Moore County offers many wonderful neighborhoods and townships. Each offers its own special favor of Southern hospitality and sense of community. From privately gated golf communities to the equestrian country life, or somewhere in between, you can find it all in Moore County. Carthage Population: Approximately 2,114 Town Manager: Carol Cleetwood Phone: 910-947-2331 Address: 203 Barrett St. Incorporated: 1796 Carthage is the county seat of Moore County and was permanently established in 1803 on land donated by Richardson Fagin. The town identity changed back and forth from Faginsville to Carthage until the state legislature settled the matter in 1814. County government, courst and many businesses now call the pleasant town of Carthage home. The imposing building new standing on Courthouse Square was erected in 1922 and is the fifth courthouse built on this site. The building now houses county goverment offices and the commissioners' meeting room. Alexander Kelly and Thomas Tyson founded a carriage fcatory in Carthage that became a legend in indurstrial history and the dominant county industr for 70 years. It produced buggies that were sold throughout the United States until the firm closed in 1925. Many fine, old stately homes still exist in the town, which is poetically known as "Sweet Carthage." Robbins Population: 1,226 Mayor: Mickey R. Brown Town Administrator: James R. Britt, Jr. Phone: 910-948-2431 Address: 101 N. Middleton St. Gunsmith David Kennedy built a sawmill in 1795 on the spot where the Fayetteville-Salem Road crossed Bear Creek in northern Moore County. Kennedy also manufactured the rifles that were Moore County's main contributions to the War of 1812. Later, gold was found on the same 400 acres that Kennedy had sold for only $4.00. It was only a trickle, but it kept the town alive until theDurham-Charlotte railroad came through in about 1904. A textile mill was established in 1926. It had several owners until it was purchased by Karl Robbins and began to prosper. The mill provided jobs for many, and the town was remaned Robbins in honor of the Russian immigrant who brought it growth and security in the midst of the depression. Robbins prides itself as the hometownof U.S. Senator and vice-presidential candidate John Edwards and NASA Astronaut Dr. Charles Brady. Taylortown Population: Approximately 864 Mayor: Ulysses S. Barrett Phone: 910-295-4010 Address 8350 Main St. An unincorporated community until 1987, Taylortown was developed in the early 1900's by Demus Taylor, grandson of one of the first African slaves brought to the New Warld and a descendant of the Western African trible known as Ebu. He had purchased land from the Tufts family to build homes for the work force for Pinehurst's hotels and gold courses. The town, first called Old Settlement, was named in his honor. Robert Taylor, the son of Demus Taylor, operated a smmall cafe that served as a gathering spot for the settlement. He also helped found a school for the settlement's children. This school would become known as Academy Heights. A newer facility near the original school is also known as Academy Heights and is now a year-round school. Today Taylortown is a town with a strong sense of community. The town reflects the legacy of its founders as well as the courage and leadership of all who have come since. Pinebluff Population: Approximately 1,158 Mayor: Earlene McLamb Phone: 910-281-3124 Address: 325 E. Baltimore Ave The town of Pinebluff lies just south of Aberdeen and a few miles north of the Richmond County line. It is located on the site that earliest references referred to as "Patterson's Bridge." John T. Patrick, who was North Carolina commissioner of immigration, had founded Southern Pines as a resort for Northerners seeking peace, quiet, and a healthful environment. Hoping to repeat his success a few miles away, Patrich purchased 772 acres from Luther C. Speare in 1884 and began to develp Pinebluff. He named the community streets for prominent Northern cities, and he published advertisements in Northern newpapers stressing the community's mild, sunny winter climante, its fress, pine-scented air and the convenient transportation provided by the Raleigh Augusta Railroad. By 1915, Pinebluff had five hotels and tea rooms. The hotels no longer exist. Town residents today enjoy Pinebluff Lake and a quiet, residential lifestyle. Vass Population: Approximately 763 Mayor: Eddie Callahan Town Clerk: Jody Smith Phone: 910-245-4676 Address: 140 S. Alma St. The first European settlers of the area that later became known as Vass were primarily Scots, although there was also an early settlement of Germans. The Raleigh Augusta Railroad made Vass one of the area's heavist shipping ponts for lumber, cotton products and farm produce. Originally called Bynum, then Winder, the little settlement was finally designated Vass in 1892 in honor of Major William W. Vass, who was a railroad paymaster. The town was incorporated in 1907, and business thrived. Vass was once the home of three newspapers (The Pilot originated there), and it competed with neighboring Cameron for the title of "Dewberry Capital" in the 1920's. Today, Vass still retains its rural and agricultural character. Foxfire Village Population: Approximately 498 Mayor: Ed Phillips Phone: 910-295-5107 Address: 1 Town Hall Dr. Early settlers of the place now called Foxfire referred to it as "Piney Bottom." Native Americans ocne hunted on the sandy ridge that runs through it. During the American Revolution, Piney Bottom was the scene of a 1780 skirmish between Tories and Whigs. The early settlers made their living from the pine forest that grew along the ridge by selling turpentine and construction timbers. Agriculture sprouted in the 20th century, offering plentiful crops of cotton, tobacco, corn and rye. Vineyards and peach orchards were plentiful. The community is named for a mysterious luminescence that sometimes appears on decaying plants and wood. In 1967, Rowland McKenzie began to develp the area, formerly a 2,200 acre farm, into a resort and residential community centered on gold. Foxfire Village was incorporated in 1977. Cameron Population: Approximately 293 Mayor: George R. Womble Town Clerk: Carol Lucas Phone: 910-245-3212 Address: 247 Carter St. The town of Cameron, which was incorporated in 1876, quickly grew into a shipping point for area farmers because of the railroad. The rails linked the famous carriage factory in Carthage to the main railroad tracks in Cameron. In the 1920's Cameron became widely known as the "Dewberry Capital of the World." The dewberry is described as a milder version of the blackberry with a superior flovor. Dewberry desserts can still be purchased in restaurants there. Today, Cameron is a residential village with 19th century architecture and a dozen antique and collectible shops on three blocks on the town's main street. On the first Saturday in May and the first Saturday in October, the town's population swells to around 10,000 as people fill the tree-lined street to search for bargains at the Antique and Collectibles Fair. Southern Pines Population: Approximately 11,334 Mayor: Frank Quis Manager: Reagan Parsons Address: 125 SE Broad Street Phone: 910-692-7021 Incorporated in 1887, Southern Pines is the largest township in Moore County, it began in the early 1850's with a man named Charles Shaw. In later years, John Patrich purchased a large portion of the land and began naming all of the streets after the Northeastern States. As the railroad came through on its journey from the north to the South, Southern Pines proved to be favored resting place for travelers. By the late 1800's Southern Pines was a prosperous resort area. After World War I, the equestrian and literary influence was brought about by James Boyd, a novelist and publisher. Today, Southern Pines is the largest town in Moore County. Village of Pinehurst Population: Approximately 10,258 Mayor: Steve Smith Town Manager: Andrew Wilkison Phone: 910-295-1900 Address: 395 Magnolia Rd. Incorporated: 1980 Pinehurst began in the late 1890's by philanthropist James W. Tufts. His dream was to create a health resort for those traveling from the North. After purchasing 5,000 acres near Aberdeen, he contracted with Frederick L. Olmsted to design the a village. By the early 1900's, 226,000 trees and shrubs were planted and the estate grew to cover ten square miles consisting of two golf courses, four hotels, fifty cottages and a 35,000acre shooting range for the hunting/rifle enthusiaust. Trolleys transported guests to and from the Southern Pines train station along Midland Raod and Scotsman Donald Ross designed more courses, including the famed No. 2. Soon the resort was hosting several national amateur golf tournaments. Today, Pinehurst is legendary throughout the golf world. Whispering Pines Population: Approximately 2,147 Mayor: Giles Hopkins Town Cleak: Geneva Wilson Phone: 910-949-3141 Address: 10 Pine Ridge Dr. Incorporated: 1969 In 1769, Nicholas Smith received a king's land grant for a lake and fifty acres of land. The mill he built on the lake was used to grind corn for rations during the American Revolution. In 1865 William Thagard, for whom the lake is named, built a new mill. Early in the 20th century, a rock and concrete dam was built by I.G. Chandler. A power plant operated there until 1927. With the purchase of the lake and 475 adjoining acres in 1959, A.B. Hardee began the development of a golf course and residential community. It has grown to 3,000 acres, with six lakes and two semiprivate golf courses. Aberdeen Population: Approximately 4,100 Mayor: Betsy Mofield Town Manager: Bill Zell Phone number: 910-944-1115 Address: 115 N. Poplar St. Incorporated: 1893 Aberdeen, unlike newer neighboring resort towns, was a flourishing community as early as the 1760's. Located near the tnthersection of important regional roads, the town became the access point to two major railroads. Orginally it was named Bethersda, then Blues's Crossing and finally Aberdeen for the city in Scotland. Lumber, turpentine, industry and commerce were econmic nainstays. Today, the Aberdeen Historic District includes 88 acres and mroe than 100 buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Antiques and collectible shops as well as Union Station are located there. Skirting the historic area is a thriving commercial strip that stretches along U.S. 1 into Southern Pines. Seven Lakes Population: Approximately 3,500 Un-Incorporated Located on 4,000 acrea between West End and the Moore-Montgomery county line, the Seven Lakes community is one of the fastest growing golf and residential communities in Moore County. Consisting of three separate residential areas, Seven Lakes is made up of Seven Lakes North, Seven Lakes South, and Seven Lakes West. Fred Lawrence, a Sanford businessman, developed the original project on land where he once hunted quail. He named the area for its seven spring-fed lakes. Today there is also a manmade 1,000 acre lake, Lake Auman, within Seven Lakes West has been noted as hosting some of the cleanest, clearest water on the east coast. Woodlake Population: TBD In 1971, developers created a 1,130 acre lake that is today the centerpiece of a resort community that covers more than 3,000 acres. Woodlake, the largest manmade lake in the stae, is actually a shallow basin that occupies the space formerly held by Cypress and Cranes creeks. Woodlake Country Club features a grand historic clubhouse and resaurant and 36 holes of golf-many designed around the water. Woodlake is located just east of Vass.
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