Anson County Genealogy
- Formed 1750
- Parent county / earlier Bladen
- County seat Wadesboro
- Neighbors union, stanly, richmond, montgomery
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1750 from Bladen — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Wadesboro · Library: Anson County Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Anson County was formed in 1750 from Bladen. The county seat is Wadesboro. Neighboring counties include union, stanly, richmond, montgomery.
This hub combines a modern research floor—record matrix, towns, repositories, news—with local history narrative. Always search parent jurisdictions for pre-formation events.
The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral, who circumnavigated the globe from 1740 to 1744, and later became First Lord of the Admiralty.
Like its parent county Bladen, Anson County was originally a vast territory with indefinite northern and western boundaries. Reductions in its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. Finally, in 1842 the western part of Anson County was combined with the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County to become Union County. Source Wikipedia
The county seat of Anson County is Wadesboro. Anson County is the home of the Ashe-Covington Medical Museum, and the Wadesboro Rotary Planetarium and Science Center. Also, the extinct town of Sneedsborough was in Anson County. (It existed from 1795-1835.)
Anson County Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 732
Wadesboro, NC 28170
[ad#canvas_on_demand_square]
Anson County Courthouse
114 N. Greene Street, Room 30
County Courthouse
Wadesboro, NC 28170
Census
- 1790 Federal Census Index
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1790 Federal Census - Fayette district transcription
- 1800 Federal Census Index
- 1810 Federal Census Index
- 1820 Federal Census Index
- 1830 Federal Census Index
- 1840 Federal Census Index
- 1850 Federal Census Index
- 1860 Federal Census Index - First and Last name, age and township
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Anson County:
News related to Anson County, NC
History notes
Anson County (seat: Wadesboro) is a core research hub for families who lived, married, worshipped, or owned land in this part of the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
Anson County belongs to North Carolina’s Piedmont research zone, shaped by Great Wagon Road settlement, mill and market towns, and dense 19th–20th century paper trails. Formed in 1750 from Bladen, it rewards researchers who respect parent jurisdictions and neighbor FAN clubs.
Neighboring counties—union,stanly,richmond,montgomery—frequently hold the “missing” deed, marriage, or burial when households straddle lines or move a few miles for work, church, or better land. Always record the jurisdiction as named in the original, then map it onto modern county pages.
Use the panels on this hub for record availability, towns, repositories, and local history news. Pair them with the statewide Start here path and the counties & formation guide when events predate 1750.
Local history & events
- Anson County water outage exposes aging infrastructure - WSOC TV
- ‘Unique situation’: Families anxiously await return of water in Anson County - Yahoo
- ‘Unique situation’: Families anxiously await return of water in Anson County - WSOC TV
- 'Inconvenience': Officials respond to major water main break in Anson County - MSN
- ‘Inconvenience’: Officials respond to major water main break in Anson County - WSOC TV
- Service restored after 'major' water main break caused hourslong outage in Anson County - Yahoo
Research tools
Record availability matrix
| Record type | Coverage | Years (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal census | good | 1790–1950 | Federal schedules available for NC with known quirks/losses in some years. Place the household in the correct county for each decade. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1750– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1750– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Church & parish | partial | varies | Church coverage varies by denomination and survival; check local societies and denominational archives. |
| Newspapers | varies | varies | Title survival varies widely. Search local weeklies plus larger regional papers; use Chronicling America and the State Library of North Carolina and DigitalNC. |
| Military | good | 1775– | Revolutionary through 20th-century service may generate pensions, CMSRs, and local militia notes. Pair with county context for battles and units. |
| Cemeteries | partial | varies | Published surveys, Find a Grave, churchyards, and family plots. Unmarked burials are common—use obituaries and church books. |
| Court records | partial | 1750– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1750, search parent jurisdiction: Bladen. |
| Tax lists | sparse | varies | Tax lists can substitute for missing census years. Coverage is uneven by locality and year; check State Archives of North Carolina and published abstracts. |
Cemeteries & burial research
- Anson County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Anson County household reconstruction. Collect every decade, note neighbors (FAN club), and track the county name as it existed that year—especially across formation and split boundaries.
Vital records
North Carolina statewide vital registration expanded in the early 20th century. For many Anson County families you will rely on marriage bonds, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, delayed births, and probate—not only a modern certificate.
Cemeteries (legacy notes)
Cemetery surveys for Anson County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, churchyards, and family plots. Absence of a stone is not absence of burial—pair markers with obituaries and church books.
Courthouse & contacts
The county seat is Wadesboro. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Anson County Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1750
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction Bladen — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):