History of Pender County

Pre-Colonial and Colonial Eras

Long before European settlers arrived, the land now known as Pender County was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Cape Fear Indians—a Siouan-speaking people who lived along the riverbanks and coast. These early inhabitants hunted, fished, and cultivated maize, squash, and beans in the fertile bottomlands.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, European exploration of the Cape Fear region began. The Spanish, followed by the English, explored the coast, though permanent European settlement did not take hold until the early 1700s. The land that would become Pender County was part of New Hanover County, created in 1729. Settlers were primarily English, Scots-Irish, and German, attracted by the region’s rivers, forests, and arable land.

By the mid-1700s, plantation agriculture dominated the coastal plain. Enslaved Africans were brought to the region to work rice, indigo, and later cotton plantations. The Cape Fear River became a critical transportation route, connecting inland areas to Wilmington and beyond.

Revolutionary War and Antebellum Period

The region played a strategic role in the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, fought in 1776 near the modern-day community of Currie, was a significant Patriot victory and the first major battle in North Carolina. It is now commemorated by Moores Creek National Battlefield, managed by the National Park Service.

Following independence, small farms and timber operations expanded. The antebellum economy relied heavily on enslaved labor. In the northern parts of what is now Pender County, pine forests fed the naval stores industry pitch, tar, and turpentine, vital to shipbuilding and trade.

Civil War and Reconstruction

During the Civil War, the area supported the Confederacy. The nearby port of Wilmington was one of the last open to Confederate blockade runners. General William Dorsey Pender, a Confederate officer who died in battle, would later lend his name to the county. After the war, like much of the South, the region suffered economic and social upheaval. Former plantations were broken up, and many freed African Americans became tenant farmers or sharecroppers.

Creation of Pender County (1875)

Pender County was formed in 1875 from the northern portion of New Hanover County. The General Assembly chose the name to honor General Pender, a respected figure in North Carolina military history. Burgaw, a depot town along the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, was selected as the county seat. Its central location and rail access made it an ideal administrative hub.

Late 19th to Early 20th Century: Railroads, Farming, and Growth

The late 1800s and early 1900s brought expansion through the railroad system. Towns like Atkinson, Rocky Point, and Burgaw grew as stops on key lines, helping to move goods like timber, naval stores, and agricultural products to market.

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, later part of CSX, and feeder lines connected rural farmers to the world. Burgaw became a trading center with a growing courthouse square, shops, and civic life. The county’s economy continued to be rooted in agriculture, especially blueberries, peanuts, cotton, and tobacco.

The Rosenwald School

Before 1922, African American children in the Canetuck community of southeastern Pender County had no reliable access to formal education. Classes were held irregularly in an old lodge building, and opportunities were limited. Determined to change that, local Black families began raising money, often in small coins, to build a real school. Their efforts brought in $1,226, a remarkable sum for the time. Additional support came from the Rosenwald Fund, a national program established to improve Black education in the rural South, and from Pender County. The land was donated by Benjamin Franklin Keith, a white resident of Canetuck.

The result was the Canetuck Rosenwald School, a modest two-room structure completed in 1922. It operated as a two-teacher school until 1958, offering instruction for first through sixth or seventh grades. Despite the lack of resources, teachers provided a full liberal arts curriculum, using recitation, music, and drama to engage students and build a sense of pride and community. The school cultivated academic excellence and helped prepare students for continued education at the Pender County Training School, another Rosenwald facility, where they could pursue advanced studies or vocational training.

Between 1917 and 1932, more than 5,000 Rosenwald schools, shops, and teacher homes were built across the South—18 of them on 15 campuses in Pender County alone. Among these, the Canetuck School remains the most intact. It stands as a lasting reminder of a time when African American families, faced with systemic barriers, created their paths to education and opportunity through sacrifice, perseverance, and community strength.

Located at 6098 Canetuck Road, the school remains a powerful symbol of determination and community pride, nearly a century after its doors first opened.

World Wars and the Mid-Century Era

Pender County contributed significantly to the U.S. war effort during World Wars I and II. Young men served in the armed forces, and civilians supported rationing and war bond efforts. The county also saw minor industrial and infrastructural development during these years, including road paving and school construction.

After World War II, North Carolina’s population began shifting toward urban centers, but Pender remained largely rural. In 1959, the Pender Memorial Hospital opened in Burgaw, improving healthcare access.

Modernization and Coastal Development (1960s–1990s)

From the 1960s through the 1990s, the county began to modernize more rapidly. Electricity, telephones, and public services reached the more rural corners. Public schools consolidated and improved, and the first community colleges offered vocational training and continuing education.

During this era, Penderlea Homestead emerged as a significant community development. Founded in 1934 as part of the New Deal's Subsistence Homesteads Program, Penderlea was one of the first planned communities in the nation designed to provide struggling families with small farmsteads to promote self-sufficiency during the Great Depression. The community included modest homes, farmland, and shared facilities, reflecting an innovative approach to rural recovery and social welfare. Penderlea’s legacy remains an important chapter in Pender County’s history, representing resilience and community spirit.

The coastal areas, particularly Topsail Island, Surf City, and Topsail Beach, gained popularity as vacation spots. With Highway 17 expanding and bridges replacing ferries, tourism became an economic engine. Coastal construction increased, drawing retirees and seasonal residents.

Burgaw retained its historic charm, with its 19th-century train depot and courthouse square preserved and eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

21st Century: Growth, Storms, and Resilience

The 2000s and 2010s saw a population boom, particularly in the Hampstead and Surf City areas, driven by their proximity to Wilmington and the appeal of coastal living. New subdivisions, schools, and commercial development followed, especially along the U.S. 17 corridor.

However, the county also faced challenges. Hurricane Florence in 2018 caused widespread flooding, especially along the Northeast Cape Fear River, displacing families and damaging infrastructure. The disaster sparked long-term resilience efforts, with new flood mitigation strategies, stronger building codes, and community grants.

Community, Culture, and Today’s Pender

Today, Pender County blends its rich heritage with thoughtful growth. Agriculture still thrives, particularly blueberries, which are celebrated each summer at the NC Blueberry Festival in Burgaw. Efforts to conserve natural spaces include the Holly Shelter Game Land, Black River Preserve, and ongoing easement protection.

Education has expanded through strong public schools and partnerships with Cape Fear Community College.

Pender County is part of the greater Wilmington metropolitan area and continues to grow rapidly. The economy has broadened with new distribution centers, including a major Amazon facility at Pender Commerce Park, bringing jobs and investment.

The county government has invested in public infrastructure, building a new Law Enforcement Center and a Department of Health and Human Services building to meet the needs of a growing population.

Efforts to enhance community spaces are evident in projects like Central Pender Park, which provide recreational and cultural opportunities for residents. Its history is preserved at the Pender County Museum, in historic landmarks, and the stories of long-time families and newcomers alike.

Despite recent development, the county retains its small-town feel, natural beauty, and sense of history, from the Revolutionary War battlefield to the sandy shores of Topsail Island.