Like many towns in North Carolina, Wilson was established in the 1880's as a "tobacco town," an agricultural community focused on cotton and tobacco crops. By the twentieth century, Wilson had gained a reputation as the world's largest bright leaf tobacco market.
In North Carolina and the rest of the Southern US, however, plenty of towns and counties were successful in agriculture, so Wilson diversified its industry base, by delving into the manufacturing industry early on in the 1850's when the Hackney Wagon Company was established, beginning a long tradition of manufacturing and technology that continues in Wilson today.
Today, Wilson is well positioned on the cutting edge of a global economy and it is still North Carolina's largest farm market, striking balance between its traditional economy and new, modern industry. Home to large pharmaceutical manufacturers, an array of smaller manufacturers, antique stores, and other commercial and tourist activities, as well as tobacco marketing firms, Wilson boasts a roster of companies that serve regional, national and international markets.
Watch the NC Now Feature
An interview with Glenn Kleiman
An interview with Dr. Joseph Davis