North Carolina

Bladen

29,606
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Bladen

Bladen, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,084. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 29,606.

Its recorded population peaked at 35,190 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 16 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Elizabethtown (NC), Battle of Elizabethtown NC, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202029,606
201035,190
200032,278
199028,663
198030,491
197026,477
196028,881
195029,703
194027,156
193022,389
192019,761
191018,006
190017,677
189016,763
188016,158
187012,831
186011,995
18509,767
18408,022
18307,811
18207,276
18105,671
18007,028
17905,084
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bladen

Military engagements that took place in Bladen, North Carolina.

Battle of Elizabethtown (NC)
1781
Battle of Elizabethtown NC
1781

Historic places in Bladen

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bladen, North Carolina.

Clarkton Depot
Clarkton
Walnut Grove
Tar Heel
Harmony Hall
White Oak
Gilmore-Patterson Farm
St. Paul's
Oakland Plantation
Carvers
Bladen County Training School
Elizabethtown
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

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Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bladen County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Bladen County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bladen

When does Bladen first appear in the US census?
Bladen, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,084.
What is the population of Bladen?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bladen had a recorded population of 29,606.
When did Bladen's population peak?
Bladen's recorded population peaked at 35,190 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Bladen?
2 documented military engagements took place in Bladen, including Battle of Elizabethtown (NC), Battle of Elizabethtown NC.
How many historic places are in Bladen?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bladen, North Carolina.
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