North Carolina

Pender

60,203
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Pender

Pender, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 12,468. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 60,203.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Widow Moore's Creek (approach actions), Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge — Loyalist Crossing, Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202060,203
201052,217
200041,082
199028,855
198022,215
197018,149
196018,508
195018,423
194017,710
193015,686
192014,788
191015,471
190013,381
189012,514
188012,468
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pender

Military engagements that took place in Pender, North Carolina.

Battle of Widow Moore's Creek (approach actions)
1776
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge — Loyalist Crossing
1776
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
1776
Skirmish at Topsail Sound NC
1862
Stoneman's Raid — Harrisonburg (Burgaw) NC Approaches
1865

Historic places in Pender

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

Burgaw Depot
Burgaw
US Naval Ordnance Testing Facility Assembly Building
Topsail Beach
Moore's Creek National Military Park (Boundary Increase)
Wilmington
Burgaw Historic District
Burgaw
Belvidere Plantation House
Hampstead
Moores Creek National Battlefield
Wilmington
US Naval Ordnance Testing Facility Control Tower
Topsail Beach
Pender County Courthouse
Burgaw
Penderlea Homesteads Historic District
Willard
Poplar Grove
Scotts Hill
Sloop Point
Vista
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Other counties in North Carolina

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Pender County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Pender 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 Pender

When does Pender first appear in the US census?
Pender, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 12,468.
What is the population of Pender?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pender had a recorded population of 60,203.
Were any battles fought in Pender?
5 documented military engagements took place in Pender, including Battle of Widow Moore's Creek (approach actions), Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge — Loyalist Crossing, Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.
How many historic places are in Pender?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pender, North Carolina.
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