Town guide · Coastal Plain
Tarboro
Edgecombe County's seat on a bend of the Tar River, with a 45-block historic district, a historic town common and the Blount-Bridgers House.
35.9° N · -77.56° W · Edgecombe County
DRay Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Tarboro
Tarboro is the county seat of Edgecombe County, across the Tar River from Princeville near the western edge of the coastal plain. It was chartered in 1760 and ranks ninth among the state’s oldest incorporated towns; it served as a key colonial river port and trade center until the Civil War. It was named county seat in 1764. The 45-block Tarboro Historic District was recognized in 1977 and has more than 300 contributing structures. Its gateway is the 15-acre Town Common, said to be the only original common left on the East Coast outside Boston. The Blount-Bridgers House, a Federal-style mansion built in 1808 that is now Tarboro’s art and civic hub, holds works by Tarboro-born artist Hobson Pittman. Downtown hosts the Tarboro Common Arts Festival, Blueberry Day and a farmers’ market. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Tarboro
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Tarboro eventsNothing posted for the next few weeks yet.
Make it a weekend
More towns in Coastal Plain
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Tarboro
- County
- Edgecombe County
- Standing
- #37 of 60 graded towns
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | A |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | F |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | F |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | F |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | A |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | D |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | F |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | Inc. |
Overall
D
HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
For community leadersWhere Tarboro has the most room to grow, and the next steps that would raise its grade. Show the breakdownHide the breakdown
Where Tarboro has the most room to grow
- Arts places (grade F)
- Arts education (grade F)
- Activity (grade F)
Next steps
- Ask venues, museums and galleries to claim their listings and add seating capacity.
- Ask the school district to publish its arts-education plan and arts leader, and list arts schools and camps.
- Ask venues and arts groups to post their dates or an events feed, so activity is measured, not missed.
- Add founding years to long-running venues, festivals and arts groups.
- Request the full Tarboro advisory report from the Ray Arts Foundation.
Free for venues, groups and artists
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