Rich in history and steeped in tradition, Tarboro was incorporated in 1760 and is one of North Carolina's oldest towns. Through the centuries, progressive leadership has led to growth and prosperity, and today, Tarboro thrives as an All-America City with a strong, viable economic base. Our major industries include food processing, plastics, fertilizer, textiles, and communications.

Tarboro has preserved much of its history and has developed one of the most active historic preservation programs in North Carolina. Numerous public and private residential and commercial restorations can be found in one of the largest historic districts in this part of the country. A National Historic Trail guides tourists through the older neighborhoods of the town.

As the county seat of Edgecombe County, Tarboro is also the center of one of North Carolina's finest agricultural areas, producing tobacco, cotton, peanuts, and corn.