Welcome to Stanly County NCGenWeb!
Stanly County Creation
Stanly County NC was formed in 1841 from the part of Montgomery County west of the Pee Dee River… citizens were unhappy about having to go to the county seat of Montgomery County to take care of business. They petitioned the state to have a new county formed in 1838. The delay in getting a county created was in regard to a dispute of where the new county courthouse should be located. That was resolved by the North Carolina General assembly splitting Montgomery county into two counties and allowing each county to build a courthouse where they preferred. Stanly County picked Albemarle as their county seat.
More detail : Wikipedia
Name of the County
Stanly County was named for John Stanly of New Bern (1774-1834), who served several terms in the NC House of Commons and 2 terms in the US House of Representatives. John Stanly had no connection with the area named for him, but that the name was chosen to please state legislators.
More detail: Wikipedia
County Seat
Albemarle was a region in what was known at the time to be in Montgomery county with the first post office for the region being established in 1826. It emerged a hub city being crossroads for the Old Turnpike Road from Fayetteville to Salisbury (north/south) and the Old Stage Road connecting Charlotte and Raleigh (east/west). After the new county was formed, Nehemiah Hearne’s heirs donated 51 acres from his plantation near the intersection of the roads. The courthouse was erected in 1842 and used for 50 years. The city of Albemarle was formally incorporated in 1857.
More detail: Wikipedia
Who migrated to the region.
Large-scale European settlement of the region came in the mid-18th century via two primary waves: immigrants of Dutch, Scots Irish and German descent moved from Pennsylvania and New Jersey seeking enhanced religious and political tolerance, while immigrants of English backgrounds came to the region from Virginia and the Cape Fear River Basin in Eastern North Carolina.
Adjacent counties to Stanly County
Stanly County is surrounded by seven counties. Rowan county to the north, Davidson County to the northeast, Montgomery County to the east, Anson County to the south, Union County to the south, Richmond County to the southeast, and Cabarrus County to the west.
Regions within Stanly county
Older maps and early Censuses refer to townships within Stanly county. Regions include Ridenhour, Harris, Almond, Albemarle, Furr, Big Lick, Tyson, and Center. Some townships are named for notable individuals, places and local features within the county. Harris was named for a prominent family in the area, as well as Ridenhour, Almond and Furr. Big Lick Township got its name from a large natural salt lick that attracted many animals.
Adjacent counties are: Rowan, Cabarrus, Union, Anson, Richmond and Montgomery.
Header image credits: Stony Hill United Methodist Church, Misenheimer Post Office, Old Barn.
Updated June 8, 2025 – Paula