Town History
Photographic History
If a picture is worth a thousand words...
A Brief History of Elm City​
Nestled in the heart of North Carolina lies our quaint little Town of Elm City. This charming community is part of Wilson County, an area rich with history and southern hospitality. With its small-town charm and close-knit atmosphere, Elm City offers residents a unique blend of rural tranquility while still maintaining access to urban amenities. Elm City's roots run deep, stretching back for more than 150 years. Originally incorporated on December 18, 1873, the community began as a modest settlement called Toisnot, named after the nearby swamp and reflecting its natural landscape and early rural character.
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Born from the Railroad
In the early 1870s, Judge George Howard of Tarboro acquired land along the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad — one of the longest rail lines of its time — and laid out a town site. With assurances that the railroad depot would be moved to this new location, lots were surveyed and sold in spring 1873, sparking rapid growth. A depot, post office, and the first hotel soon followed as businesses and homes quickly took shape around the tracks.
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A Name and Identity All Its Own
Through the late 19th century, the town thrived as a railroad hub. Residents planted elm and oak trees that shaded its streets and contributed to the town’s charm. After several informal name changes in the 1890s, the town was officially christened “Elm City” in 1913, honoring those graceful trees that defined its identity.
Architecture and Growth
Elm City’s growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s left a lasting architectural legacy. The Elm City Municipal Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, preserves an exceptional array of late-19th and early-20th century buildings — from Victorian cottages to Classical Revival commercial blocks and residences. Notable historic structures include longstanding homes and storefronts that reflect the town’s evolution during its most dynamic growth period.
Churches, Schools and Community Life
From its earliest days, Elm City prioritized education, faith, and community. Within just a decade of incorporation, multiple congregations — including Methodist, Baptist, and Primitive Baptist churches — were established, anchoring spiritual life in the town. As the 20th century dawned, schools expanded to serve a growing population, with local residents building institutions that educated generations.
Economic Shifts and Growth
Agriculture, industry, and local finance all played roles in Elm City’s community life. Early brick manufacturing, lumber firms, and locally financed banks strengthened the town’s economy around the turn of the 20th century. Though the Great Depression slowed construction and growth, Elm City maintained its civic institutions and continued to adapt, welcoming post-World War II housing growth and later industrial developments.
Today — A Community With Heart
More than a 150 years after its founding, Elm City is home to around 1,200 residents, schools with strong traditions, and vibrant neighborhood culture. The railroad still threads through the heart of town, echoing the history that built it. Elm City’s tree-lined streets, historic buildings, and welcoming spirit reflect a community proud of its past and optimistic about its future.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
"Little Heart Attacks", a compilation by Bear Family records, captures a moment in the late 1950s when independent music was finding its voice in small Southern towns like Elm City, North Carolina. Recorded locally and released through the short-lived Oak Records label, the album reflects the raw energy of early rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll — blending country roots, rhythm-and-blues influence, and heartfelt storytelling. These recordings preserve the sound of musicians performing live, unpolished, and honest, offering a rare glimpse into North Carolina’s early contribution to America’s rock era.
"Alone in His Field" is a unique blues recording made by John Henry “Guitar Shorty” Fortescue at his home near Elm City, North Carolina in the early 1970s. Shorty was a local blues guitarist and storyteller known for his improvised performances and inventive style — blending boogie, country blues, gospel, and humorous narrative pieces with vocal effects, whistling, and slide guitar. The album was assembled from two recording sessions in 1972 and 1973 by blues scholar and producer Peter B. Lowry, and released on the Trix label. These sessions capture Shorty performing in his own environment — not in a commercial studio but at home — giving the music an authentic, “field recording” feel.
The Music of Elm City
Shorty’s style on Alone in His Field mixes blues, boogies, spoken-word storytelling, and gospel-tinged pieces, often incorporating whimsical or surreal narratives performed with multiple voices and characters. The music doesn’t just showcase guitar playing — it showcases Shorty’s larger performance art persona, as he improvises songs and stories straight from his life and imagination. Living modestly in the Elm City area, Shorty’s recordings from this period were later recognized by blues historians for their originality and cultural value. They illuminate a vibrant tradition of rural Southern blues performance rooted in individual expression rather than mainstream commercial music.
Click on the pictures below for a sound that will take you back in time.