Bladen County Genealogy
- Formed 1734
- Parent county / earlier New Hanover
- County seat Elizabethtown
- Neighbors columbus, brunswick, pender, sampson, cumberland, robeson
Photos & maps
What’s new
- Charleston-class research hub: history essay, record matrix, towns, repositories, and local history news.
- Formation 1734 from New Hanover — search parents for earlier events.
- Seat: Elizabethtown · Library: Bladen County Public Library.
- Method guides: Start here · Formation · Census.
In-depth topics
Towns & communities
Bladen County was formed in 1734 from New Hanover. The county seat is Elizabethtown. Neighboring counties include columbus, brunswick, pender, sampson, cumberland, robeson.
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 1734 as Bladen Precinct of Bath County, from New Hanover Precinct. It was named for Martin Bladen, a member of the Board of Trade. With the abolition of Bath County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became counties.
Originally, Bladen was a vast territory with indefinite northern and western boundaries. Reductions in its extent began in 1750, when its western part became Anson County. In 1752 the northern part of Bladen County was combined with parts of Granville County and Johnston County to form Orange County. In 1754 the northern part of what was left of Bladen County became Cumberland County. In 1764 the southern part of what remained of Bladen County was combined with part of New Hanover County to form Brunswick County. In 1787 the western part of the now much smaller county became Robeson County. Finally, in 1808 the southern part of Bladen County was combined with part of Brunswick County to form Columbus County. Source Wikipedia
The county seat of Bladen County is Elizabethtown. Bladen county is comprised of the following townships: Abbotts, Bethel, Bladenboro, Brown Marsh, Carvers Creek, Central, Colly, Cypress Creek, Elizabethtown, East Arcadia, Frenches Creek, Hollow, Lake Creek, Turnbull, White Oak, and Whites Creek.
Bladen is considered the "mother of counties" because it's original extent was divided and used many times to create new counties in the state of North Carolina. There are state parks now at Jones Lake and Singletary Lake. Bay Tree Lake and White Lake have seen commercial and private develop respectively. At one time there were 1000 lakes within the borders of Bladen County, today there are just 7 due to the territorial cessions to other counties. The Cape Fear River runs through Bladen County.
Bladen County Historical Society
P.O. Box 849
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
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Bladen County Courthouse
PO Box 1048
County Courthouse
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Census
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Bladen County:
- Bladenboro
- Butters
- Clarkton
- Council
- Dublin
- Elizabethtown (County Seat)
- Emerson
- Kelly
- Tar Heel
- White Lake
- White Oak
News related to Bladen County, NC
History notes
Bladen County (seat: Elizabethtown) is a core research hub for families who lived, married, worshipped, or owned land in this part of the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina.
Bladen County is part of North Carolina’s coastal plain documentary landscape—river towns, ports, agricultural belts, and free Black/plantation contexts. Formed in 1734 from New Hanover, early research often depends on parent counties and Albemarle or Cape Fear–era sources.
Neighboring counties—columbus,brunswick,pender,sampson,cumberland,robeson—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 1734.
Local history & events
- Pender County Museum to debut ‘Deep Blue Roots’ exhibit at NC Blueberry Festival - WWAYTV3
- Highway 6: White Lake Water Festival nears 50-year milestone in Bladen County - WECT
- Wildfire burns near Kelly in Bladen County - WECT
- Dallas Ludlum named Bladen Journal editor - Bladen Journal
- Troopers seek public’s help after fatal hit-and-run in Bladen County - WWAYTV3
- Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on NC 211 in Bladen County - WECT
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 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| Birth records | sparse | 1915– | Statewide birth registration is comparatively late in NC. Use delayed births, church registers, Bibles, and census for earlier generations. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| Marriage records | partial | 1800– | County marriage records improve in the 19th–20th centuries; earlier events often appear in church books, bonds, or newspapers. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| Death records | partial | 1915– | Death certificates denser after statewide registration; earlier deaths via obituaries, church burial, probate, and cemeteries. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| Land & deeds | good | 1734– | Deeds/ROD series typically begin near county formation; colonial grants/plats may predate the county and live at State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| Probate & estates | good | 1734– | Wills, administrations, and equity files are core sources. Courthouse losses push research to neighbors, microfilm, and State Archives of North Carolina. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| 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 | 1734– | Common pleas, sessions, and other court series often begin near formation; equity may be with or near probate. Before 1734, search parent jurisdiction: New Hanover. |
| 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
- Bladen County cemeteries (Find a Grave / surveys)
Societies & repositories
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules are foundational for Bladen 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 Bladen 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 Bladen 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 Elizabethtown. Confirm current Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, and library hours before visiting—offices move and digital portals change.
Public library: Bladen County Public Library
If not found here, try…
- Formed 1734
- Parent / earlier jurisdiction New Hanover — check district-era records before this county existed (districts guide).
Neighboring counties (deeds, marriages, newspapers, and kin often cross the line):