How did Lenoir County get formed?
How did Lenoir County get formed, when and who is it named for?
Lenoir County was formed in 1792 when Dobbs County was abolished and divided in two (Glasglow and Lenoir). The decision to abolish Dobbs was political. After the Revolutionary War the newly labeled “Americans” had a strong desire to disassociate from anything English. Dobb’s County had been named after a royal governor, Arthur Dobbs, and the now independent area did not want the Tory stigma. Corruption and lawlessness had also grown in Dobb’s County and administering justice was difficult due to the ruralness and size of the area.. Thus Dobbs was abolished on January 21, 1792 and divided into Lenoir and Glascow Counties. Kingston became Kinston, the Lenoir County Seat. Lenoir County was named after the revolutionary patriot General William Lenoir. He served as Major General of the Militia for 18 years after the war, both houses of the Assembly, and was a member of the convention of 1789 which adopted the Federal Constitution. General Lenoir was an original trustee of the University of North Carolina and president of the UNC Board. Known for his good health, he was active in politics and traveled extensively until his death on May 6,1829 at the age of 88.
- Kat Clowers
Coordinator of Library Services
Learning Resources Center
