Home > Our Communities > Pender County

Our Communities

Pender County

Founded in 1875, Pender County was named after the Confederate General, William Dorsey Pender. With a population of 48,630 and a tax rate of .59 cents per $100 property valuation, Pender County is comprised of five main areas - Burgaw (the county seat), Hampstead, Scotts Hill, Surf City and Topsail Beach - and encompasses 875 square miles, much of which is unspoiled, natural beauty.

Governed by a Board of Commissioners consisting of a chairman and four members that appoint the county manager, Pender County's economy is primarily driven by tourism, timber and agriculture. Blueberries grown in Pender are sold nationally, and the county harvest ranks second statewide. Seafood plays a large role in the area's economy as well, with Hampstead, located entirely in Pender County, recognizing itself as the "Seafood Capitol of the Carolinas."

In addition to offering a diverse variety of golf courses, beaches and acres of forests in the Holly Shelter Wildlife Refuge, Pender County is home to Moores Creek National Park and Battlefield where patriots won one of their critical victories over the British.

Pender County plays host to numerous events including several held at Poplar Grove Plantation, which is in Scotts Hill off Hwy. 17 South.