With the American Revolution, came the demand for rifles. Alexander Kennedy, a gunsmith from Philadelphia built a gun factory on the falls of bear creek, near present day Robbins. Here he manufactured rifles for George Washington’s continental forces. By 1795 due to this successful business, many factories were established and the area became known as mechanics hill. Gold was later found on that same spot that Kennedy had sold for $4. It was only a trickle but it kept the town alive until the Durham-Charlotte Railroad came through in 1904. About this time, John Lenning, a wealthy businessman and railroad builder from Philadelphia laid out streets for a new town nearby. In appreciation for al his contributions to the area the townspeople proposed to name the town after his daughter, Elise where it was registered at the county court house in Carthage. The community grew slowly and in 1926, with the addition of a textile mill, the name was changed to Hemp and a new lease on life was given to the town. A Russian immigrant, Karl Robbins purchased the Pinehurst silk mills in 1930 with the goal of making it a state of the art- first class operation. He also improved life during the depression for many of the residents who were employed by the mill. In 1943, the citizens of Hemp changed the name of the town to honor the name who by now had given them so much.   Besides textiles, farming remains a mainstay of the area; however, Robbins is extremely proud of its quaint pottery industry that has its roots in the clay of the region. Step back in history as you watch these artists creating masterpieces just as many of the original settlers did.   Each year the town holds a mammoth farmers day parade.