North Carolina played a critical, often overlooked, role in our nation’s founding. We at the North Carolina History Project have put together this timeline of our state’s contributions to the American Revolution. The following timeline chronologically lays out some of the most important events in North Carolina’s revolutionary history and links out to our more...
To academic historians and amateur (or avocational) historians: We explored the North Carolina Historical Review to find articles about the American Revolution. I hope these summaries (written by a person, not AI) will whet your appetite for the longer versions. (A link to each article on JSTOR is provided for each.) Did North Carolina’s Revolution...
The North Carolina Historical Review includes a rich collection of articles about the American Revolution. This list was compiled by Kathryn McKee and Jane Shaw Stroup.
Pyle’s Defeat occurred in February 1781 near the end of the Revolution. It was a savage blow to British hopes, as Lt. Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwallis attempted to stop the Patriots’ momentum.
The subject of Scottish folklore and myth, Flora MacDonald assisted Prince Charles Stuart in his escape from King George II. In 1774, she moved to North Carolina, where her Loyalist husband and son fought in the Battle of Moores Creek.
The Edenton Tea Party was one of the earliest organized women’s political actions in United States history. On October 25, 1774, Mrs. Penelope Barker organized, at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth King, fifty-one women in Edenton, North Carolina. Together they formed an alliance wholeheartedly supporting the American cause against “taxation without representation.”
Camden County (1777)
Home to the Great Dismal Swamp, Camden County attracts numerous boaters and outdoor enthusiasts annually. The county was originally established in 1777, and its seat of government is Camden; both are named in honor of Sir Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden. Over 400 Revolutionary War captains and soldiers who served in the Continental Army were from Camden County.
Durham County (1881)
Described by an early explorer as the “flower of the Carolinas”, Durham is a central Piedmont county that was annexed from Orange and Wake counties in 1881. Driven by the tobacco industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Durham County was the city of the affluent American Tobacco Company. Today, the Research Triangle Park (RTP) and the medical institutions make Durham a national asset. In addition, Duke University and North Carolina Central University are in the city.
Union County (1842)
Created from a compromise between Democrats and Whigs in the 1840s, Union County is a southern Piedmont county that borders South Carolina and is home to Wingate University, a Baptist college institution, and the Jesse Helms Center. Some historians argue that Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was born in Union.
Bertie County (1722)
Bertie County, established in 1722 from a section of the Chowan precinct, is located in the northeastern part of North Carolina. A county of rich soil and numerous waterways, Bertie was once inhabited by the Tuscarora. Nathaniel Batts was the first white European to traverse modern-day Bertie, and the Batts House remains a testament to his settlement.
Haywood County (1808)
Haywood, a western, mountain county of North Carolina, was established out of Buncombe County in 1808. Named after John Haywood, the county is home to the Great Smoky Mountains, Maggie Valley, and Lake Junaluska. Waynesville, incorporated in 1871, is the county’s seat of government.
Davidson County (1822)
Established in 1822, Davidson County is a central, Piedmont county in North Carolina. Davidson County has a rich history that dates back to the colonial era and is known for its furniture industries. More than a few boast about the area’s distinct barbecue style that is exhibited at the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival.
Stanly County (1841)
Stanly County, named for the notable North Carolina politician John Stanly, was established from Montgomery in 1841. Morrow Mountain, the Uwharrie Mountains, and the Yadkin-Pee Dee River are impressive physical characteristics within Stanly County.
Lincoln County (1779)
Named in honor of General Benjamin Lincoln, Lincoln County, along with Rutherford County, was established in 1779 from a section of Tryon County. Lincoln is a southwestern, Piedmont county that is known for its rolling topography and its many creeks and brooks. The first cotton mill in the South and some of the oldest iron works furnaces are within Lincoln County.
Gaston County (1846)
A southern Piedmont county, Gaston County is a well established hub for North Carolina textile production. The county was established in 1846 from a large section of Lincoln County, and the county seat is Gastonia. Before its reliance on the textile industry, Gastonia was known for its corn crop, and earned the label the “Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina” in 1870.
Watauga County (1849)
A western, mountain county, Watauga, a native word that means “beautiful river,” has a rich landscape of rivers, valleys, and peaks. The county was established in 1849, and it is named in honor of the Watauga Indian tribe. Watauga County is home to Appalachian State University, Tweetsie Railroad, and several cultural museums.
Clay County (1861)
Nestled in the southwest corner of North Carolina and in the Appalachian Mountains, Clay County benefits from a bustling tourism industry centered on its landscape and historical landmarks.
Caswell County (1777)
A longstanding fixture of the northern Piedmont region, Caswell County is known for its political history and agricultural production.