Scotland County
Scotland County,
North Carolina, established in 1899, is proud of the Scottish
heritage of its region, also known as the “Heartland” of NC.
Formed from a portion of southeastern
Richmond County, this region takes its name in honor of the
country,
Scotland. One note of interest is that the shape of
Scotland County mirrors the shape of the country of Scotland.
According to the
2000 Census data, Scotland County’s population was nearly 36,000; however,
estimates in 2005 indicate an increase to 37,180 residents. Four townships
and several towns encompass the nearly 320 square miles of Scotland County.
The towns include
East Laurinburg,
Gibson,
Laurel Hill,
Laurinburg and
Wagram. All of these towns, with the exception of, Laurinburg, have
significantly less than 1,000 residents each. Laurinburg, with a
population of nearly 16,000 residents, is the largest urban area in Scotland
County.
Located near the border of
South Carolina,
Laurinburg serves as the seat and center of commerce for the communities of
Scotland County. This three-time
All America City enjoys access to the fabulous beaches of North and
South Carolina, with spectacular views of local mountains and the scenic
Lumber River. This
Tree City USA community lies just southwest of
Fayetteville and in close proximity to
Charlotte.
Scotland County’s business community benefits from close proximity to the
Atlantic Coast and the prestigious
Research Triangle region. Scotland County spans twenty-five miles from
north to south and eighteen miles east to west. The region lies halfway
between
Charlotte, NC’s largest city and
Wilmington, the location of the state's largest port. The
Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, two railroads, four US highways and the busy
Interstate 95 afford convenient access to business markets in the Scotland
County region and beyond.
A strong industrial and manufacturing base drives the booming economy of
Scotland County. Manufacturing products include cruise controls, glass,
golf grips, textiles and soups. Embrex
and FCC North Carolina, Inc. are two of the major companies currently providing
jobs and services to the area.
Scotland County has an excellent
public school system that ranks among NC’s most well funded. All
fourteen schools, which include nearly 7,000 students, recently earned the title
of “Exemplary Schools” by the
State of North Carolina. The higher education facility representing
Scotland County is
St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Located in Laurinburg, this liberal
arts facility offers four-year degrees. Additional institutes for higher
learning are within a reasonable driving distance of Scotland County.
These include
Richmond Community College, a two-year facility and the
University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which is a four-year state
supported school.
Quaint downtown thoroughfares, local cuisine, and unique shops spread
throughout the communities in Scotland County. Visitors also enjoy the
historic John Blue House and the exciting
John Blue Cotton Festival. In addition, civic and social clubs, along
with several developed parks provide a wide variety of recreational
opportunities for people of all ages. One special park, affectionately
called “Scotland Yard”, formed as a direct result of time and money donated by
generous Scotland County residents.
Scotland County,
North Carolina reflects the traditional ways of its early Scottish
settlers. With a slow-paced way of life, and a balance of business and
residential accommodations. |
