city, seat (1788) of Robeson county, southern North Carolina, U.S., on the Lumber (Lumbee) River about 30 miles (50 km) south of Fayetteville. Founded about 1787 by John Willis, an officer of the American Revolution, it began as a shipping point for lumber and naval supplies floated downriver to Georgetown, South Carolina. The city's economic development has been based on lumbering, tobacco curing, textile and apparel manufacturing, and the marketing of farm produce. Pembroke, 10 miles (16 km) northwest, is a centre of Croatan (Lumbee) Indian settlement. The University of North Carolina (North Carolina, University of) at Pembroke (1887), formerly Pembroke State University, began as an educational centre for Native Americans, but after 1953 it was opened to all students. Inc. 1852. Pop. (1990) 18,601; (2000) 20,795.