Scotland County

Scotland County is an administrative county in southern North Carolina with Laurinburg as its county seat, and it spans farmland, forests, and the Lumber River waterway system. The landscape consists of rural communities, fields, and patches of woodland that give the area its mixed character.

The area was separated from Richmond County in 1899 and named after Highland Scots who began settling the region starting in the 1720s. That early Scottish settlement laid the foundation for the county's long-standing identity.

The Scottish Heritage Center at St Andrews Presbyterian College preserves numerous texts and artifacts documenting the early Scottish settlement patterns in North Carolina.

You can explore the county by driving through rural roads that pass farmland and small towns, giving you a sense of the countryside. The best time to visit is during warmer months when fields are in bloom and roads are easily navigable.

During World War II, Camp Mackall within the county served as a specialized training facility for paratroopers and glider pilots. The base prepared soldiers for combat operations that would shape the course of the war.

Location: North Carolina

Inception: 1812

Capital city: Laurinburg

Shares border with: Moore County, Hoke County, Robeson County, Marlboro County, Richmond County

Website: http://scotlandcounty.org

GPS coordinates: 34.84000,-79.48000

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:08