Pumpkin Center, North Carolina is unique among the townships of Onslow County in that it has no surface water. Within minutes of the beautiful Atlantic coastline and sandy beaches decorated daily with shells by the sea, within minutes of two of North Carolina's major rivers, yet none cross the line of this tiny suburb of Jacksonville, NC (3.5 miles away). 

There is disagreement as to how Pumpkin Center got its name, but this area was known agriculturally for the pumpkin crop for many years and a huge pumpkin patch remains in the historic (and nearby) Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens. Pumpkin Center is also in an area of unique names as Piney Green, NC is only 4.0 miles away, and Half Moon, NC is only 6.6 miles from here. 

The population of Pumpkin Center is 2,228 (2000 census) in a land area of 5.583 sq. kilometers (1.4 square miles).

In pre-colonial days, this area was inhabited by the Algonkian, native Americans who shared a common language and ranged from above the Chesapeake Bay down to the Neuse River. The Onslow County Museum, has many artifacts from that period, including an 800 year old - 38' dug-out canoe found in the Half Moon Branch of the New River, within walking distance from Pumpkin Center. 

There are many colonial historical sites in the area. Jacksonville has a walking tour of 18 homes which includes Pelletier House, the oldest standing structure in the county. There are also many nearby Civil War battle sites. Havelock, for example, was the key to capturing New Bern and Fort Macon by Union troops in 1862 and provided the first major foothold in the South for the Yankees. 

WWII brought the most change to this area, as it saw the installation of Camp Lejeune Central, the largest concentration of Marines and Sailors in the world, with more than 150,000 people added to Onslow County - when civil service employees, retirees and families are included in the count. 

Employment in Pumpkin Center is mostly provided by educational institutions and health and social services industries (22.4%). Retail trade (13.6%) and construction (13.0%) are the next highest industries reported here. Employment is significantly higher in Pumpkin Center than the average for the state of NC, and the cost-of-living is fairly low. Most residents of Pumpkin Center own their own homes, which, on an average are newer than the state median. 

Factoring the mild climate, beautiful natural surroundings, and unprecedented recreational access of this area, Pumpkin Center has a very high quality of life index.

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