Laurinburg
Around Laurinburg
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Town and around · North Carolina · 33k people
Laurinburg
Where the Scottish highlands meet southern hospitality.
St. Andrews University goldSt. Andrews University navy
Welcome to Laurinburg, where the pace is easy and the people are friendly. Whether you're here for the college, the outdoors, or just passing through, you'll find a warm Southern welcome. Come on in and stay a while.
Clubs for Laurinburg
No clubs for Laurinburg yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Laurinburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Laurinburg. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- St. Andrews University Private university with a scenic campus and historic buildings.
- Scotland County Courthouse Historic courthouse in the center of Laurinburg.
- Laurinburg City Lake Popular spot for fishing and picnics.
- Laurinburg Nature Park Trails and green space for walking and birdwatching.
- Outdoors Fish at Laurinburg City Lake
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Laurinburg Nature Park
- With kids Visit the Laurinburg City Park playground
- With kids Go to the Scotland County Library
- Evenings Catch a live band at a local bar
- Evenings Go to a high school football game on Friday night
- Locals love Southern diners
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- Scotland County Fair September Annual fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Laurinburg Christmas Parade December Holiday parade through downtown.
- St. Andrews University Performing Arts Series Throughout the year Concerts and theater productions open to the public.
- Laurinburg Farmers Market Summer Weekly market with local produce and crafts.
Laurinburg has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Spring and fall are the best times to be outdoors. Summer brings frequent thunderstorms, while winter is cool with occasional frost. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be outdoors.
Getaways
- Pinehurst Golf mecca with world-class courses.
- Fayetteville Larger city with dining, shopping, and entertainment.
- Lumberton Home to the Lumber River State Park.
- Rockingham Known for the Rockingham Speedway.
Local flavour
Teams
- St. Andrews University Knights NCAA Division II
Eat and drink
- Eastern North Carolina barbecue Vinegar-based pulled pork, a regional staple.
- Sweet tea Served everywhere, a southern essential.
- Chicken and pastry A comforting dish with local roots in Scotland County.
- Hushpuppies Common side dish at barbecue joints.
Where people go
- College campuses St. Andrews University brings a lively, small-college atmosphere.
- Southern diners Family-run eateries serving home-style cooking.
- Farmland and rural roads Rolling fields and quiet country lanes.
Heritage and traditions
Laurinburg and Scotland County take great pride in their Scottish heritage, celebrating it with Highland Games and a deep sense of community. Locals also treasure the rural, small-town way of life, where family and tradition matter.
This time of year in Laurinburg
- Scotland County Highland Games Fall October brings pipe bands and athletics to the area.
- High school football season Fall Friday nights in fall are a community ritual.
- Scotland County Highland Games October Annual gathering with pipe bands, Highland dancing, athletics, and Scottish food.
Say it like a local: “Over yonder” — A long way off
Festivals
- Scotland County Highland Games October Annual gathering with pipe bands, Highland dancing, athletics, and Scottish food.
Landmarks with a story
- Scottish Heritage Center Located on the St. Andrews University campus, preserving Scottish history and culture.
- Laurinburg Presbyterian Church A historic congregation with roots in the Scottish Presbyterian tradition.
Food traditions
- Scottish shortbread at Highland Games Baked and sold during the games, a nod to the county's Scottish roots.
- Eastern North Carolina barbecue Whole-hog, vinegar-based, often served with coleslaw and hushpuppies.
- Chicken and pastry A comforting stew with homemade dumplings, a country staple.
- Sweet tea The default beverage, served over ice and heavily sweetened.
Music and arts
- Scottish pipe bands Bagpipe music is a staple at local events, especially the Highland Games.
- Bluegrass and gospel Common in churches and local jam sessions.
A little history
- 1877 Laurinburg founded as a railroad town
- 1899 Scotland County formed from Richmond County
- 1700s Scottish Highlanders settled the area in the 18th century
Rivalries
- Scotland High vs. Lumberton High Football rivalry between neighboring counties.
- St. Andrews University vs. local community colleges Friendly competition in basketball and other sports.
- Game day Scotland High School Fighting Scots football
- Game day Highland Games athletics
- Outdoors Fishing in local lakes and ponds
- Outdoors Hunting deer and turkey
- With kids Scottish Highland Games
- With kids Fishing at local ponds and lakes
A Southern accent with a drawl, influenced by the region's Scottish heritage in place names and some colloquialisms. Locals often drop the 'g' in -ing words and use 'y'all' naturally.
Only here
- The county is named Scotland, and the high school mascot is the Fighting Scots.
- The Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews University is a unique repository of Scottish-American history.
- The Scotland County Highland Games are one of the few in the Southeast.
- Local place names like Wagram and Laurel Hill reflect the Scottish and early American heritage.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the Scottish heritage — attend the Highland Games in October and visit the Scottish Heritage Center to understand local pride.
- Get used to the heat and humidity in summer; stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Learn to love sweet tea and Eastern NC barbecue — they're local staples.
- Drive distances: the area is rural, so a car is essential, and many roads are two-lane.
- Be aware of hunting season in fall and winter; wear blaze orange if hiking on private land.
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Part of Fayetteville area
Nearby
Every areaCherawSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows and southern charm grows.RockinghamNorth CarolinaWhere the sandhills meet the speedway.LumbertonNorth CarolinaRiver town roots and Lumbee pridePinehurstNorth CarolinaWhere the pines whisper and the fairways call.FayettevilleNorth CarolinaHome of the Airborne and the heart of the Sandhills.DillonSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows through tobacco towns and open skiesFlorenceSouth CarolinaWhere the Pee Dee flows and the South feels like homeSanfordNorth CarolinaWhere the bricks are made and the barbecue is slow.
Laurinburg, NC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.