| 1730 |
Welsh settlements between the Northeast Cape Fear River and the Black River, including the lower, southern part of what was to become Duplin County.
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| 1736 |
Settlement of Ulster Scots and Swiss Protestants on land granted to Henry McCulloch. These early settlements were at Sarecta, Goshen (Goshen Swamp) and Golden Grove or just the Grove (now Kenansville).
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| 1739 |
First recorded reference to the village of Sarecta (Soracte). First reference to the "Sarecta to the Welsh Tract Road", one of the earliest county roads, (NC Hwy. 11 now follows this old road).
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| 1748 |
Area citizens respond to Spanish invasion threat at Wilmington known as the Spanish Alarm.
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| 1750 |
On April 7, Duplin County created from the northern part of New Hanover County. Named for Sir Thomas Hays, Lord Dupplin of Scotland.
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| 1751 |
First official county court held in the Goshen settlement area on Goshen Swamp (north of Kenansville), at the home of William McRee. A short time later the Courthouse was established on Turkey Swamp near the present-day Duplin/Sampson County line west of Warsaw.
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| 1777 |
Duplin County Oath of Allegiance and Abjuration-a testimony of support and faithfulness to the State of North Carolina and a renouncement of the authority of Great Britain, was signed by twenty-five of Duplin's early leaders.
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| 1781 |
General Cornwallis' troops marched through Duplin on their way to Virginia and defeat. They encamped briefly at old Duplin Court House on Turkey Swamp.
Battle of Rockfish Creek: The Duplin Militia, under the command of Col. Thomas Kenan, was routed by the British on August 2, 1781 near Wallace.
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| 1784 |
Sampson County created from the western half of Duplin County. Courthouse moved to a site more centrally located soon to become Kenansville.
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| 1785 |
Grove Academy organized and located in Kenansville. It was one of the earliest formal educational institutions in the county and state.
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| 1787 |
The village of Sarecta incorporated January 6,1787, Duplin's first official town. (It no longer functions as a town).
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| 1790 |
The first Federal census of Duplin County: 3,936 whites, 1,278 slaves.
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| 1816 |
Kenansville authorized to be laid out as a town.
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| 1818 |
Duplin's second courthouse erected in Kenansville.
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| 1838 |
Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad completed through Duplin County.
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| 1852 |
Town of Kenansville incorporated December 27, 1852.
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| 1854 |
The Duplin County Agricultural Society and Fair organized.
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| 1855 |
Town of Warsaw incorporated February 5, 1855. The village was known in its early beginnings as Duplin Depot and Mooresville.
Town of Stricklandsville (Magnolia) incorporated February 15, 1855.
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| 1856 |
Warsaw to Clinton Plank Road completed and in operation.
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| 1857 |
Stricklandsville officially changed to Magnolia February 2, 1857.
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| 1863 |
Confederate Arms Factory in Kenansville destroyed by Federal troops on July 4.
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| 1867 |
Caleb Davis Bradham was born in Chinquapin. In 1898, in his drug store in New Bern, he created a new beverage called Pepsi Cola.
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| 1868 |
Twelve townships established August 14, 1868. (Rose Hill township created in 1897).
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| 1872 |
Town of Faison incorporated February 10, 1872.
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| 1873 |
Town of Duplin Roads (later Wallace) incorporated February 28, 1873.
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| 1874 |
Town of Teachey incorporated January 30, 1874.
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| 1875 |
Town of Rose Hill incorporated March 10, 1875.
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| 1877 |
The "North Carolina Amateur", a highly acclaimed amateur newspaper, began publication in Rose Hill. Printed until 1888. Publishers were George Melvin Carr and W. B. Southerland.
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| 1888 |
President Grover Cleveland appointed Beautancus native, Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith, Ambassador to Liberia. Dr. Smith was Duplin's first and only Ambassador and he was instrumental in the development of Fayetteville State University.
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| 1896 |
James Sprunt Institute established in Kenansville. Named in honor of Dr. James Menzies Sprunt educator, minister, Civil War Chaplain, botanist and Register of Deeds.
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| 1899 |
Town of Wallace incorporated March 4, 1899, formerly Duplin Roads.
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| 1911 |
Town of Bowden incorporated February 27, 1911. It no longer functions as a town.
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| 1913 |
Duplin County's present courthouse completed and accepted on January 16,1913.
Town of Calypso incorporated March 5, 1913.
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| 1915 |
Town of Beulaville incorporated March 9, 1915.
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| 1921 |
First Armistice Day celebration held in Warsaw. Renamed Veterans Day in 1954 and continues to be celebrated each year. It is the oldest, continuous Veterans Day celebration in the United States.
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| 1931 |
Warsaw native, Henry L. Stevens, Jr., elected National Commander of the American Legion. He was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Day Celebration in Warsaw.
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| 1939 |
Four County REA first began installing electric power lines in the rural areas of the county. Four County REA organized in 1937.
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| 1948 |
The Faison Fruit and Vegetable Exchange organized. The produce auction market began in the early 1920s in Faison.
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| 1949 |
"The Duplin Story", an outdoor historical pageant commemorating the 200th anniversary of Duplin County, was presented. Staged again in 1950.
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| 1952 |
J. P. Stevens & Co. located in Wallace. The first major non-agricultural industry in Duplin.
Christine W. Williams became the first woman to be elected Register of Deeds.
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| 1953 |
The beginning of the poultry industry in the county, soon to become Duplin's largest industry.
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| 1954 |
The county's hospital, Duplin General, completed. Hurricane Hazel devastated the area in October.
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| 1963 |
The Duplin County Fair reactivated and held in Beulaville. It was held in 1963, 1964, and 1965.
First annual Rose Hill Poultry Jubilee held October l9, 1963. Later changed to the North Carolina Poultry Jubilee and featured the "world's largest frying pan" 15 feet in diameter.
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| 1964 |
James Sprunt Institute re-established in Kenansville, later to become a part of the state community college system.
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| 1969 |
Town of Greenevers incorporated October 27, 1969. Alex Brown was elected Mayor; first African-American to become Mayor of a Duplin County town.
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| 1975 |
The County's first airport opened north of Kenansville.
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| 1976 |
"The Liberty Cart", a historical outdoor drama, first performed in Kenansville.
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| 1982 |
The Duplin County Fair was re-established and is held each year in Kenansville.
Dovie Penney became the first woman to be elected to the Board of County Commissioners.
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| 1983 |
Dr. William Edgar Thornton, a native of Faison, soared into space on August 30, becoming Duplin's and North Carolina's first astronaut.
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| 1985 |
The nation's largest turkey processing plant, Carolina Turkey, built in Duplin County.
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| 1989 |
Zettie B. Williams was the first African American to be elected to the Board of County Commissioners.
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| 1990 |
Interstate Highway I-40 connecting Wilmington, North Carolina to Barstow, California completed through Duplin County.
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| 1993 |
The outdoor drama, "The Song of Liberty" and the accompanying musical review "Carolina Country 93", opened for its first season.
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| 1995 |
Town of Warsaw held its 75th Veterans Day Celebration.
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| 1996 |
Hurricanes Bertha and Fran struck the area causing extensive damage.
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| 1997 |
Duplin County ranks number one in economic growth across the state.
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| 1999 |
Hurricane Floyd caused major flooding and extensive damage in county, many homes destroyed.
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| 2000 |
Duplin County celebrated its 250th anniversary.
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2002 |
Vision 21 Committee established to carry out the recommendations put forth in the 2002 Strategic Plan. This Plan was created in the hopes of "building Duplin County into a unified community with a diversified economic base providing a good quality of life to all those who would be its citizens. |
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2003 |
WestPark Business Technology Center opens offering office and educational space; Computer Lab with 25 computers boasting dual language keyboards; High-speed Internet throughout building and video conferencing capabilities. |
| 2004 |
Ground breaking for Duplin Commons-a planned campus that will serve as home to an Agriculture Office Building, a Multipurpose Arena and other Future Amenities.
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