ELIZABETHTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA
Town’s website
SITE OF A REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE –
THE BATTLE OF ELIZABETHTOWN
POPULATION
3,265 (2023 census)
LOCATION
Located on Business Highway 87, the town is almost exactly halfway between Fayetteville and Wilmington. US Highway 701 and NC Highways 42 and 242 also cross thru the town.
HISTORY
Elizabethtown, the county seat of Bladen County, was established in 1773 because of its location on the Cape Fear River and proximity to farms and large strands of long leaf pine forests. Cotton, turpentine and pitch were transported down river to Wilmington. A Revolutionary Battle between the Loyalists and Patriots took place here in 1781 and is credited with helping to change the course of the war.
INDUSTRY
Elizabethtown has a variety of manufacturers, agricultural and aerospace related industries within the town limits and at the Industrial Park adjacent to the Curtis Brown Jr. Airport. Retail, restaurants and service-based businesses are mostly located in the town.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Quaint Downtown Area, Cape Fear Winery and Distillery, Cape Fear Farmers Market, Old Trinity Methodist Church, Melvin’s Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, Burney’s Sweet & More and Turnbull Creek Educational Forest Naval Store Interpretation Area
PARKS & RECREATION
Brown’s Creek Mountain Bike Park and Nature Trails, Brown’s Landing Lock and Dam #2, Cape Fear ATV Park, Greene’s Lake Conservation Park, Greene’s Pond and RV Park, Leinwand Park, Johnson Park, Leinwand Park, Lloyd Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, Skateboard Park and Tory Hole Park
SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL EVENTS
Martin Luther King Parade – January
North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling Association Bike Races – March
The Smithfield Cup BBQ Competition
Christmas Parade – Sunday after Thanksgiving
Christmas at the Farmers Market – Saturday in December
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
TOWN HALL 910-862-2066
POLICE 910- 862-3125
