Community Profile

Robbins is a community that has endured numerous structural vicissitudes. Since its inception in 1795, the town has experienced an evolution of identity. A seemingly superficial series of town name changes has had profound implications on the culture of the community. Additional influences on the change of identity resulted from the economic instability caused by the closing of the textile mill in 1990, and an influx of those of Hispanic descent. The 1990 United States Census data was used as the primary resource for the preceding information. In order to paint a more accurate picture of Robbins, more recent information will be added when available.

There has been a significant countywide population growth in the past few years. According to the 1990 Census, the total population of Robbins was 970 residents; however, Robbins' Mayor, Mickey Brown, gave a current estimate of 1100 (personal communication, December 2, 1999). Moore County population was estimated at 70,307 for 1997 (Government Information Sharing Project, 1999) compared to 1990 population of 59,013 (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990). In 1990, there were 450 male residents (46.4%) and 520 female residents (53.6%). In analyzing the census data by age, it is apparent that close to half (47.7%) were between the ages of 18 and 55 years, in 1990. The remaining population is divided among those under 18 (23.5%) years of age and those over 65 (28.8%) years.

The 1990 Census data for Robbins regarding race states that there were 861 (88.8%) white residents, 45 (4.6%) African-American residents, 0 American-Indian/Eskimo/Aleut residents, 0 Asian or Pacific Islander residents, and 64 (6.6%) residents who described themselves as "Other." The 1997 Moore County data estimate an African American population of 13,205 (18.8%) and a white population of 55,375 (78.8%) (Government Information Sharing Project, 1999). The 1990 Census noted there were 66 (6.8%) Robbins residents out of the total population who described themselves as Hispanic. Community members have stated that this number has grown significantly in the past 10 years (Officer Brady, personal communication, October 1999). The Moore County Hispanic population estimate for 1999 was 3,577, compared to an actual population of 470 in 1990. There were 84 Hispanic births in 1998 (N.C. Office of State Planning, 1999). From September 30, 1998 to October 1, 1999, Moore Regional Hospital reported 52 Hispanic births from Robbins; this comprises 62% of the Hispanic births in Moore County (S. Phillips, personal communication, November 30, 1999). An additional estimate came from the Robbins Elementary School Principal, who stated that 37% of the elementary school population is comprised of Hispanic children (Mr. Lynch, personal communication, October 1999). This figure, when compared to the 6.8% of the total Hispanic population of Robbins in 1990, implies a drastic increase over the last 10 years.

Robbins has a variety of different types of homes. United States Census data from 1990 states that mobile homes (17.2%) and one-family houses (84.3%) make up the majority of homes. Upon observation, however, it is apparent that the number of trailer parks has grown. Aside from mobile homes, most of the houses are small, one-family dwellings. There is one federally subsidized housing project, Randomwoods Apartments (D. Brown, personal communication, November 30,1999). The majority of Robbins residents own their home (66.6%), while the remainder of the residents rent their home. Approximately two persons per unit reside in both homes rented and owned (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990). A household, as defined by the census, is one in which a legal or blood relationship exists between members. In Robbins, 362 (91.4%) of the householders were white, 16 (4.1%) were African American and 17 (4.3%) were Hispanic (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990).

The median family income of Robbins, according to the 1990 census data, was $22,833 per year, which means that half of the population had incomes below and half had incomes above this number. In Moore County, the median was nearly $10,000 more per family ($32,747). There has been a small increase in the median family income for Moore County. According to the estimates released in 1999, the median income for the county was $34,412 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1999). Due to a lack of Robbins specific information, it is assumed, from the Moore County data, that there was not a significant increase in the median income for Robbins.

The 1990 per capita income for Robbins was $10,512, compared to $14,934 for Moore County. In 1996, the estimated per capita income for Moore County was $21,458 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1999). Recent racial breakdowns for per capita income were not available; therefore, 1990 census data will be referenced. By race, the per capita income for whites was $11,210 in Robbins and $16,630 in Moore County. African-American per capita income was significantly lower, at $6,065 in Robbins and $7,811 in Moore County. Unlike the white and African-American populations, the Hispanic per capita income varied greatly, with Robbins at $6,610, and Moore County at $11,561 per year. Of the 397 households in Robbins, 281 (77%) had either wage or salaried incomes. Nineteen (4.8%) households were supported by public assistance and 43 (10.8%) with retirement income. In Moore County, nearly 25% of the households were supported by retirement income (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990).

In 1990, there were 129 (13.4%) persons below the poverty level in Robbins of which 40 (4.1%) were children. In 1995, 13.1% of all people in Moore County lived at or below the poverty level (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990). Recent racial breakdowns for those below poverty level were not available; therefore, Robbins' census data from 1990 will be used. Ten percent of those below the poverty level were white (as compared to 6.0% in Moore County), and 2.9% were African-American (as compared to 4.6% in Moore County). There is no data for Hispanics. Of the 274 families in Robbins, 30 (10.9%) of them were below poverty level, and more than 50% of those families had children under 5 years of age in the household. There were 54 (13.6%) female headed households, 11 (20.4%) of which had incomes below poverty level and all of which had children under the age of eighteen. In Moore County, 9.8% of households were female headed. Twenty-nine percent of these households were below poverty level (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990).

The director of the Northern Moore Family Resource Center (NMFRC) said that the majority of Robbins residents began working outside of the immediate area after the closing of the textile mill in 1990 (M. Shamberger, personal communication, September 29, 1999). In Robbins, of those in the labor force, 27 (5.4%) were unemployed; 85% of those unemployed were white, while 15% were African-American. Of those unemployed, 9 (33.3%) were male and 18 (66.7%) were female (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990). A more recent unemployment rate for Moore County in 1999 was 3.2 % (North Carolina Employment Commission, 1999).

Presently (1999), Robbins residents are served by Robbins Elementary (420 enrolled), Elise Middle School (310 enrolled), and Northern Moore High School (500 enrolled) (L. Ritter, personal communication, December 6,1999). Westmoore and High Falls Schools, both of which are kindergarten through eighth grade, serve northern Moore County residents that live outside of the Robbins city limits.

Table 1 shows the racial breakdown of education levels for Robbins residents in 1990, compared to Moore County. The percentages of African Americans and whites who completed high school were very similar (19.2% and 20.0% respectively). There were 61 (9.6%) residents with bachelor's degrees or higher, and 359 (56.4%) residents with at least a high school education. In comparison, in 1990, 74.3 % of Moore County residents had at least a high school education, while 19.9% had a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1990).

Table 1. Educational Attainment in Community By Race/Ethnicity
(Percentage of Adults who completed)*

Source: 1990 US Census Data
Database: C90STF3A

Moore County is growing. According to a recent community diagnosis done by the Moore County Health Department, the county has a migration rate (percentage of incoming residents) of 2.4%, which is 100% greater than the state's net migration (1999). This becomes extremely relevant when considering the preceding data for several reasons. It is necessary to take into consideration the variation between the characteristics of Robbins and the other locales of Moore County. For example, the community of Southern Pines in southern Moore County is a popular resort area known for its recreational and leisure activities. The neighborhoods in this area foster an environment that attracts affluent people of retirement age. Even though the percentage of those not in the labor force in both Moore County and Robbins are very similar, the residents may not be in the labor force for different reasons. Secondly, there is a bipolar characteristic in Moore County. The northern part displays a vastly different lifestyle than that of the southern part. Additionally, as noted in the community description, the topography of Moore County also displays disparate characteristics. However, it is these differences which constitute the identity of Robbins. Although the town does not seem to be enjoying the same economic and demographic growth as Moore County on the whole, it has grown in size significantly. In doing so it has welcomed a new population into its community and at the same time maintained its small-town southern geniality.

Community Description

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