The town was named after Zebulon Baird Vance, the Governor of North Carolina during the American Civil War.

In 1997 Zebulon annexed the neighboring community of Wakefield, increasing the total area inside the corporate limits to 2,115 acres (8.56 km2) and the population to 3,908.

[6] There are three properties in Zebulon listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Wakelon School, Bennett Bunn Plantation, and the George and Neva Barbee House.

The mayor, as the principal elected official of the town, provides leadership to the governing body and the community and presides over Board meetings.

As the legislative body of Zebulon, the Board's primary responsibilities include establishing town policies and adopting an annual budget.

[8] Current Board members are Shannon Baxter, Quentin Miles, Beverly Wall Clark, Amber Davis, Jessica Harrison, and Mayor Glenn York.

[16] The sudden growth was attributed to its relative affordability in living, incentives for new businesses, and an increased focus on development and expansion.

[16][17] The town's largest employers include GlaxoSmithKline, US Foods, BB&T, Nomaco, and Vinventions,[19] but is home to a number of small businesses as well.

[23] In rural areas of the town, agriculture is still an important aspect of the local economy with products such as cotton, tobacco, wheat, corn and soybeans being grown.