Editing Robbinsville, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Robbinsville, North Carolina
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Aerial photo of downtown Robbinsville, North Carolina, in Graham County.jpg
| image_caption      = Downtown Robbinsville
| motto              = "Your Natural Destination."
| nickname           = 
| etymology          = <!-- location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Graham County, North Carolina|Graham]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = <!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map          = NCMap-doton-Robbinsville.PNG
| map_caption        = Location in North Carolina
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_relief     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|19|18|N|83|48|34|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- established -->
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- area -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| dunam_link         = 
| area_total_km2     = 1.73
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.67
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.66
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- elevation -->| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 2018
<!-- population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 597
| population_density_km2 = 347.11
| population_density_sq_mi = 899.10
| population_demonym = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1          = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1        = -5
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = -4
| timezone2          = 
| utc_offset2        = 
| timezone2_DST      = 
| utc_offset2_DST    = <!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type   = ZIP code
| postal_code        = 28771
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = [[Area code 828|828]]
| geocode            = 
| iso_code           = <!-- website, footnotes -->
| website            = {{URL|https://www.townofrobbinsville.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 37-57020
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2407228<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407228}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_land_km2      = 1.72
| area_water_km2     = 0.01
| image_seal         = Robbinsville, NC Town Seal.png
}}
'''Robbinsville''' is a town in [[Graham County, North Carolina]], United States. The population was 597 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="greatdata.com|accessdate=6">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau data provided by GreatData.com|url=http://greatdata.com|access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Graham County, county population 8,030.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
A trading post was established near present-day Robbinsville in the early 1840s and the town’s post office opened in 1843. The post office originally served Cheoah Valley, then Fort Montgomery in 1849. Robbinsville was incorporated on June 9, 1874. The town is believed to be named for N.C. state senator [[James L. Robinson]]. The town water system was installed in 1925.

The [[Graham County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Graham County Courthouse]] was constructed in Robbinsville in 1874 but its floor collapsed two decades later while the building was packed during a murder trial. A replacement built in 1895 was the last wooden courthouse built in North Carolina. The third and current building was completed in 1942.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grahamcounty.net/GCHistory/02-grahamcounty/grahamcounty.htm |title=Graham County |work=GrahamCounty.net }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grahamcounty.net/GCHistory/04-townofrobbinsville/townofrobbinsville.htm |title=THE TOWN OF ROBBINSVILLE |work=GrahamCounty.net }}</ref>
[[File:North Main Street in downtown Robbinsville, North Carolina 01.jpg|thumb|North Main Street in Robbinsville]]
Graham County's first public library opened in Robbinsville in 1939.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Graham County |url=https://www.grahamcounty.net/GCHistory/clubs/groups.htm |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.grahamcounty.net}}</ref> The library joined the [[Nantahala Regional Library]] system in 1940.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the Nantahala Regional Library |url=http://proofing.youseemore.com/redesigns/nantahala/contentpages.asp?loc=54 |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Nantahala Regional Library |place=Murphy, NC}}</ref> The building was demolished in 1952 and replaced with a newer facility which opened April 6, 1953.<ref name=":1" />

Bemis Lumber Company and American Uniform previously had facilities in Robbinsville. James Lees Carpet Company operated in Robbinsville between 1957 and August 1971, employing about 400 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graham County |url=https://www.grahamcounty.net/GCHistory/11-logging/logging.htm |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.grahamcounty.net}}</ref> The facility later became a [[Stanley Furniture]] plant and the town's largest industry and employer. That plant closed in mid-2014, laying off 400 workers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=David |date=2024-04-10 |title=This Week in Local History |url=https://www.cherokeescout.com/local/week-local-history-108 |access-date=2024-04-12 |work=[[Cherokee Scout]] |publisher=[[Community Newspapers Inc.]] |location=Murphy, NC |page=8A}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neal |first=Dale |title=When the last factory leaves a mountain town |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2014/08/30/robbinsville-graham-stanley-furniture-layoffs/14806967/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=The Asheville Citizen Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Mayoral history===
# N.M.E. Slaughter (1893–)
# R.B. Slaughter (c.1930–1943)
# J.D. Stratton (c.1963)
# Stephen Hooper (c.2019)
# Shaun Adams (2021–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/search/pages/results/?lccn=sn95072291&lccn=sn83004710&lccn=sn91068698&dateFilterType=yearRange&date1=&date2=&proxtext=andrews+mayor&proxdistance=5 |title=North Carolina Newspapers |work=Newspapers.DigitalNC.org |publisher=Digital NC }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

=== Climate ===
Robbinsville is categorized as being within the 7a [[USDA hardiness zone]], meaning temperatures can get as low as 0 to 5&nbsp;°F.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/# |title= USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> The climate is [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] (''Cfa''). Summers are mild by southern standards, and winters are cool to cold.  The largest snowfall in Robbinsville was the [[1993 Storm of the Century]] where 15 to 20 inches fell. Rainfall is abundant year round with only a slight drop off in the autumn.

<div style="width:70%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Robinsville AG 5 NE, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = Y
| Jan high F = 45.2
| Feb high F = 50.1
| Mar high F = 57.8
| Apr high F = 68.2
| May high F = 74.6
| Jun high F = 78.7
| Jul high F = 83.0
| Aug high F = 82.0
| Sep high F = 77.6
| Oct high F = 68.4
| Nov high F = 58.3
| Dec high F = 48.4
|year high F = 62.0
| Jan low F = 25.5
| Feb low F = 28.1
| Mar low F = 34.5
| Apr low F = 42.7
| May low F = 51.2
| Jun low F = 59.2
| Jul low F = 62.4
| Aug low F = 61.5
| Sep low F = 55.8
| Oct low F = 44.6
| Nov low F = 34.4
| Dec low F = 28.8
|year low F = 44.1
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 6.16
| Feb precipitation inch = 5.48
| Mar precipitation inch = 5.85
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.38
| May precipitation inch = 5.06
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.03
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.66
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.68
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.63
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.68
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.53
| Dec precipitation inch = 6.47

|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=ftp:https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/ |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Station Name: NC Robinsville AG 5 NE |access-date=2024-07-28}}</ref>
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 47
|1910= 122
|1920= 119
|1930= 345
|1940= 399
|1950= 515
|1960= 587
|1970= 777
|1980= 814
|1990= 709
|2000= 747
|2010= 620
|2020= 597
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Robbinsville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3757020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-19|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 470
| 78.73%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 13
| 2.18%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 30
| 5.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 5
| 0.84%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 21
| 3.52%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 58
| 9.72%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 597 people, 317 households, and 156 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
As of the 2010 Census, there were 411 people, 283 households and 157 families. The population density was 135 people per square mile.<ref name="greatdata.com|accessdate=6"/>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 747 people, 346 households, and 207 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,663.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 393 housing units at an average density of {{convert|875.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.38% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.42% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.54% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.67% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 346 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the town was $14,688, and the median income for a family was $21,705. Males had a median income of $16,912 versus $14,886 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,275.  About 26.5% of families and 34.5% of the population were below the [[Poverty line in the United States|poverty line]], including 46.6% of those under the age of 18 and 37.8% of those 65 and older.

==Media==
[[File:The_Graham_Star_newspaper_in_Robbinsville,_North_Carolina,_and_Graham_County.jpg|thumb|''The Graham Star'' newspaper office at 720 Tallulah Road]]
The ''[[Graham Star]]'' newspaper has been published weekly in Robbinsville since 1955. It faced competition from the ''Graham Sentinel'' until the ''Sentinel'' closed in 2012.

==Cultural references==
*The silent film, ''[[Stark Love]]'' (2001), was filmed in and around Robbinsville and surrounding Graham County. Many of those who played in the movie were local residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/2_01/2_28_01/mountain_voices_ellison.shtml|title='Stark Love' may be best early movie about Appalachia|last=Ellison|first=George|date=February 28, 2001|publisher=The Smoky Mountain News|access-date=2008-12-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218183334/http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/2_01/2_28_01/mountain_voices_ellison.shtml|archive-date=December 18, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*Author [[Peter Jenkins (travel author)|Peter Jenkins]] wrote about events in 1974 in Robbinsville in his  book ''[[A Walk Across America]]''. He left town after being threatened with [[lynching]] by local law enforcement because he was thought to be a [[hippie]].<ref>Jenkins, pp. 119-124.</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Junaluska]], [[Cherokee]] Indian leader<ref>https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/897/. ''Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina''. Retrieved 29 November 2018.</ref>
*[[Wade Crane]], professional [[Pocket billiards|pool]] player, 8-Ball and 9-Ball champion
*Ethan Goodpaster, of [[Independent music|indie]] [[alternative rock]] band [[Rainbow Kitten Surprise]]
*Jess Haney, of indie alternative rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise
*[[Ronnie Milsap]], country music singer and pianist
*[[Rodney Orr]], [[NASCAR]] driver
*[[Tina Wesson]], winner of [[Survivor: The Australian Outback]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[Peter Jenkins (travel author)|Jenkins, Peter]] (1979). ''A Walk Across America''. Fawcett Crest. {{ISBN|0-449-24277-3}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/graham_county_north_carolina/index.html Robbinsville North Carolina Profile with photos]
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Robbinsville-North-Carolina.html Robbinsville North Carolina]

{{Graham County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Graham County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:County seats in North Carolina]]