This week, we look at Scotland, a county that has seen an uptick in population despite rural population decline across America over the last decade. In a new study on NC’s rural population growth, the North Carolina Rural Center reported a 0.25% increase for Scotland County between 2020 and 2023. More about Scotland:

Bordering South Carolina and about 100 miles east of Charlotte, Scotland was formed in 1899 from Richmond County. As the name suggests, Scotland is rich in Scottish heritage and was a hotbed for many Highland Scots in the 1700s.

The largest city and county seat is Laurinburg, named after the famous McLaurin family, who accompanied the early Highland settlers to the area. Laurinburg is home to many historical buildings and events for visitors and residents alike to enjoy Scottish heritage, including the Scottish Heritage Center and the Scotland County Highland Games. Laurinburg is also home to St. Andrews University, which changed its name from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 2011 in honor of its 50th anniversary.

Today, Scotland County is the second-most economically distressed county in the state with the highest rate of unemployment. The economy is largely driven by manufacturing, textiles and agriculture. From 2017 to 2022, the number of farms in the county increased by 12%.

Politically, this diverse county has historically favored Democrats. However, like many rural counties, Scotland is slightly trending Republican and is now competitive for both parties. Republican registration has increased from 16% to 21% over the last 10 years, while registered Democrats have declined from 62% to 48%.

In 2012, Barack Obama won Scotland County by 16.8% over Mitt Romney, with every Democratic Council of State nominee also winning by double digits. But in 2020, Donald Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since Ronald Reagan in 1984, narrowly winning by 1.8%. Both Thom Tillis and Roy Cooper won re-election in Scotland by 1.5% and 5.8%, respectively, in 2020.