Map of Ellenboro town, North Carolina

Ellenboro is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 873 at the 2010 census.

Ellenboro town overview:
Name:	Ellenboro town
LSAD Code:	43
LSAD Description:	town (suffix)
State:	North Carolina
County:	Rutherford County
Elevation:	1,063 ft (324 m)
Total Area:	1.26 sq mi (3.28 km²)
Land Area:	1.26 sq mi (3.28 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	723
Population Density:	571.54/sq mi (220.64/km²)
ZIP code:	28040
Area code:	828
FIPS code:	3720780
GNISfeature ID:	1020131

Online Interactive Map

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Ellenboro online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Ellenboro location map. Where is Ellenboro town?

Ellenboro location on the U.S. Map. Where is Ellenboro town. — Ellenboro location on the U.S. Map.

Ellenboro location on the North Carolina map. Where is Ellenboro town. — Location of Ellenboro in North Carolina.

History

Ellenboro is a town in Rutherford County.

In 1880 the Seaboard Air Line Railroad built a line from Wilmington, NC to Rutherfordton. At the highest point on that line, the town of Ellenboro sprang up. In 1884 as the community of 179 people was trying to decide on a name for the town Seaboard engineer, John Robinson, proposed that it be named for his daughter, Ellen, who was dying of a fever. In return Robinson donated a large brass bell to the town. The bell hung for many years in the school, but disappeared some time after a new school building was built.

In those early days the most important social event of the year was held in early July and was known as “Big Days”. Big Days celebrations drew crowds from miles around (as pictured above in a turn of the century photo, showing a prize-winning wagon load of revelers). The festivities included a steam-powered merry-go-round, sack races, foot races, minstrel shows, side shows, produce sales, and lemonade dipped up from zinc tubs.

In 1928 a young agriculture teacher at Ellenboro School, Mr. A.B. Bushong, organized the first Colfax Free Fair held in early fall on the school grounds, providing an opportunity for farmers and homemakers to display their best efforts of the year: canned and baked goods, crops, and handicrafts. Students also proudly exhibited their work competing for ribbons. Beauty and baby contests were held. A major part of the fair (especially for the children) was the rides provided every year by Lee Rides. Over the years the fair, still held every September, has become a time for former students and Ellenboro residents who may have moved away to come home and visit with friends and to catch up on the year’s news.