Emma Timbers Brains and Brawns College history
Pender County, North Carolina, steeped in history, was formed on February 16, 1875, from New Hanover County. This article delves into the historical context of Pender County, exploring its formation, early governance, geographical characteristics, and key figures, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of its rich heritage.
The Genesis of Pender County
The movement to create Pender County stemmed from a desire among white inhabitants to form a new county excluding Wilmington, believing they could govern themselves successfully. The first active step occurred at a mass meeting in Long Creek Village in 1873. Petitions were circulated to segregate the new county, and a legislative committee, including Dr. Hanson Murphy, Dr. S. S. Satchwell, Dr. Elisha Porter, Mr. R. Beverly Frazier, and Mr. R. K., was appointed.
The General Assembly, then Democratic, favored the movement, facing only weak opposition. The bill, titled “An Act to establish a new County by the name of Pender,” passed and was ratified on February 16, 1875.
Early Governance and County Seat
An election was held in April 1875 to elect key officials, including a Clerk of the Superior Court, Sheriff, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Surveyor, five Commissioners, and a Coroner. The elected Commissioners were W. H. French, C. H. Manning, A. V. Horrell, Daniel Shaw, and Miles Armstrong (Negro). They qualified before J. G., a Justice of the Peace of New Hanover County.
The Board of County Commissioners met on May 1 to receive bonds and vote on the location of the Superior Court. South Washington (now Watha) was chosen as the county seat, and the first court convened there on July 12, 1875, presided over by Judge A. H. McKoy, with W. S. Norment as Solicitor. The Grand Jury included citizens such as William Burney, Virgil Carr (Negro), and John W. James, while the Petit Jury included Benj. Hendricks, Amos Flynn, and L. N. Bowden.
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C. M. Galloway was elected as the first Clerk of the Court, C. W. Manning as Register of Deeds, A. V. Horrell as Sheriff, James McPherson as Tax Collector, and John A. as Treasurer.
The County Seat Controversy
Jim Heaton, the Carpet Bag Clerk of the Superior Court of New Hanover County, opposed the new county and sought to locate the county site in an undesirable place. He and his allies advocated for South Washington (now Watha), and succeeded in making it the political center. The courts and county business were transacted there for about two years in an old two-story wooden building.
Naming of Pender County
Pender County was named for General William Dorsey Pender. After the Act ratifying the county's formation, Dr. Elisha Porter, of Rocky Point, who had served in General Pender's regiment, was given the honor of naming the county.
Geographical and Environmental Overview
Pender County, the fifth largest in the state, is primarily agricultural, encompassing 857 square miles (548,480 acres). The county's elevation ranges from sea level to approximately 65 feet, with a gradual slope to the south and southeast and higher elevations in the northwest. The county is drained by the north-east Cape Fear River.
Holly Shelter Pocosin occupies a significant portion of the southeastern section, with numerous creeks flowing into the river and the Atlantic Ocean. The western side features upland piny woods, characterized by long leaf pine and an undergrowth of oaks, hickory, and dogwood.
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The annual mean temperature is 63°F, with extremes ranging from 5°F to 103°F. The annual rainfall averages 51.5 inches. The topography is uniform, lying within the Coastal Plain Region of North Carolina. The soils are generally clay, silt, and sand, with the most extensive series being Norfolk and Portsmouth. The Parkwood series is distinguished by underlying limestone and marl materials.
Agricultural History and Natural Resources
The first crops grown in the region included corn, sweet potatoes, peas, and some wheat, oats, and peanuts. Cotton was a staple crop until the boll weevil appeared. Currently, the string bean is an abundant crop. According to the Census Bureau, many men have returned to farming in recent years.
Pender County has abundant forests of short leaf, loblolly, and long leaf pine, oak, black gum, sweet gum, dogwood, birch, maple, ash, walnut, hickory nut, cypress, and sycamore. The standing timber is estimated at 150,000,000 feet. The rosin industry was also important, followed by lumbering. The forests are rich in game, including deer, squirrel, fox, wild turkeys, bear, and various birds.
Townships and Key Figures
When the Townships of Pender County were first formed and named after the Civil War, Republicans were in power, and the Townships were named after prominent Republicans.
Several key figures have contributed to Pender County, including County Auditor George F., Clifton L., John J., and Leon H.
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Pender County Courthouse and Jail
The cornerstone of the first Court House and Jail was laid on July 4, 1885. Before the jail was built, an old wooden building called the “calaboose” was used. The County seat was an old two-story wooden building used as a store and school room until 1885. The present jail is operated by the Sheriff.
Burgaw: The County Seat
Burgaw, the county seat, is located near the center of the county and is the principal town with a population of about 1,500. The town site was donated by the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Company, now the Atlantic Coast Line. Burgaw was a flag station and maintained a post office in 1858.
Rocky Point
The Town Charter for Rocky Point was granted in 1879 and amended several times. There was no place of worship or public school at that time. erected a two-story building, calling it the Academy, which was used for various public gatherings.
Town Layout and Community
Burgaw is systematically laid out with wide streets running north and south, east and west, including McCullen, Johnson, Smith, McRae, Dickinson, Wright, Walker, Cowan, and Moore Streets. The town has grown slowly and substantially, with most residents owning their homes.
County Extension Farm Work
The County Extension Farm Work was organized in 1914. There are nine Four-H Clubs with 560 members who are taught gardening, poultry, and livestock production. These clubs are located in the High Schools at Hampstead, Burgaw, Long Creek, Atkinson, Penderlea, Maple Hill, and Rocky Point. New dairies are being built throughout the County, contributing to the war effort.
Transportation and Markets
Pender County has good transportation facilities with three branches of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway crossing the County. The Wilmington and Norfolk Branch extends through the center, the Wilmington and New Bern branch parallels the coast, and the Yadkin Division crosses the western section. The Atlantic Coastal Inland Waterway is on the eastern boundary. Burgaw and other towns provide markets for truck crops and farm products. The Burgaw Airport Commission was organized on June 20, 1944.
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