"Dobbs County is a former county located in the state of North Carolina. It was formed in 1758 from Johnston County, though the legislative act that created it did not become effective until April 10, 1759. It was named for Arthur Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina from 1754 to 1765.

In 1779 the western part of Dobbs County became Wayne County, and the county seat was moved from its original location on Walnut Creek to the town of Kingston, which was renamed Kinston in 1784. In 1791 Dobbs County was divided into Glasgow County (later renamed Greene County) and Lenoir County, and ceased to exist." 

Originally, Dobbs was surrounded by:
Edgecombe, Pitt, Craven, Duplin, and Johnston counties.

In 1779, Wayne County was created out of Dobbs' western section.
The same year, Jones County was created out of Craven, and bordered Dobbs to the southeast.

Dobbs County was renamed as Glasgow County in 1791.
It was not popular at the time to have a county named for a Royalist governor.
In turn, Glasgow County was abolished in 1799.
The northern section of Glasgow became Greene County, and the southern section became Lenoir County.

In 1779 Wayne County was formed from the western half of Dobbs County. Twelve years later, in 1791, the remainder of Dobbs County was divided into Lenoir and Glasgow (Greene after 1799), and Dobbs County thus ceased to exist. The early records of Dobbs County were destroyed when the Lenoir County Court House was burned in 1878.
 

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Last updated:  January 26, 2024

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