124; Carter's Editorials |publisher=Carter-klan.org |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> The Pulitzer Prize citation stated that the newspapers were awarded the prize "for their successful campaign against the Ku Klux Klan, waged on their own doorstep at the risk of economic loss and personal danger, culminating in the conviction of over one hundred Klansmen and an end to [[terrorism]] in their communities."<ref name="unc2">{{cite web |url=http://www.jomc.unc.edu/sites/default/files/images/carter-horace-tom%20terry.pdf |date=September 21, 2009 |title=The Pulitzer and the Klan – Horace Carter, the Pulitzer Prize, and How a Weekly Editor stood up to the Klan – and Won |author=Thomas C. Terry |access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref> The newspapers were the first weeklies to win a [[Pulitzer Prize]]. The name of the ''Tabor City Tribune'' was changed to the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'' in 1996.  The small W. Horace Carter Newspaper Museum in Tabor City at the ''Tabor-Loris Tribune'' offices has exhibits on Carter's life and work.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=863 |title=The Tabor City Tribune Marker |publisher=Hmdb.org |date=February 14, 2007 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tabor-loris.com/42446/2180/1/this-weeks-issuefpv |title=Tabor – Loris Tribune, This Week's Issue – FPV |publisher=Tabor-loris.com |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> A documentary of the struggles between Carter and the Klan, titled ''The Editor and the Dragon: Horace Carter Fights the Klan'', was shown on the North Carolina Public Broadcasting System in 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the struggle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://south.unc.edu/programming/editorandthedragon/ |title=Editor and the Dragon – The Center for the Study of the American South &#124; The Center for the Study of the American South |publisher=South.unc.edu |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticpkg.com/2021/09/remembering-w-horace-carter/|title=Remembering W. Horace Carter|date=September 16, 2021|website=Atlantic Packaging}}</ref> In addition, part of Carter's story was entered into the ''[[Congressional Record]]'' in 2007.<ref name="google">{{cite book |title=Congressional Record, V. 153, PT. 12, June 18, 2007 to June 26, 2007 |author1=U S Congress |author2=Congress (U.S.) |date=2010 |publisher=BERNAN Press |isbn=978-0-16-087143-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Ju1FH5oagAC |pages=1–131 |access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref> Carter's death in 2009 was noted in ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/us/21carter.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |title=W. Horace Carter, 88, a Publisher Whose Paper Challenged the Klan, Dies |date=September 20, 2009 |author=Bruce Weber |access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref>  Even with the Tribune's crusade against racism and the Klan, now in 2022, there is a business covered with Confederate flags which sells Klan and other racist merchandise on the main road coming into town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yellowpages.com/tabor-city-nc/mip/rebel-shop-27692557|title=Rebel Shop in Tabor City , NC|website=YP.com}}</ref>  Thus, the battle against racism is at a stalemate in light of Carter's crusade in the 1950s.

The Tabor City Methodist Church began services in 1953.<ref name="columbusco.org" />

Due to crimes in the area in the late 1950s and 1960s, especially fights at local bars, Tabor City earned the nickname "Razor City". Even though many of the crimes occurred just across the border in South Carolina, the Razor/Tabor near-[[rhyme]] stuck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090901/ARTICLES/909019983 |title=Tabor City becomes center of media attention |publisher=StarNewsOnline.com |date=September 1, 2009 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>

An economic downturn and severe recession, plus skyrocketing fuel costs, in the early/mid-1970s resulted in business closures and poverty becoming the norm for many families.<ref>Stevenson, Tom (February 11, 2012). "Lessons to be learnt from rampant inflation of the 70s"</ref><ref>Mohammed, Mikidadu (2017). Essays on the Causes and Dynamic Effects of Oil Price Shocks. University of Utah. Retrieved January 27, 2020.</ref>

=== 1980s–2010 ===

By the eighties, tobacco use began declining.  Along with global recession, the town and its people took another severe hit.<ref>"Unemployment continued to rise in 1982 as the recession deepened" (PDF). Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor. Retrieved October 15, 2018.</ref>  More businesses closed and parts of downtown looked deserted as empty buildings fell into disrepair.  Tens of millions in US government grants poured into the city beginning in the mid-1980s until present day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/whiteville/docs/954_spring__summer_2020-website/s/10610846|title=Al Leonard - $80 Million Man|website=issuu}}</ref><ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://govsalaries.com/leonard-al-104406113|title=Leonard Al &#124; GovSalaries}}</ref>  The decline in Tabor City was similar to neighboring towns of [[Fair Bluff, North Carolina]], [[Broadman, North Carolina]], [[Brunswick, North Carolina]], [[Cerro Gordo, North Carolina]], and [[Chadbourn, North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/climate/climate-towns-bankruptcy.html|title=Climate Change Is Bankrupting America's Small Towns|first1=Christopher|last1=Flavelle|first2=Mike|last2=Belleme|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 2, 2021}}</ref>  A town manager was hired to handle administrative duties of the town,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wect.com/story/17402115/columbus-county-man-on-5-town-payrolls|title=Columbus Co. man works on 5 town payrolls|first=Ann|last=McAdams|website=wect.com|date=April 13, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwaytv3.com/fair-bluff-town-manager-doesnt-like-to-see-himself-tv-wont-address-employee-who-wrecked-c/|title=Fair Bluff Town Manager doesn't like to see himself on TV; Won't address employee who wrecked car|date=February 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Al_Leonard,_Jr.|title=Al Leonard, Jr.|website=Ballotpedia}}</ref><ref>https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-leonard-jr-9b567612 {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.circleofblue.org/2019/world/the-rural-dilemma-qa-with-al-leonard-fair-bluff-town-manager/|title=The Rural Dilemma: Q&A With Al Leonard, Fair Bluff Town Manager|first=Brett|last=Walton|date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>

The year 1984, saw a group of townspeople come together to promote economic development in the town.  An investment fund was accumulated through donations. Several projects were completed over the following decades. Most projects have seen the group acquire properties which end up receiving multimillion-dollar government grants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taborcitycommittee100.com/about|title=Tabor City Committee of 100 &#124; About|website=Tcc100}}</ref>

The dismissal of Police Chief Willie Gore in 1993 sparked a period of weekly protest marches since many felt the chief's dismissal was racist in nature.  The marches were peaceful, though overreaction by the all white police force led to the mostly African American crowd being met with pepper spray on multiple occasions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perlmutt |first=David |date=October 22, 1993 |title=Racial Unrest in Tabor City |pages=1 |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84648745/racial-unrest-in-tabor-city/ |access-date=September 3, 2021}} (and the [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84649167/tabor-city-unrest-jump/ jump])</ref>

In late 1997, a massive facelift was performed on two blocks of S. Main Street in the downtown area. [[Southern Living]] magazine made contact with town leaders about an article they were doing about Christmas celebrations in small southern towns. For many decades, the town traditionally held an annual daytime Christmas parade. Storefronts were painted, new retro lampposts installed, and other aesthetic improvements costing tens of thousands of dollars were made in order to have a nighttime Christmas parade. A photo of the parade and short write-up were included in an article in the December 1997 issue of [[Southern Living]] magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://backissues.com/issue/Southern-Living-December-1997|title=backissues.com - Southern Living December 1997 - Product Details|website=backissues.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/SOUTHERN-LIVING-MAGAZINE-DECEMBER-1997/dp/B004FN7ROK|title=SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE DECEMBER 1997|first1=Jean|last1=Allsopp|first2=Jo|last2=Kellum|first3=Elle|last3=Barrett|first4=Jan|last4=Faucett|first5=Eleanor|last5=Griffin|first6=Tina|last6=Cornett|first7=Charlie|last7=Thigpen|first8=Jackie|last8=Mills|first9=Valerie|last9=Fraser|first10=Julia H.|last10=Thomason|first11=Van|last11=Chaplin|editor-first=John Alex Floyd|editor-last=Jr|date=January 1, 1997|publisher=Southern Living|via=Amazon}}</ref>

Today, the town focuses on agriculture, light manufacturing, retail and tourism. In addition, a large state prison provides many jobs for the area. Being so close to the coastal areas of [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|Myrtle Beach]] and the [[Brunswick County, North Carolina|Brunswick County]] beaches has led to a growth in the area housing industry.<ref name="history" />

The Centennial Clock celebrating the town's 100th anniversary was installed on Main Street.  It was donated by a local business leader. 
The Freedom Flag Trilogy, which is located at the entrance to town on Hwy 701N, was first flown July 4, 2007.<ref name="places to see">{{cite web|url=http://townoftaborcity.org/visitor/places-to-see/ |title=Places to See |publisher=townoftaborcity.org |date=April 5, 2014 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>

=== 2011–present ===
[[File:Tabor City.jpg|thumb|Tabor City in 2018]]
A local citizen donated the lot containing the ruined front brick wall of the former Ritz theater to the town.  Millions in government grants resulted in a complete rebuild effort that was completed in 2014. The former theater is now the Ritz Center, a community center for the arts.  The mayor of the town has a comedy act that is a frequent performer.  The building sits empty for much of the year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Niven |first=Deuce |url=http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/article_d28fa8cc-0112-5518-898e-1cb41fe93365.html |title=Tabor City leaders unite behind theater restoration effort |publisher=fayobserver.com |date=February 15, 2014 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref><ref name="house">{{cite web|url=http://mcintyre.house.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/786-mcintyre-announces-75000-for-town-of-tabor-city|title=McIntyre Announces $75,000 for Town of Tabor City |publisher=mcintyre.house.gov |access-date=December 6, 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, the [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]] band, Campfires and Constellations, memorialized the town in their song about drug smuggling, "Fast Burn to Tabor City".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://campfiresandconstellations.bandcamp.com/album/carolina-homegrown|title=Carolina Homegrown, by Campfires and Constellations|website=Campfires and Constellations}}</ref>

On October 25, 2018, it was announced the Todd House would close after 100 years of operation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wect.com/2018/10/25/tabor-city-restaurants-closing-leaves-residents-heartbroken/|title=Tabor City restaurant's closing leaves residents heartbroken|first=Caroline|last=Burkard|website=www.wect.com|date=October 26, 2018 }}</ref>

Town welcome signs were amended in 2019 to recognize country music legend [[Stonewall Jackson (musician)|Stonewall Jackson]], a Tabor City native.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tabor-loris.com/2017/06/28/tc-welcome-signs-to-honor-country-musics-stonewall-jackson/|title=TC 'Welcome' signs to honor country music's Stonewall Jackson|website=Tabor-Loris Tribune}}</ref>

In 2019, town leaders continued to develop a plan for a light rail link from the town to [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]] tourists via Conway. A matter to be addressed is how to get beach tourists to Conway in order to use the rail service. The Town Depot project, renamed the Community Center, is being built adjacent to the railroad tracks behind the town library. Community Center construction began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.taborcitycommittee100.com/projects|title=Tabor City Committee of 100 &#124; Projects|website=Tcc100}}</ref>  [[Myrtle Beach]] city leaders are busy converting their railroad corridor to a 2.5 mile public trail for pedestrians and bikes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/why-city-leaders-think-abandoned-railroad-lines-could-spur-growth-in-downtown-myrtle-beach/article_fa459968-f392-11ea-90cb-3b7218555750.html|title=Why city leaders think abandoned railroad lines could spur growth in downtown Myrtle Beach|first=Viraj Naik|last=viraj.naik@myhorrynews.com|website=MyHorryNews.com|date=September 10, 2020 }}</ref>