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Zebulon is known as "The Town of Friendly People" and this holds true in the way we welcome new residents and businesses. We believe Zebulon is a wonderful place to live and work, and that it is important for our community to grow and flourish.
Imagine a small town with tree-lined streets, fine homes at reasonable prices, active civic clubs, recreation programs for all ages, a community hospital, a regional shopping center and its own double-A baseball team. Then consider the amenities of a bustling metropolitan area next door: fine museums, theaters, nationally recognized symphony orchestra, restaurants galore, more shopping, an ice hockey team, a major modern dance festival, collegiate sports, outstanding research and training hospitals.
Finally, factor in some regional benefits, like a mild climate, nearby beaches and mountains, lakes for fishing and boating, a state zoo, a golfing mecca and the opportunity for lots of other outdoor activities.
Add it all up and you'll have Zebulon, an old fashioned hometown in a modern world.
Zebulon History - The Formative Years
Situated on the high ground between the Little River and Moccasin Creek is a small North Carolina town known as Zebulon. Shortly after the turn of the century, during the last half of the Industrial Revolution when the automobile and aviation were in their infancy the most reliable form of transportation for business or for pleasure was the train. When there were 76 million Americans in 48 states with merely 8,000 automobiles, there were only 10 miles of paved roads and only a few airplanes still struggling to extend duration of flight. There was The Raleigh and Pamlico Railroad Company whose goal was to connect the state's capitol to points east by railroad. The chosen route lay between the Whitley and Horton family farms one and a half miles south of what has been a nineteenth century stagecoach shop known as Wakefield. Realizing the economic potential of the railway, Raleigh developer Edgar B. Barbee teamed up with Wakefield local Falconer B. Arendell to charter the Zebulon Company in 1906. Named by Zebulon Baird Vance, a popular Civil War governor of North Carolina, and 15 year U.S. Senator, Barbee and Arendell's original 49 acres along the tracks were purchased for $1,470 and divided into lots, streets and avenues. When officially chartered on Feb. 16, 1907, the town of Zebulon included 297.5 acres in a 3,600 foot square. In May of that year, an election was held and Thomas J. Horton, Thomas F. Powell and Joseph F. Fields were elected the first Town Commissioners.
By 1910, Zebulon had 483 residents and Little River Township was the most populous township outside of Raleigh. During the 1920's, the town had almost 1,000 people living within its boundaries and boasted five tobacco warehouses, three cotton buyers, one cotton knitting mill, two banks, 14 stores and quite a few professionals and social institutions. It was a significant trade center with a downtown business district that was indicative of early twentieth century economic prosperity.
- Zebulon Chamber of Commerce
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