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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FORMATION OF ROBESON COUNTY AND OTHERS
Transportation and communications were key factors in the settlement and growth of Bladen County. In the early days of settlement, rivers were the only effective means of transporting goods to any extent; therefore the settlers occupied the lands along the Cape Fear River and the South River. The Cape Fear, a much larger river, attracted more of the early folks, yet along both rivers homes were built and plantations were developed.
Attempts were made in 1732 and 1733 to break away from New Hanover County, but Bladen County finally became its own entity on November 11, 1734, encompassing a very large area that was later broken into scores of other counties. In 1738, the first courthouse was built in Elizabeth, about three miles upriver from the present-day town and county seat of Elizabethtown.
In 1748, the people of the Pee Dee area petitioned for a new county, Anson, be formed since Elizabeth was over 100 miles away. Anson County was formed out of Bladen County in 1750. In 1752, another slice was taken to form Orange County.
Although Bladen County was sparsely settled at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, records indicate that 300 men of the Bladen Militia were in service when Fort Johnston, at the mouth of the Cape Fear river in Brunswick County, was captured by the Colonials in 1776. They witnessed the departure of the last Royal Governor, Josiah Martin, when he found refuge aboard a British vessel there.
In 1786, Robeson County was created out of Bladen County, and in 1788 the Great Swamp area was added to Robeson County. So great a slice was taken by Robeson County, it is often called the "State of Robeson."
Chaotic conditions existed throughout the country after the Revolutionary War, and it was some time before order was obtained and definite policies were formed by the new country. The people of Bladen County were solely focused on making a living, which included the production of turpentine, pitch, tar, staves, headings, shingles, and lumber. These products were shipped down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. These were the primary products of the county well up to the Civil War era.
Bladen County contributed its share of men to the State's cause during the Civil War. Companies of over 100 men were formed in April, 1861, before North Carolina officially seceded from the Union. These Bladen County Companies served in all theatres of the war, from start to finish.
Railroads came to Bladen County in 1863 with a major stop at Abbottsburg, settled by Joseph C. Abbotts. He established a large lumber business there, and almost immediately the town became the largest in Bladen County. After the railroad came through, other towns grew along its line. Very soon, Clarkton, Bladenboro, and Council grew and the surrounding areas developed rapidly.
The first road improvement initative came in 1908 in Brown Marsh Township. By 1919, all other townships had issued bonds and started a large road building campaign. This opened up Bladen County to all of its people.
As mentioned in the beginning, Bladen County was divided many times to create other North Carolina counties. Fifty-five, to be exact. The following existing counties all came from the original Bladen County: Alexander (1847), Alleghany (1859), Anson (1750), Ashe (1789), Avery (1911), Buncombe (1791), Brunswick (1764), Burke (1777), Cabarrus (1792), Caldwell (1841), Catawba (1842), Clay (1861), Cleveland (1841), Cherokee (1839), Columbus (1808), Cumberland (1754), Davidson (1822), Davie (1836), Forsyth (1849), Gaston (1846), Graham (1872), Harnett (1855), Haywood (1808), Henderson (1838), Hoke (1911), Iredell (1788), Jackson (1851), Lee (1907), Lincoln (1799), Macon (1828), Madison (1851), McDowell (1842), Mecklenburg (1762), Mitchell (1861), Montgomery (1799), Moore (1784), Orange (1752), Polk (1855), Richmond (1799), Robeson (1787), Rockingham (1785), Rowan (1753), Rutherford (1779), Scotland (1899), Stanly (1841), Stokes (1789), Surrey (1770), Swain (1871), Transylvania (1861), Union (1842), Watauga (1849), Wilkes (1777), Yadkin (1850), and Yancey (1833).
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