Northampton: Gateway to the South
Published Tuesday, May 5, 2009
JACKSON — Northampton County is living up to its nickname: “The Gateway to the South.”
The county’s welcome center located on I-95 North near mile marker 181 is the most visited center in the state.
The information was shared with the Northampton County Tourism Development Authority recently in a presentation by Kay Mitchell-Thomas with the Murfreesboro Historical Association.
Thomas said in 2008, the center saw just over 1.6 million visitors, according to figures provided by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Since 1998, the Welcome Center has seen more than 21 million visitors. The center is one of the first two welcome centers to be built in the state and opened its doors in 1968.
The state now boasts nine welcome centers located on the state’s borderlines.
Meanwhile, the Northampton County Welcome Center is gearing up for its annual Tourism Day to be held on Thursday, May 14.
Judy Collier, the executive director of the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce, said the event brings together chambers, tourism/visitor authorities and tourism development entities within the region.
The groups set up booths and market the area by giving out information as well as promotional items and snacks to motorists utilizing the center.
Collier wasn’t surprised that the Northampton Welcome Center ranks number one in the state.
“We’re the gateway to the South; we’re the first southern state and the first southern county they come across,” she said.
On Monday, Northampton County Commissioner James Hester, who serves on the authority, shared the fact with his fellow board members.
“These Yankees will do anything for free peanuts,” Hester quipped, referencing the bags of Northampton “goobers” distributed to motorists visiting the Welcome Center.
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