Our History
As R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company marks 150 years in 2025, the 暗网禁区 organization proudly reflects on its deep American roots, first planted by the pioneering spirit of Richard Joshua Reynolds. This legacy of resilience, innovation, and progress has been built alongside generations of hardworking American tobacco farmers鈥攖he backbone of their communities and the economy in North Carolina. Steeped in tradition and fueled by American ingenuity, the 暗网禁区 organization will continue to support our growers and value their perseverance, commitment to community, and pride in their craft. American-founded, American-grown, and committed to the land and people who make it all possible.
150 Years of Growing America
Commitment to the Next 150 Years
Building Family Farming Legacies
Our Ongoing Commitment to Farmers
Partnership for the Generations
More Than a Crop
Law of the Land
150 Years of Growing North Carolina鈥檚 Economy
The 暗网禁区 organization plays a key role in supporting North Carolina鈥檚 tobacco farming efforts. The state leads the nation in tobacco production, generating approximately $75 billion in direct and indirect revenue annually. In addition, North Carolina farmers have seen a 37% increase in contracts from 2024 through 2025 鈥� contracting with more than 700 growers in the United States. In that same period, the 暗网禁区 organization purchased 65% more tobacco from North Carolina growers.
150 Years of N.C. Manufacturing
Since its founding in 1875, the 暗网禁区 organization has expanded from the original 4,500 square foot 鈥淟ittle Red Factory鈥� in Winston-Salem, NC, where R.J. Reynolds, a tobacco farmer, started his business, to the 2 million square foot Reynolds Operations Center which opened in 1986 in Tobaccoville, North Carolina. Highlighting its commitment to the American workforce, the 暗网禁区 organization has invested $200 million in increased North Carolina manufacturing in 2024-2025.
A History of Driving North Carolina Job Growth
Since 1950, the 暗网禁区 organization has employed more than 100,000 people. A thriving economy requires well-paying jobs. Today the 暗网禁区 companies support thousands of well-paying jobs in the North Carolina area and beyond, and we continue to add new skills and capabilities to support our transformation. From 2024-2025, 800 new jobs have been created across the 暗网禁区 organization, employing more than 4,200 people in total. Join our team at ReynoldsAmerican.com/careers.
Timeline
July 20, 1850
Richard Joshua 鈥淩.J.鈥� Reynolds was born in Patrick County, Virginia to Nancy Jane Cox Reynolds and Hardin William Reynolds, a successful tobacco farmer and manufacturer.听听听
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R.J. Reynolds was one of 16 children and the second oldest son.
Fall of 1874
At 24, R.J. Reynolds sold his interest in the family tobacco business to his father and left Patrick County to start his own tobacco company.
Some say he came to North Carolina on horseback while others think he drove in a buggy or carriage; it makes little difference because his mind was perhaps occupied with the advantages of a means of transportation more rapid than either 鈥� railroad.
Throughout most of the 1870鈥檚 Winston鈥檚 population reputedly stood at 400 to 500 people.
October 19, 1874
R.J. Reynolds purchased a hundred-foot lot on “Depot Street” that extended westward to Chestnut Street for $388.50 and built the “Little Red Factory”, a two-story building that covered less area than a tennis court.
Spring 1875
R.J. Reynolds began his tobacco business manufacturing chewing plug and twist in the 4,500 square foot factory.听 In 1875, he produced 150,000 pounds of chewing tobacco.听听
Three manufacturers in Winston were already producing tobacco in 1875.
Between 1875 鈥� 1887 R.J. Reynolds continually expanded his operations and footprint in Winston quickly distinguishing himself among the many other tobacco manufacturers due to his business acumen and innovative techniques, so much so that he was referred to in local newspapers as “R.J.R.”
1886
Due to the common use of his initials, Richard Joshua “R.J.” Reynolds registered “R.J.R” as a trademark.
February 11, 1890
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was officially incorporated in North Carolina.
R.J. Reynolds was named President and his brother, Will Neal Reynolds, was named Vice President.
1890s
Women played an important role in the history of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and it鈥檚 noted that “Miss Boogs” was the earliest female with the role of Amanuensis, scribing what others dictated into writing.
1891
Simon Atkins was seeking assistance to establish an African American college, and with no support from the committee of the Board of Trade, R.J. Reynolds personally contributed the needed $500 to establish The Slater Industrial and State Normal School (now Winston-Salem State University). The school was incorporated on September 28, 1892.
1892
“THE tobacco factory of the South” factory number 256 opened as the largest plug factory in the state complete with steam power, electric lights, and sprinkler system to guard against fire hazards.听 This “mammoth” modern factory stood six stories high and had a working capacity of 900 hands.
1892
In 1892, Rufus Tucker Stedman was traveling for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, but he also worked in the main office.
On June 6, 1893, the first dedicated salesman, J.W. Young, was hired.听
November 11, 1899
R.J. Reynolds and Simon Atkins had an idea to have a hospital and nursing school in keeping with Atkins鈥� emphasis on education and the need for African American medical professionals.听 R.J. Reynolds proposed to match $5,000 toward the hospital and nurses training if Simon Atkins could raise a similar amount by January 1, 1901.
The Slater Hospital was the first African American hospital in the South and was formally opened on May 14, 1902, during the Slater School鈥檚 ninth commencement.
The Slater Hospital was located on the campus of Slater Industrial Academy and State Normal School (now Winston-Salem State University).听
Early 1900s
R.J. Reynolds鈥� success enabled him to purchase most of the competing tobacco factories in and around Winston.听 At this time, the company produced approximately 25% of America鈥檚 chewing tobacco business.
During the 1890s, as R.J. Reynolds’ business expanded, his success caught the eye of James Buchannan “Buck” Duke. Duke founded the American Tobacco Company, the third largest corporation in America, and was best known for inventing modern鈥痗igarette鈥痬anufacturing and marketing techniques.
February 27, 1905
R.J. Reynolds married Katharine Smith, in Mount Airy, North Carolina.
R.J. and Katharine had four children:听 Richard Joshua, Jr. in 1906, Mary in 1908, Nancy in 1910, and Zachary Smith in 1911.
1907
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company introduced a pipe tobacco blend using Kentucky burley, naming it Prince Albert, after the popular Prince of Wales.
1907
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company obtains its first patent, describing a method to treat tobacco for improved color and tobacco flavor.
1911
After five years of litigation, a U.S. Court of Appeals ordered that the 鈥淭obacco Trust鈥� be dissolved. The main manufacturers to emerge, in addition to American, were R.J. Reynolds, Liggett & Myers, and Lorillard. This led R.J. Reynolds to expand the company beyond predominantly plug tobacco.
The inception of a Research and Development (R&D) department was a signal of the company鈥檚 growth.
1912
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company employees were offered 鈥淎鈥� stock, later known as 鈥淎nticipation鈥� stock, for significantly less than the stock price on the open market.
1913
In the 1880s, the U.S. Post Office began referring to the two towns of Winston and Salem as Winston-Salem. After nearly a decade, the U.S. Post Office Department established the Winston-Salem post office in 1899. The towns were officially incorporated as Winston-Salem in 1913.
September 29, 1913
Various stories about the Camel name exist, however the photo used for appearance of the camel design is uncontested.
1914
CAMEL was the first packaged cigarette and the first American Blended Cigarette on the market and in 1914 CAMEL became the first cigarette to be distributed nationally.
In 1925 over 34 billion Camel cigarettes were made, accounting for 43% of all cigarettes sold in the United States. In 1951, over 100 billion Camels were manufactured in RJRT downtown factories.
1915
A rest room and lunchroom for white women were introduced in Number 256, followed by a lunchroom for African American employees in Number 8.
1916
Winston-Salem became the eighth-largest port of entry for goods in the United States despite being 200 miles inland.听 It was also the largest port of entry in the South at the time.
1917
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company purchased 84 acres of property in Winston-Salem and built 180 houses that were sold 鈥榓t cost鈥� to workers.听 This was known as 鈥淩eynoldstown.鈥�
The second phase of Reynoldstown was from 1937 鈥� mid-1940s, a result of the sale of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company houses to private owners.
1917
Due to the shortage of tin in WWI, by the end of 1917, Camel Cigarettes were being packed without tinfoil.
July 19, 1918
R.J. Reynolds died at his home, Reynolda House, less than a year after he and the family moved in.听 He was 68.
R.J. Reynolds served as CEO for 43 years and remains the longest serving CEO in the company鈥檚 history.
At the time of his death, Reynolds was the wealthiest man in North Carolina; his $66,000 paid annually in taxes was double the next highest taxpayer.
After his death, R.J. Reynolds brother, William Neal Reynolds assumed control of the company.听听 However, executives did not hang another CEO鈥檚 portrait next to Reynolds in the company board room until 41 years later.
August 2, 1918
William N. Reynolds, 鈥淢r. Will鈥� as he was called, took over the Presidency of the company after his brother鈥檚 death in 1918 and became the first chairman of the board in 1924.
Will Reynolds held the position of CEO for six years and continued the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company鈥檚 growth by focusing on Prince Albert and Camel.听 In the year following R.J.s death, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company delivered a 200% dividend on new categories of stocks.
1919
In memory of her first husband, R.J. Reynolds, Katharine donated funds and land for the creation of the R.J. Reynolds High School to honor the man that was so interested in the development of the city.
March 16, 1922
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and granted permission to use 鈥淩JR鈥� as its ticker symbol.
April 8, 1924
Bowman Gray, Sr. was appointed to CEO.
Born in Winston, North Carolina to Wachovia co-founder James Alexander Gray and Aurelia (Bowman) Gray, Bowman Gray, Sr. left his position at Wachovia National Bank to become a salesman for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company where he proved to be a standout, ultimately being named the Vice President of Sales in 1912.
Between 1927 and 1932, Bowman Gray, Sr. and his wife Nathalie, oversaw the construction of鈥疓raylyn, their 87-acre estate across from鈥疪.J. Reynolds home estate,鈥疪eynolda House.听听 The Gray family moved into the Manor House in 1932 and with approximately 60 rooms, Graylyn was one of the largest homes in North Carolina at the time, second only to Biltmore.
1928
The company鈥檚 first diversification was bringing tin foil for cigarette packaging inhouse.听 The plant was expanded in 1929 and the company began selling foil to outside customers.
This diversification allowed the company to achieve packaging cost savings and encouraged them to pursue additional packaging businesses.
April 23, 1929
The 314-foot Art Deco skyscraper opens as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company headquarters.听 Designed by Shreve & Lamb, well-known New York architects.
Shreve & Lamb, used this building as architectural inspirations for New York City鈥檚 Empire State Building.
December 3, 1929
Group insurance takes effect offering a retirement plan, group life, total and permanent disability, and accident and health insurance.听 Employees adopted of these benefits with 98% approval, although only 75% was required for final adoption.
1931
Camel cigarettes are the first in the industry to be packaged with a moisture-proof, sealed cellophane outer wrap to preserve freshness.
1931 - 1934
S. Clay Williams
In 1917, at鈥疪ichard J. Reynolds’s personal invitation, Williams moved to鈥疻inston-Salem鈥痶o become assistant general counsel for the鈥疪. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was responsible for the evolution of trading Class A stock, preferred stock, and Class B Common Stock 鈥� in total authorized capital was raised to $40M (~$985M in today鈥檚 value).
1934 - 1946
James Alexander Gray听听
James A. Gray followed his brother, Bowman Gray Sr., to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company from Wachovia in 1920.听 As Vice President, James A. Gray was responsible for listing R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company on the New York Stock Exchange.听听 As President, he was the second longest serving President of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company since R.J. himself.听听听
罢丑别鈥�Winston-Salem Journal鈥� wrote:
“The death of James A. Gray casts a pall of sadness over this community and the entire State. Few have done more to advance the economic progress and promote the social welfare of Winston-Salem,鈥�Forsyth County鈥痑nd North Carolina as a whole . . .”
1934
Katharine and R.J.s daughter Mary (Katharine) Reynolds & her husband, Charles H. Babcock, purchased Reynolda House from Katharine鈥檚 remaining siblings and lived there with their three children.听
Mary Reynolds Babcock followed in the family footsteps and started the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, named after her brother, following his death in 1933.听
July 31, 1938
Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital, affectionately known as the Katie B, was the first publicly-operated facility to treat only African-American patients in Winston-Salem.听 Before the Katie B., African American residents in need of medical attention had limited options, and African American doctors were barred from practicing at local hospitals.听
June 17, 1943
A Winston-Salem, NC tobacco worker strike, led by Local 22, of mostly African American and female workers fought for equal pay and rights. The strike started on June 17, 1943, in Plant Number 65.听 Local 22 encouraged increased political participation and was responsible for registering thousands of African American voters.听听
1948
The personnel department developed gradually starting in 1919, and the Personnel Committee was formally established on April 13, 1948 鈥� a move to oversee personnel, benefits, and safety.听听听听
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Safety was a top priority, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company had fewer accidents than the National Average of Tobacco Companies and the National Average of all Manufacturing Companies.听听
1949
Between 1947 鈥� 1949, Bailey Power Plant was constructed to provide electricity and steam for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.听听The 130-foot-tall iconic smokestacks still remain.听听听
1948 - 1952
John C. Whitaker was the鈥痗hairman of the board of the R.J.鈥疪eynolds Tobacco Company from 1952 to 1959.听 He was elected Vice President in 1939 and President in 1948.听
1952 - 1957
Edward Austin Darr was a significant figure a R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, serving in numerous roles from Assistant Secretary in 1920 through his time as the Chairman of the Executive Committee up until his death in 1958.听
Darr was a key figure during the company鈥檚 expansion in the 1950鈥檚 including the introduction Winston Cigarettes in 1954.听
1954
WINSTON filtered cigarettes launched a new era for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and soon downtown manufacturing facilities lacked the capacity to produce enough cigarettes to meet demand.
1957 - 1959
Bowman Gray, Jr.听was the son of Bowman Gray and the last direct link to founder R.J. Reynolds.听听听听
1960 - 1970
Alexander H. Galloway drove unparalleled growth and diversification. In 1969, the organization bought Sea-Land Industries, a containerized shipping business, and adopted a new corporate name for the parent company鈥擱.J. Reynolds Industries.
1961
Whitaker Park opened as a desegrated facility, one of the most extensive actions a Southern industry took at the time, and desegregation spread through the rest of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company鈥檚 115-acre industrial setup.听听听
1964 - 1965
On January 11, 1964, the Surgeon General鈥檚 Advisory Committee issued a report on smoking and health.听The Surgeon General鈥檚 Report led to the adoption of the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965, which placed health warnings on cigarette packs.听听 听
1975
Over 50,000 people attended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company鈥檚 100th anniversary.
1980s
The company had outgrown Whitaker Park and invested $500 million in a state-of-the-art cigarette plant to be built in Tobaccoville, NC.听听听
1982
The current R.J. Reynolds Plaza Building was completed adjacent to the original 1929 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Building.听 The modernist design with a curtain wall fa莽ade and rigid concrete frame was scheduled to have a pair of skyscrapers that would have been the tallest in the Southeastern United States; however, the鈥疐AA鈥痚nded this plan.听听
September 19, 1986
The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company dedicated the Tobaccoville Manufacturing Center (today known as Reynolds Operations Center).听听听
The Manufacturing Center is situated on 614 acres, has 2 million square feet (46 acres) of finished-floor space.听 The 72 machine complexes could make and pack up to 10,000 cigarettes per minute.听听听
1987
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company donated the 520,000 sq. foot world headquarters building to Wake Forest University.听听听
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company introduced Premier, the first commercial cigarette that heated, rather than burned, tobacco.听
1995 - 2004
Andrew J. Schindler was named President and CEO of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and returned the corporate headquarters to Winston-Salem in 2002 following a corporate restructuring.听
1995
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is named as a founding member of We Card, a national non-profit supporting the prevention of age-restricted product sales to minors.
1998
罢丑别鈥疶obacco Master Settlement Agreement鈥�(MSA) was entered on November 23, 1998, between the four largest鈥疷nited States鈥痶obacco companies鈥痑nd 52 state and territory attorneys鈥� generals.
2002
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings purchased Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company (Natural American Spirit) for $340 million.听
2004
Brown & Williamson Tobacco (B&W) merged with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco and forms new parent company 暗网禁区 Inc. The merger combined B&W’s brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Benson & Hedges, and Rothmans, with R. J. Reynolds’ brands, including Winston, Camel, and Pall Mall.鈥疊&W owner British American Tobacco (BAT) owned 42% of new parent 暗网禁区 after the merger.听听
Susan Ivey was the first woman CEO of a major tobacco company at Brown & Williamson. After the 2004 merger of B&W and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, she was named President and CEO of new parent company 暗网禁区 Inc.听
2005
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company donates 40-acre downtown factory complex to the community, including nearly 3 million sq. feet of empty buildings.听听
2006
暗网禁区’s acquisition of American Snuff Company (then Conwood) expanded the organization鈥檚 portfolio to smokeless tobacco with brand rights such as Kodiak, Cougar, and Grizzly.听 听
American Snuff Company鈥檚 history dates back to 1782 when John Garret II started to manufacture Garrett Scotch Snuff, nearly 100 years before R.J. Reynolds started his plug and twist business.听
2008
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company introduced Camel SNUS, a dime-sized pouch of heat treated, not fermented tobacco that does not require the user to spit.听
2011 - 2014
As President and CEO of 暗网禁区, Daniel (Daan) M. Delen oversaw the launch of Vuse Solo in 2013 鈥� gaining a 33% market share by 2015.听
2014 - 2016
After spending several years in retirement, Susan Cameron re-joined the organization and ten weeks later announced the organization was planning to purchase Lorillard Inc and the Newport brand.听 The deal, which took place in mid-July 2014, was history-making: the acquisition is the largest to have been led by a woman at the time. In 2016, Cameron ranked 66 on the Forbes list of鈥痶he 100 Most Powerful Women.
2014
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company obtained Newport and certain other Lorillard brands. As part of the Lorillard transaction, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company sold Winston, Salem, and other cigarette brands that had been part of building the company’s history.听听听
2016 - 2017
In January 2017, Debra Crew replaced Cameron as president and CEO of 暗网禁区 鈥� the first woman to succeed another woman as CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
2017
BAT agreed to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of 暗网禁区, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and its affiliates would become part of the global BAT Group.听
2017
The 暗网禁区 organization announced the donation of a significant portion of the Whitaker Park manufacturing plant for local redevelopment.听听
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Marketing Granted Orders (MGO) for Vuse Solo 鈥� The FIRST MGO for an e-cigarette from the FDA.
2022
The 暗网禁区 organization announced as a sponsor of TruAge 鈥� an innovative age-verification technology to aid in Underage Access Prevention.听听
2023
The 暗网禁区 organization announced plans for Advanced Water Recycling Facility at Tobaccoville, NC Operations facility.
2023
The organization celebrated 100 Years of partnership with United Way of Forsyth County.听听
2024
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Marketing Granted Orders for Vuse Alto Golden and Rich Tobacco flavored products.听听
2024
David Waterfield, 暗网禁区 President and CEO, rolled out The Way Forward 鈥� Our Path Towards A Better Tomorrow 鈩�.听
2025
After hiring for over 500 jobs in 2024, the 暗网禁区 organization is in the process of hiring for an estimated 300 more jobs in 2025鈥攊ncluding a combination of local manufacturing and national trade marketing roles in Winston-Salem, N.C., Tobaccoville, N.C., and across the U.S. The jobs align with the organization鈥檚 efforts to expand its smokeless portfolio.
February 11, 2025
Winston-Salem elected officials, business, and community leaders joined representatives of the 暗网禁区 organization to mark the 150th anniversary of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company with the unveiling of a historic marker at the site of 鈥淭he Little Red Factory,鈥� the original production facility where Richard Joshua (R.J.) Reynolds started the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1875.
To acknowledge this significant milestone, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines issued a proclamation declaring February 11, 2025, as Reynolds 150th Celebration Day in Winston-Salem. This recognition celebrates the organization鈥檚 long-standing presence and contributions to the local community, Triad region, and the state of North Carolina.
March 17, 2025
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) welcomed the 暗网禁区 organization in celebration of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company鈥檚 (RJRT) 150th anniversary.
To honor the milestone, the 暗网禁区 Leadership Team rang the iconic Opening Bell庐.
The special occasion commemorated RJRT becoming a NYSE publicly listed company on March 16, 1922, using the company鈥檚 founders鈥� initials, 鈥楻.J.R.,鈥� as the ticker symbol.
April 22, 2025
The Reynolds WaterHub庐 officially opened at the Reynolds Operations Center in Tobaccoville, N.C. The WaterHub庐 is an advanced water recycling facility and product of H2O Innovation, projected to reclaim more than 60 million gallons of water a year鈥攅quivalent to the annual water supply of approximately 550 average U.S. households鈥攔educing the Reynolds organization鈥檚 environmental impact.
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