Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a town of 10,770 people in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, founded in 1760.
Why visit Tarboro
Townapedia lists 20 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 12 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Parkhill Cinema 3, Batts House and Outbuildings, Coats House and The Links at Cotton Valley.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in Tarboro
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Tarboro
Tarboro is a town in and the county seat of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 10,721. The town is on the opposite bank of the Tar River from Princeville.
From the Wikipedia article Tarboro, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks20
Batts House and Outbuildings
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Coats House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Coolmore Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Cotton Press
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Wooden cotton press in Tarboro, North Carolina
Edgecombe Agricultural Works
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Factory in Tarboro, North Carolina
Howell Homeplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Tarboro, North Carolina, listed on the NRHP in Edgecombe County
Lone Pine
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
House in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Oakland Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Princeville School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic school building in North Carolina, United States
Quigless Clinic
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Hospital in North Carolina, United States
Railroad Depot Complex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Railway station in Tarboro, the United States of America
8 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes12
Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.2 mi
Mo-We 11:00-22:30; Th-Sa 11:00-23:30; Su 12:00-22:30
YumYum Shop
Restaurant · 2.3 mi
116 Commercial Road, Princeville
Bojangles'
Fast food · Chicken · 1.4 mi
101 Market Centre Drive, Tarboro
Su-Th 05:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 05:30-23:00
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 0.4 mi
1500 Western Boulevard
Mo-Th 05:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-24:00; Su 05:00-23:00
Papa John's
Fast food · Pizza · 1.5 mi
102 River Oaks Drive, Tarboro
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr 10:30-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:30
History
Created in 1760, Tarboro is the ninth-oldest incorporated town in North Carolina. Situated on the Tar River at the fall line in the Piedmont, the town served the area as an important colonial river port. It was a thriving trade center until the Civil War.
Scholars believe that the area around Tarboro was settled by 1733, but Edward Moseley's map of that year indicates only Tuscarora Native Americans, an Iroquoian-language speaking group. By 1750, the area was widely known as "Tawboro", a name attributed to Taw, the Tuscaroran word for "river of health".
"Tarrburg", as the town was called on maps of 1770–75, was chartered November 30, 1760, as "Tarborough" by the General Assembly. In September of the same year, Joseph and Ester Howell deeded 150 acres (610,000 m2) of their property to the Reverend James Moir, Lawrence Toole (a merchant), Captains Aquilla Sugg and Elisha Battle, and Benjamin Hart, Esquire, for five shillings and one peppercorn. As commissioners, these men laid out a town with lots not exceeding 0.5 acres (2,000 m2) and streets not wider than 80 feet (24 m), with 12 lots and a 50-acre (200,000 m2) "common" set aside for public use. Lots were to be sold for two pounds, with the proceeds to be turned over to the Howells; however, full payment was not received for all of the 109 lots sold, and some were not sold for the 40 shillings price.
From the History section of Tarboro, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Surestay Plus Hotel by Best Western Tarboro
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
102 Market Center Drive, Tarboro
Quality Inn & Suites Tarboro - Kingsboro
Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi
1504 Western Boulevard, Tarboro
Churches and places of worship11
Calvary Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Eastern Star Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Calvary Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 1.4 mi
411 East Church Street, Tarboro
Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.1 mi
1004 Saint David Street, Tarboro
Saint Luke's Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 1.5 mi
301 Panola Street, Tarboro
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries23
Healthcare2
Map of Tarboro
89 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 30°F | 3.3 in | 1.9 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 32°F | 3.0 in | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 38°F | 3.7 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 66°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 70°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 69°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 63°F | 6.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 50°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 40°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 34°F | 3.4 in | 1.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tarboro 1 S Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Edgecombe County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2021-03-03: Tropical Storm Eta (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Als Airport (NR40) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Rocky Mount 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
- Greenville 24 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
- Roanoke Rapids 38 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Goldsboro 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Kinston 44 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Rolesville 51 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Smithfield 52 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Clayton 53 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Knightdale 53 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Wake Forest 54 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Tarboro, North Carolina 06, Indy beetle, CC0
- Calvary Episcopal Church Tarboro NC, Cornellrockey04, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calvary Episcopal Church graveyard 3, Cornellrockey04, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calvary Episcopal Church graveyard 1, Cornellrockey04, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Breezeway of Calvary Episcopal Church, Cornellrockey04, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calvary Episcopal Church graveyard 2, Cornellrockey04, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USDA Rural Development New NC Homeowners in 2026 (20260707-USDA-RD-NC-REK-0004), USDAgov, Public domain
- USDA Rural Development New NC Homeowners in 2026 (20260707-USDA-RD-NC-REK-0005), USDAgov, Public domain
- USDA Rural Development New NC Homeowners in 2026 (20260707-USDA-RD-NC-REK-0003), USDAgov, Public domain
- US 64 at NC 33 on the Princeville side of the Tar River, NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0
- ISS062-E-139312 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-139313 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429074 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-139311 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-140133 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138750 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-140131 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138751 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-15443 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138752 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411552 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-140134 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-138753 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429072 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429073 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS043-E-140132 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411553 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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