Amazon opens five North Carolina delivery stations, boosting Wake County capacity

Amazon announced a late‑February rollout of five delivery stations across North Carolina, saying the new sites created more than 700 full‑ and part‑time jobs statewide and will expand same‑day service in rural areas. The company highlighted Tarboro’s first delivery station with a ribbon‑cutting and behind‑the‑scenes tour attended by Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Kenny Flowers.

The five new delivery stations are located in Tarboro, Jacksonville, Southern Pines, Mount Airy and Hayesville. Amazon hosted the Tarboro ceremony on Feb. 25, 2026, and during that event made a donation to the Tarboro Development Corporation, according to local coverage of the ribbon‑cutting attended by state and company representatives.

State officials and Amazon framed the openings as part of a broader investment footprint. WRAL reported Amazon has invested more than $17.2 billion in North Carolina since 2010, creating over 27,500 direct full‑ and part‑time jobs and an additional 16,500 jobs in construction, logistics and professional services. The company estimates those investments have contributed nearly $18 billion to the state’s gross domestic product.

Gov. Josh Stein issued a statement highlighting the expansion’s long‑term stakes for families and communities. “Amazon's continued investment in North Carolina demonstrates a shared commitment to building economic opportunity in every corner of our state,” Stein said. “This partnership has brought thousands of good jobs to North Carolina, and this expansion … will create long-term opportunities for North Carolina families.”

Amazon positioned the five new stations within a $4 billion push to grow its rural delivery network. Company materials cited by WCTI and WRAL say the additions will help nearly double the average monthly number of rural customers receiving same‑day delivery year‑over‑year, expanding service “from the mountains to the coast.”

The openings arrive as North Carolina’s transportation and warehousing sector approaches pandemic‑era employment levels. WRAL reported the state had about 200,000 workers in transportation and warehousing as of December, up from roughly 179,900 in 2020, and described the shift as part of a decades‑long move from traditional manufacturing toward logistics and distribution. WRAL also noted North Carolina’s central East Coast location, highway network and population growth as factors attracting distribution investment.

Coverage did not include station‑level operating details that would clarify impacts inside Wake County. Amazon and reporting outlets did not provide facility addresses, a breakdown of the “more than 700” jobs by site or confirmation of how the new stations change routing or capacity for Wake County deliveries. Local officials in Tarboro acknowledged the donation to the Tarboro Development Corporation but media excerpts did not include Tarboro Development Corporation comments on projected tax revenue or traffic impacts.

If Amazon’s statewide claims translate into routing changes, Wake County could face measurable shifts in delivery volumes and logistics employment over time; for now the company’s $4 billion rural investment and the five named stations are the concrete changes announced in late February. The openings underscore the state’s pivot toward logistics jobs and a continuing debate over how large distribution companies shape local labor markets and community infrastructure.