Map of Bladenboro town

Bladenboro is a town in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,750.

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Bladenboro location map. Where is Bladenboro town?

History

Establishment and early years

Development around Bladenboro, a farming community also known in its earliest days for its turpentine and lumber, began to take off after a railroad was built through the area in 1859. In 1885, brothers R.L. and H.C. Bridger came to Bladenboro from Little River, South Carolina, to operate a turpentine business. They soon became involved in the timber business and operated a cotton gin. The brothers and their descendants would have a major effect on the shaping of the town and its economy for much of the next century. Major businesses, owned and operated by members of the Bridger family and which employed many area residents, have included Bridger Corporation (a farming supply company and general store no longer in operation), Bladenboro Cotton Mills (established in 1912 and later sold to become Highland Mills), and the Bank of Bladenboro (established in 1908 and now part of First Citizens Bank).

The town of Bladenboro was incorporated in 1903.

Beast of Bladenboro

In 1954, Bladenboro received national attention for several mysterious animal killings, mostly of dogs and livestock, in the area. The animals had broken jaws and had been drained of blood in a fashion not unlike the supposed attacks of Chupacabra. However, sightings describe the attacker as resembling a cat or wolf, which led to the local legend known as the “Beast of Bladenboro.” In 2008, the History Channel television series Monster Quest performed an analysis concerning these attacks, which were beginning to happen again, and concluded that the attacker might have been a cougar.

Death of Lennon Lacy

In August 2014, Lennon Lacy, a student attending West Bladen High School, was found dead, hanging from the frame of a swing set in the center of a mobile home community. The death was initially declared a suicide by North Carolina’s Chief Medical Examiner, but Lacy’s family believed that he had been lynched. Lacy, who was black, had been dating a white woman, who also believed Lacy had been murdered, and who claimed neighbors had warned her that their interracial relationship was “not right”. In December 2014, the FBI announced it would investigate. In June 2016, the conclusion of the FBI investigation was announced, having found “no evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges”.

Recent years

Bladenboro’s downtown was heavily damaged by hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

Bladenboro Road Map

Bladenboro city Satellite Map

Geography

Bladenboro is located at 34°32′26″N 78°47′35″W / 34.54056°N 78.79306°W / 34.54056; -78.79306 (34.540461, -78.792941).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km), all land.

See also