TOWN OF ROWLAND: SMALL TOWN AND HOME OF A THOUSAND FRIENDS

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The Town of Rowland will provide an environment that is safe and promotes a higher quality of life for those who live, work, and visit our community. We will indicatively manage our resources while preserving our heritage and planning for the future. The Town of Rowland will be a local government grounded in the principles of ethics and dignity with a firm commitment to improving the quality of life for future generations by making responsible decisions today.”

Rowland is about twenty miles southwest of Lumberton, the Robeson county seat; fifteen miles southwest of Pembroke, the home of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and fifty miles south of Fayetteville.  Rowland lies at the intersection of Highway 301 and Highway 501/130 and lies adjacent to Interstate 95. Like Robeson County as a whole, Rowland has a long history in agriculture, as well as an established small industrial and commercial base. Over the past several years, the region has struggled due to various issues primarily related to the economy’s struggling agriculture base. These economic and otherwise challenges faced by the town of Rowland are evident in the evolution of the town’s character from a small, rural community to that of a community facing an uncertain future with an evolving economic base.

The community of Rowland originally developed from a network of farming communities within the rich agricultural lands of Robeson County. The town was established as a result of new railroads being built as supply routes between Wilson, NC and Florence SC, known as the “Wilson Shortcut.” The first train stopped in October 1888, on the same day as the first land auction for the growing community. Rowland was incorporated on March 11, 1889 and was named in honor of Col. Alfred Rowland, a Confederate soldier, attorney, and member of Congress. The railway depot was built in 1890. The structure was remodeled in 1925 and now houses the Rowland Historic Depot  and Museum, which displays local historical material and railroading memorabilia. The depot anchors the town center and represents the focal point for town festivals and celebrations, including our Spring Festival, Veterans Day activities and the Christmas parade. The history of Rowland was described in detail in the 1989 Centennial book, “Town of a Thousand Friends” by George Reed Pate. We are committed to building our community through community engagement and resources, civil service jobs, new development opportunities and a thriving community of A Home Thousand Friends.