The town, now known as Robbins, actually began in 1795 when gunsmith Alexander Kennedy and his family left Philadelphia to settle along Bear Creek.

Kennedy set up a factory, which produced long rifles for American soldiers, near the site of the present day Robbins Water Plant.

The railroad not only created its own jobs, it generated commerce by providing a ready means of transportation for turpentine, talc, pottery, lumber, agricultural products, and passengers.

In 1896, the John L. Frye Company, a producer of lumber for the rail and pallet industries, was established.

The academy had a very proud standing and children from the town, and from other states and countries, made up the first class.

In 1890, the inventor Thomas Edison visited the town to take option on gold mining interests in the Carter's Mill area.

Between 1923 and 1924, generators were installed at Carter's Mill, along Bear Creek, adjacent to Elise, and the first power was supplied to this area.

He was responsible for a modern water treatment plant and a wastewater disposal system being completed in 1937.

He also provided for recreational facilities, dial telephone service, a new firetruck, and a baseball park.

The name of the town officially became Robbins in 1943, by act of the North Carolina General Assembly.

With the loss of jobs and manufacturing, the town lost a large portion of its water and sewer customers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), all land.