Dobbs County, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dobbs County, North Carolina
Former county
Dobbs County from a 1775 map of North Carolina
Etymology: Arthur Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina from 1754 to 1765
Established	1758
Extinct	1791
Seat	Walnut Creek, Kingston (now Kinston)
Population
• Total	6,893 (including 1,915 slaves; 1,790)

Dobbs County, North Carolina, was a county that existed in the U.S. state of North Carolina for a short time. It was an important part of North Carolina's history during the colonial period and the early years of the United States.

History of Dobbs County

Dobbs County was created in 1758 from a part of Johnston County. The law that officially formed it became active on April 10, 1759.

Why Dobbs County Was Named

The county was named after Arthur Dobbs. He was the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1754 to 1764. A colonial governor was a leader appointed by the king or queen of England to manage the colony.

Changes During the Revolution

In 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, the western part of Dobbs County became a new county called Wayne County. The main town, or "county seat," was moved from Walnut Creek to Kingston. Kingston was later renamed Kinston in 1784.

The End of Dobbs County

In 1788, Dobbs County did not send representatives to an important meeting called the Hillsboro Convention. This meeting was held to vote on the new U.S. Constitution.

Some people, called Federalists, wanted the new Constitution. Others, called Anti-Federalists, did not. In Dobbs County, the Federalists were chosen without anyone running against them because the Anti-Federalists decided not to vote.

Because the name "Dobbs" reminded people of the old colonial times, the North Carolina government decided to change it. In 1791, Dobbs County was divided into two new counties:

• Glasgow County (which was later renamed Greene County)
• Lenoir County

After this division, Dobbs County no longer existed.