Caswell County

Caswell County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located in the Piedmont Triad region of the state. At the 2020 census, the population was 22,736. Its county seat is Yanceyville.

Partially bordering the state of Virginia, the county was formed from Orange County in 1777 and named for Richard Caswell, the first governor of North Carolina. Other Caswell County communities include Blanch, Casville, Leasburg, Milton, Pelham, Prospect Hill, Providence, and Semora.

The Dan River flows through a portion of the county. Hyco Lake is a popular recreational area and key water source.

History

Early settlement and development

Native American era

The area was first inhabited by Native Americans over 10,000 years ago. Indigenous residents included Siouan-speaking groups such as the Occaneechi, Shakori, and Eno. Abundant evidence of indigenous activity, including pottery fragments, arrowheads, and stone tools, has been discovered across Caswell County, reflecting its long history of Native American habitation and settlement.

British land grants and first settlements

In 1663 and 1665, Charles II of England granted the land of what is now North and South Carolina (named for his father, Charles I) to eight noblemen, known as the Lords Proprietors. In 1742, land including present day Caswell County became part of the Granville District belonging to John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.

Caswell County was once part of the northern region of Orange County, which was established in 1752. Colonial records show that land grants in the area now comprising Caswell County were issued as early as 1748. There were Scotch-Irish, German, and English settlements along the Dan River and Hogans and Country Line creeks by 1751.

The first recorded settlements occurred between 1750 and 1755, when eight to ten families migrated from within Orange County, as well as from Culpeper and Spotsylvania counties in Virginia. The primary reason for resettlement was economic. They were searching for fertile land, which the lowlands of the Dan River and several creeks provided.

The area grew rapidly after the initial settlements. Scotch-Irish and German families traversed the Great Wagon Road, which was the main route for settlement in the region, and had come by way of Virginia and Pennsylvania. English and French Huguenot migrants came from settled areas of eastern North Carolina, following the Great Trading Path. English colonists also came from Virginia using the same network of roads and trails.

Slavery and labor

Enslaved Africans were brought to the area by migrating enslavers beginning in the 1750s, and also by slave traders, primarily through the domestic slave trade from within North Carolina, Virginia, and other colonies.

Slavery in the region was facilitated by:
*Debt-based transactions, where enslaved individuals were pledged as collateral for loans or debts, a common practice among landowners seeking to expand their farms or acquire supplies.
*Slave auction blocks in North Carolina, where traffickers sold enslaved individuals, often moving large groups through the region.
* Intergenerational enslavement, wherein children born to enslaved mothers were automatically enslaved under colonial laws.
Legal frameworks to reinforce the institution of slavery were established in North Carolina before the area was extensively settled and continued to evolve as the region developed. For example:

*The 1741 North Carolina slave codes barred enslaved people from owning livestock, carrying guns without permission, restricted manumission, and allowed the killing of freedom-seeking enslaved people without legal consequences.
*In 1774, North Carolina prohibited the importation of enslaved individuals, aiming to resist British policies and assert colonial autonomy. This did not end the domestic slave trade because the prohibition only applied to the importation of enslaved individuals from outside North Carolina, not the buying, selling, or trading of those already within the colony.
*In 1790, North Carolina lifted its ban on importing enslaved people, leading to a rapid increase in the state's enslaved population.

As agriculture expanded during the late 18th century, particularly with the rise of tobacco cultivation, the population of enslaved persons in the area grew significantly.

Enslaved labor was mostly concentrated on farms rather than large plantations, with many white enslavers owning five or fewer enslaved individuals. Those enslaved in the region were primarily field workers, with some domestic workers and a smaller number skilled artisans.

Enslaved Black inhabitants endured harsh conditions under forced labor, yet maintained resilience through cultural practices, family bonds, and subtle acts of resistance. In response to brutality, they employed tactics such as escape, violent resistance, and theft to survive.Marvin L. Kay, et al. "'They Are Indeed the Constant Plague of their Tyrants': Slave Defence of a Moral Economy in Colonial North Carolina, 1748-1772," ''Slavery & Abolition,'' Dec 1985, Vol. 6 Issue 3, pp 37-56

By 1800, enslaved persons accounted for nearly one-third (32%) of the county's population.

Social structure

The earliest white settlers in the mid-18th century were primarily yeoman farmers and planters. Later in the century, they were joined by white middle-class settlers—historically referred to as the "new families." The area's culture was strongly influenced by Scotch-Irish and English traditions, shaping its social, spiritual, educational, and economic life."Caswell is Home of Flue-Cured Tobacco," ''The News & Observer'' (Raleigh, NC), May 18, 1940, p11

Yeoman farmers accounted for more than half of the settler population. Few if any were enslavers at this time. The yeomanry owned small family farms and lived in log homes. They farmed for subsistence, with surpluses going toward debt settlement or bartering for goods. Relying on the skilled and unskilled labor of family members, neighbors, and others, they supported the local agricultural economy by linking farms to early grist mills and sawmills.

Yeoman farmers' economic independence reflected the region's social structure, which provided opportunities for advancement to settlers. For example, North Carolina's lack of a rigid class system enabled migrants to attain prominent government roles more easily. This particularly attracted middle-class settlers mainly from Virginia to the area, some of whom later became sheriffs, justices, militia officers, and state legislators.

Middle-class families, representing a smaller proportion of the settler population, played a significant role in the area's early economic and social development. Families including the Coles, Holts, Stephens, and Upchurches were among the "new families" that contributed much to local prosperity by fostering business, trade, and settlement in the region.

Due to the influx of the middle class, entrepreneurship and craftsmanship became prevalent in the area, with many settlers engaging in local trades and artisanal production. The new settlers relied on family labor and other workers, also on their small farms, but many later adopted enslaved labor as their prosperity grew.

The planter class, or gentry, constituted the upper class and were the smallest segment of the white settler population. Most came from prosperous families, owned extensive landholdings, and were familiar with Enlightenment ideas. Through land ownership, agriculture, and enslaved labor, they built wealth and influence that shaped the region's economic, political, and cultural landscape.

The Graves family, who migrated to the area from Virginia in the mid-1750s, exemplified this gentry class. John Graves (1715–1792), a large landowner and patriarch of the family, acquired extensive tracts along Country Line Creek and established a mill and plantation. His descendants, including his son Azariah Graves (1768–1850), emerged as prominent planters, legislators, and community leaders, embodying the planter class's influence.

The Graves family also contributed to religion and education in the region. Azariah's brother, Rev. Barzillai Graves (1759–1827), served as pastor of local Baptist churches, where he played a key role in leading the community’s spiritual life. Azariah supported missionary efforts and is said to have hosted a school for young women on his plantation, which by 1820, per the census, enslaved 56 people.

While the Graves family represented the height of privilege and influence within the planter class, the area’s smaller-scale and less prominent planters had fewer landholdings and lived more modestly. Often called "common planters," they held a position between the gentry and moderately prosperous families. They typically participated in land speculation and trade, established small mills, bred and sold livestock, and grew profitable crops such as wheat, corn, oats, and tobacco on their medium-sized farms.

In the mid-18th century, in addition to enslaved labor, several common planters in the area employed bound apprentices, including mixed-race individuals, under fixed contracts, often for agricultural labor or skilled trades. However, as enslaved labor became more accessible and affordable later in the century, the reliance on bound apprentices diminished.

Early agriculture

Early agriculture in the area focused on corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco. Additional crops included sweet potatoes, rye, flax, peas, beans, and hay. Cattle, hogs, and sheep were also raised, and much wool was shorn.

The importance of tobacco in the region's nascent agricultural economy grew over time; it began playing a key role around 1793. Until the early 1800s, it was grown as both a primary and secondary crop, depending on market demand, pricing, soil exhaustion, and other variables.

From the early 1760s until the early 1770s, many regional planters received credit loans from British-owned mercantile companies in the province to expand agricultural production. The loans funded land purchases and enslaved labor, while British merchants managed agricultural exports sent to Virginia warehouses and supplied imported goods.

Initially, these companies offered favorable terms to planters, but over time, declining prices and high debts forced many to sell land or enslaved people to remain solvent. Due to the American Revolutionary War, most of these debts were never repaid. After the war, demand for tobacco rose in the 1790s as new markets emerged without British middlemen.

Community development

During the mid-18th century, the area later known as Caswell County was commonly referred to as "the backcountry" due to its remote location. As the region grew, it became home to mostly small to medium-sized farms, where settlers were progressive about building sustainable communities.

Among the first settlers, the Delone family migrated to the area in the early 1750s, while the Graves and Lea families, who intermarried, arrived in the mid-1750s; together, these families played significant roles in community development. For example, Nicholas Delone and William Lea partnered to sell one hundred acres, divided into sixty-two lots, to establish the area's first town, Leasburg. Officially established in 1788, the town was named for William Lea—a prominent merchant and civic leader.

Lea family members, namely John Lea, also contributed to early community development by initiating the construction of the area’s first chapel around 1750, later known as Lea's Chapel. Another William Lea, known as Capt. William Lea, was named "overseer of the road," responsible for keeping the chapel's road in good repair.

Older families such as the Leas were known as "progressive conservatives" for their dual approach: fostering community development through churches, schools, and businesses, while opposing government spending and debt increases, particularly for post-Revolutionary War internal improvements.

Before the war, as local communities grew, they faced challenges from broader regional events. For example, the region was impacted by the French and Indian War and the Regulator Movement—an uprising against the colonial government in Hillsborough and surrounding counties. During that time, John Lea served as the sheriff of Orange County and was attacked by five men while attempting to serve a paper on a Regulator; he was tied to a tree and flogged.

The Regulator Movement heightened tensions between settlers and the colonial government, although it was not directly about independence; many Regulators remained loyal to the British Crown. The movement reflected the frustrations of those backcountry settlers who were angered by perceived government corruption, unfair taxation, and other mistreatments, culminating with the Battle of Alamance in 1771.

The uprising's stance on government corruption and unfair taxation resonated with the broader revolutionary movement, which wanted independence from the Crown. In backcountry communities throughout the region, the American Revolution found much support.

Education

Education in the area was limited before the Revolutionary War. Between 1750 and 1775, an estimated one-third of white inhabitants could read, and fewer could write. By the period of 1775-1800, around half of the white population received a basic English education, which included reading, writing, and arithmetic.

From 1800 onwards, significant progress was made in education, with Robert H. Childers, a local educator and skilled penman, contributing notably; it is estimated that at least half of the county's white youth who developed good writing skills were taught directly or indirectly by him.

Building on this momentum, plantation owners and citizens of (later) Yanceyville and Leasburg, seeking to promote the intellectual development of their youth, publicly proposed plans for the establishment of academies in the winter of 1801. Due to these efforts, academies and female seminaries were founded in the area and expanded over time. Notable institutions included:

*Caswell Academy (1802): offered courses in literature, morality, and religion, with a focus on preparing students for the University of North Carolina.
*Hico Academy (1804): provided English education, Latin, Greek, and mathematics, with a focus on preparing students for university entrance.
*Springfield Academy (1818): offered various subjects under the direction of William C. Love.
Female seminaries:
*Miss Prendergast's School (1818): offered courses in orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, and needlework.
*Milton Female Academy (1819): emphasized proper conduct, religious exercises, and academic subjects.
*Somerville Female Institute (late 1850s): offered a comprehensive education, including sciences, literature, and arts, with a focus on preparing young women for higher education.

Academies and seminaries such as these were instrumental in shaping the region's educational landscape.

Religion

The early inhabitants brought with them their religious beliefs from their places of origin, but the typical religious affiliation before the Revolution was with the Church of England.

Lea's Chapel was formed around 1750 and functioned as a privately controlled "plantation chapel," used for services by local rectors and visiting preachers from various denominations. In 1779, the State of North Carolina granted the chapel and the land around it to Capt. William Lea—a prominent citizen and landowner in the area. His descendants gave the property to the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1833.

In addition to Lea's Chapel, other notable churches were established in the region. Pennsylvania missionary Hugh McAden founded Red House Presbyterian Church possibly as early as 1755. Country Line Primitive Baptist Church was established in 1772. These and other early churches served as vital places of worship and community gathering, enriching the settlers' social and spiritual lives.

Creation

Caswell County was formed from the northern half of Orange County and officially established on June 1, 1777, during a time of heightened patriotic fervor. It was created so that governance could be more localized and efficient. The legislative act establishing the county ordered its first court to be held at the homestead of Thomas Douglas and appointed commissioners to find a permanent location to build a county courthouse and prison.

Caswell County was named for Richard Caswell, the first governor of North Carolina. He was also a delegate at the First and Second Continental Congresses and a senior officer of militia in the Southern theater of the Revolutionary War.

During the prelude to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781, Lord Cornwallis pursued General Nathanael Greene through Caswell County. Greene's retreat, called the "Race to the Dan," was a calculated ploy. His objective was to extend Cornwallis far beyond his supply base in Camden, South Carolina, so that his fighting power would be significantly diminished.

Cornwallis and his troops marched through Camp Springs and Leasburg. They continued on to the Red House Church area of Semora. It is unknown how many locally enslaved people fled to the British for safe haven before the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

By the war's end in 1783, Caswell County had made significant contributions of personnel and materiel to the war effort. Little fighting took place locally. County residents renowned for their Revolutionary War service include Lieutenant Colonel Henry "Hal" Dixon, John Herndon Graves, Dr. Lancelot Johnston, and Starling Gunn.

Following the war, the county experienced notable social changes. A small number of free Black families settled in the area. Most of the men had served in the Continental Army or Navy. Usually skilled in a trade, they farmed in a manner similar to yeoman farmers but did not have equal rights. They encountered barriers such as limited access to fertile land, fewer legal protections, and social discrimination.

As the county continued to develop, its infrastructure needs became more pressing.
By the mid-1780s, no county courthouse had been built, prompting the General Assembly to pass another act authorizing the construction of public buildings. As a result, a courthouse was established at Leasburg, which was incorporated in 1788 as the county’s first official seat of government.

Caswell County's significant population growth had necessitated advancements in governance and infrastructure. A special state census in 1786 ranked it as the second-largest county with a population of 9,839—trailing only Halifax County, which had 489 more inhabitants.

In February 1792, the eastern half of the county was legally separated to form Person County. Following this division, Caswell County's seat of government was relocated from Leasburg to a more central location. The community hosting the new county seat was originally called Caswell Court House. In 1833, the name was changed to Yanceyville.

Economic history (1800-2020s)

Tobacco boom and antebellum growth (1800–1861)

In the early 1800s, Caswell County's wealthy landowners were moving away from diversified farming and accelerating toward tobacco as a single cash crop. This agricultural conversion considerably affected the growth of the enslaved population, which rose 54 percent from 1800 to 1810.

In 1810, the village of Caswell Court House (later Yanceyville) had one store and a hattery, two taverns, and approximately fifteen homes. Not long thereafter, silversmiths, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coachmakers, and other tradesmen began opening businesses. Attorneys, doctors, preachers, and politicians were also drawn to the growing village and county seat.

Around 1830, Caswell County entered a period of economic expansion known as the Boom Era, which lasted until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. Bright leaf tobacco emerged as the county’s dominant cash crop, but the era also saw industrialization flourish, with the rise of flour and lumber mills, a cotton factory, a foundry, and a silk company.

Additionally, one of the era’s most notable achievements was the renowned furniture craftsmanship of Thomas Day, a free Black businessman in Milton. Day’s creations are now celebrated as a major contribution to American decorative arts.

Furthermore, in Yanceyville roads were improved and formally named by 1841. By 1852, the town had grown prosperous enough to charter the Bank of Yanceyville, which boasted one of the highest market capitalizations in the state.

In 1839, on Abisha Slade's farm in Purley, an enslaved man named Stephen discovered the bright leaf tobacco flue-curing process. Slade perfected the curing method in 1856. The following year, his farm harvested of bright leaf tobacco on 100 acres of land, and the crop was sold at an exorbitant price in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Slade taught the flue-curing technique to many farmers in the area and elsewhere, helping to spread its adoption. Bright leaf tobacco became popular with smokers and North Carolina growers gained a dominant position in the tobacco industry as a result.

The skyrocketing tobacco economy enriched many local residents. The lifestyle of many yeoman farmers shifted to that of planters. Many of the newly wealthy built Greek Revival-style homes and sent their children to private academies. However, the majority of Caswell County's inhabitants did not benefit. By 1850, enslaved African Americans accounted for 52 percent of the county's population.

By 1856, tobacco overshadowed all other forms of enterprise in Caswell County. Tobacco warehouses and manufacturing & processing plants dotted the skyline, with the largest centers located in Yanceyville and Milton. The growth of the industry and increase in raw tobacco production created an expanding need for labor. The number of enslaved people in the county grew to 9,355 in 1860, from a total of 4,299 in 1810 and 2,788 in 1800.

There were 26 free Black inhabitants residing in Caswell County in 1800, 90 in 1810, and 282 in 1860. The white population declined from a peak of 8,399 in 1850 to 6,578 in 1860. This was due to the western migration of small-scale farmers who were unable to compete with the larger tobacco planters.

In 1858, construction began on Caswell County Courthouse. Built with enslaved labor, the courthouse was completed in 1861 around the start of the Civil War, which brought an end to the prosperous Boom Era.

Post-Civil War to World War I (1865–1918)

After the Civil War, Caswell County remained economically dependent on tobacco, with limited emphasis on agricultural diversification. The production of grain crops decreased and cotton ceased to be grown. The Second Industrial Revolution in varying degrees passed it by. Other than a few tobacco mills, there was an absence of industry and no railroad. Persistent soil erosion from land overuse and other agricultural challenges further strained the local economy.

Consequently, the county's population significantly diminished between 1880 and 1900, increasing only after 1910. By then, Yanceyville and Semora had phone service, signaling an improvement in local conditions. However, the area still faced persistent challenges, including:

*Inadequate farming practices, including shallow plowing and poor rotation
*Limited crop diversity due to heavy reliance on tobacco
*Underdeveloped livestock production

These issues hindered economic stability and soil health, adversely impacting the county's overall development in the early years of the 20th century.

Despite such ongoing agricultural and economic challenges, Caswell County’s residents demonstrated resilience and community spirit during World War I. There was widespread participation in Red Cross work, military registration, and other efforts to support the war. Women played an especially active role, and local leaders effectively managed resources to aid both soldiers and civilians.

1920s to World War II

Through the 1920s, Caswell County's population kept growing. To provide better public facilities, the Caswell County Board of Education initiated school improvement projects. During this period, the county experienced several other notable developments: In 1926, ''The Caswell Messenger'' began publication and the Caswell County Chamber of Commerce was established. Additionally, the Yanceyville Telephone Company was founded and the County Home for the poor was constructed.

However, during the Great Depression, many farmers and local businesses struggled with economic hardship, falling crop prices, and limited access to credit. To assist the local community, the Yanceyville Rotary Club was founded in 1937, and its members successfully pioneered economic and community development projects. The county's economy further diversified with the establishment of the Caswell Knitting Mill in 1939.

Additionally, Roosevelt's New Deal rural road development initiatives, improved farming practices starting in the 1940s, and the economic impact of World War II also had a positive effect on the area.

Post-World War II to 2020s

After World War II, into the 1950s and 1960s, Caswell County’s leaders widely recognized that continued economic advancement depended on multiple factors. These included developing and sustaining sufficient water resources for industrial expansion, improving infrastructure such as roads, providing new and diverse county-wide services, increasing cultural resources, and operating local government in a more business-like manner.

By 1950, the county reached a peak of 20,870 inhabitants, which was not surpassed until the 2000 census. The economic upswing of the 1950s saw new businesses entering the area. This included the opening of a meatpacking operation in 1956 in Caswell County’s southwest corner. Between the mid-1950s and mid-1980s, the county also attracted textile mills to Yanceyville. Such growth enabled the local government to broaden its tax base and see increases in public revenue.

The arrival of Piedmont Community College’s branch campus in Yanceyville in 1988 marked another significant development. The campus has served both adult learners seeking professional development and high school students enrolled in the Career and College Promise program, which provides opportunities for college credits, certificates, or associate degrees during their secondary education. The campus's adjacency to Bartlett Yancey High School has enhanced vocational and academic pathways for local students.

In 1995, the county became involved in the film industry when Canadian producer Zale Magder invested approximately five million dollars to build a film production complex in Yanceyville. The complex was part of Magder's vision for a "Hollywood East," which would feature amenities such as jogging trails, a golf course, a restaurant, and a fitness center to attract filmmakers and stars. Although the studio ultimately declared bankruptcy, several films and commercials were produced at the site, which is now utilized as industrial space.

As Caswell County entered the 2000s, it faced economic challenges including the tobacco industry's decline, adaptation to the Information Age, and the rise of heritage tourism as an economic driver. The county's population saw modest growth between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, followed by a 4.1 percent decline by the 2020 census.

By the 2020s, the local economy had further diversified into manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and other services, while agriculture remained foundational. Business activity grew due to the county's accessible location, available commercial properties, undeveloped land, relatively low property taxes, and other factors.

Civil War period

In May 1861, North Carolina, albeit with some reluctance, joined the Confederacy, which by then was at war with the Union. Caswell County provided troops, clothing, food, and tobacco in support of the war effort. Companies A, C, and D of the North Carolina Thirteenth Regiment consisted almost entirely of county enlistments. The area's soldiers fought in every major Civil War battle and there were many casualties.

In Caswell County in January 1862, a significant number of African Americans fled slavery. Seven patrol squads comprising 34 individuals were dispatched to Yanceyville in search of them. It is unknown if any were able to find safe haven behind Union lines.

In the spring of 1862, salt used for meat preservation was rationed, which was a statewide measure. As the war raged on, the county's inhabitants faced food shortages. Daily necessities were in short supply. Speculators benefitted while most remained in need.

The minutes of the Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions from January 1863 to July 1866 were either lost or destroyed. Consequently, it is difficult for researchers to ascertain what was occurring in the county's court system during this period.

At the 1860 U.S. census, 58.7 percent of Caswell County's population was enslaved. Due to the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, enslaved African Americans in Confederate territory were recognized as free individuals by the executive branch of the U.S. federal government. They gained military protection upon crossing into Union-controlled areas or through the advance of federal troops.

Many African Americans likely either fled or attempted to flee the area between 1863 and the war's end. Most remained confined behind Confederate lines until Union forces occupied much of the state during the Carolinas campaign in 1865.

Reconstruction era

After the Civil War during Reconstruction, the pattern of daily life in Caswell County dramatically changed. The previous plantation way of life had disappeared. Small farmers fell into deeper poverty. Abandoned land and eroded soil permeated the landscape. The area faced a decreased standard of living and insufficient public revenue for services that governments ordinarily provided.

Many white citizens in the county resented the war's outcome and its aftermath, as did others in the North Carolina Piedmont area. Regional newspapers actively fomented their bitterness. When Congressional Reconstruction was established in 1867, it was characterized as an effort by Radical Republicans to force Black suffrage upon them. A significant number of county residents began flocking to the Conservative Party, a loose coalition of prewar Democrats and former Whigs.

African Americans in the area had experienced immense jubilation when informed of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Their freedom was then safeguarded by Union troops, the Freedmen's Bureau, and the protection of the Thirteenth Amendment. However, in 1866 restrictive state laws called Black Codes were passed in North Carolina by former Confederate legislators who had returned to power as Conservatives. Enacted to regain control over African Americans, these laws were nullified by congressional civil rights legislation later in 1866.

In 1868 and 1869, the Republican-controlled General Assembly ratified the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments respectively. Ensuring the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, the Fifteenth Amendment became a part of the U.S. Constitution in February 1870. In that year's U.S. census, African Americans represented approximately 59 percent of Caswell County's population. Over a span of five years from 1865 to 1870, they had gained constitutional protection from slavery and voting rights. They could seek employment, use public accommodations, acquire land, and participate in the political process.

In January 1868, thirteen African American delegates representing 19 majority-Black counties attended the state's constitutional convention in Raleigh. They were North Carolina's first Black Caucus. Their members included a Republican legislator from Caswell County named Wilson Carey. At the convention, he spoke out against Conservative proposals to attract white immigrants to North Carolina. Carey felt the focus should instead be on African American North Carolinians who had built up the state.

The 1868 constitutional convention passed resolutions abolishing slavery, adopting universal male suffrage, removing property and religious qualifications for voting and office holding, and establishing a uniform public school system. Because the convention gave North Carolina a new constitution in 1868 that protected the rights of African Americans, the state was readmitted to the Union that same year on July 4 upon ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Enfranchising African Americans with the right to vote in elections was vehemently opposed by county and statewide Conservative Party members. This was not only due to their white supremacy but also because it threatened their power. Their animosity toward white and Black Republicans had begun to skyrocket when Republican gubernatorial candidate William W. Holden endorsed universal male suffrage at the party's state convention in March 1867.

The suffrage resolution's passage and Holden's victory in 1868 substantially added to the continuing friction. This growing tension helped make Caswell County and the region a hotbed of Ku Klux Klan activity that same year. African Americans and their supporters in the area were subsequently subjected to a heinous campaign of violence, intimidation, and murder to prevent them from voting.

As Klan violence in Caswell County escalated in 1870, the Republican state senator of the area, John W. Stephens, became increasingly fearful of attack. On May 21, he went to the courthouse in Yanceyville to convince the former Democratic county sheriff, Frank A. Wiley, to seek re-election as a Republican with his support and thus achieve a political reconciliation in the county. Wiley had secretly agreed to work with the Klan and lured Stephens into a trap, whereby he was choked with a rope and stabbed to death by Klansmen in a vacant courthouse room. The county’s sheriff, Jessie C. Griffith, himself a Klansman and prominent Conservative, made little effort to investigate the assassination.

Holden was disgusted by the murder of Stephens. Conferring with his advisers, he decided to raise a militia to combat the Klan in Caswell and nearby Alamance County. On July 8, he declared Caswell County to be in a state of insurrection.

About 350 militiamen, led by Colonel George Washington Kirk, arrived on July 18 and established headquarters in Yanceyville. The militia arrested 19 men in the county as well as several dozen more in Alamance County, and Klan activities in both counties promptly ceased. The prisoners were initially denied ''habeas corpus'' before being turned over to local courts, which did not convict any of the accused. On November 10, Holden declared that there was no longer a state of insurrection in Alamance and Caswell counties.

In December 1870, the state legislature, which had a Conservative majority that had come into power on the heels of the political backlash they had spearheaded against Holden over the incident, impeached him on eight charges. He was convicted on six of them and removed from office in March 1871. Holden's departure severely weakened the Republican Party in the state.

The Conservative Party proceeded to institute white supremacy in state government in 1876. They dropped the name "Conservative" that same year to become the Democratic Party. When federal troops left the next year, ending Reconstruction, the stage was set for the passage of Jim Crow laws.

Civil rights movement

In the 20th century, during the era of school segregation in the United States, many African American students in Caswell County attended Caswell County Training School, later renamed Caswell County High School in the 1960s. Vanessa Siddle Walker's 1996 book, '' Their Highest Potential: An African American School Community in the Segregated South'', provides detailed insights into this school, which is no longer in operation and now a designated site on the National Register of Historic Places in Caswell County.

By the end of the 1960s, Caswell County's public schools were beginning to fully integrate. A decade and a half earlier in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in ''Brown v. Board of Education'' that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

In a later decision by the Court in May 1955 known as ''Brown II'', school districts were given the ambiguous order to desegregate "with all deliberate speed." Like many school boards in Southern United States, the South at the time, the Caswell County Board of Education interpreted the Court's ambiguity in a manner that served to delay, obstruct, and slow the process of racially integrating its schools.

The Board of Education's resistance to integration had already been emboldened by North Carolina's passage of the Pupil Assignment Act in April 1955. The legislation gave county school boards full school placement authority. Driven by the act's power, the Pearsall Plan, Pearshall Plan's passage, and the prevailing anti-integration sentiment of the white community, the school district kept assigning children to schools in a segregated manner.

In response to these developments, fifteen local African American parents presented a petition to the school district in August 1956 calling for the abolition of segregation, which the board refused to consider. Undeterred, the parents organized protests that included the NAACP. A Federal judiciary of the United States, federal lawsuit was subsequently filed in December 1956 asking for the immediate desegregation of Caswell County and North Carolina schools.

In August 1957, 43 local students, many of whom were plaintiffs via their parents in the federal court case, applied for admission to public schools that were closer to their homes than the segregated ones they had been assigned. The school board denied their applications and continued to reject them through 1962. Nevertheless, the federal lawsuit kept moving forward.

In December 1961, U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Stanley ruled that two brothers, Charlie and Fred Saunders, could promptly attend Archibald Murphey Elementary School, a now-closed, formerly all-white school near Milton. However, when the new semester began in January, they did not enroll. The Ku Klux Klan#Third Klan, Ku Klux Klan had sent a threatening letter to the Saunders family previously."Caswell Negroes' Appeal Step Taken," ''The Charlotte Observer'' (Charlotte, NC), January 31, 1962, p12-A

According to an affidavit submitted by the children's father, C.H. Saunders Sr., the KKK's threats caused him to miss a school board reassignment hearing ordered by the judge in August 1961, before his final judgment in December. Saunders also stated that he would be agreeable to transferring schools if his children's protection at Murphey Elementary could be assured.

A year after the Saunders decision, Stanley ruled that the school district had been improperly administering the Pupil Assignment Act. In December 1962, he told the school boards of Caswell County and the city of Durham, North Carolina, Durham to allow every schoolchild complete freedom of choice regarding school placement. On January 22, 1963, sixteen African American schoolchildren enrolled in four of the county's previously all-white schools.

On their first day of school, a group of white men harassed and threatened one of the parents, Jasper Brown, who was a local American civil rights movement, civil rights leader and farmer. As Brown drove home, the men pursued and menaced him. Following a rear-end collision, the driver of the other vehicle exited with a firearm. Fearing for his life, Brown exchanged gunfire with the men, wounding two of them, before turning himself in to the police. The incident was soon reported to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy due to its gravity.

Several months later, Brown was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and served 90 days in jail. While awaiting trial, white men bombed his yard. His four children and the 12 others who integrated the county's schools were physically threatened and emotionally abused throughout the semester. Despite requests from the NAACP and concerned families, no police protection was provided. Furthermore, the Board of Education refused to arrange school bus transportation.

By late 1967, only 57 African American children out of a Black student population of approximately 3,000 were attending integrated public schools in Caswell County. While there had been some faculty integration, the less than two percent enrollment rate effectively upheld segregation.

The school district's integration plan had not fostered sufficient desegregation."Caswell Answers Questions on School Desegregation," ''Danville Register & Bee, The Danville Register'' (Danville, VA), December 21, 1966, p1 Its "Freedom of Choice (schools), freedom of choice" plan placed the burden of integration on individual African American students and parents, requiring them to cross the color line voluntarily. If they did so, they faced social stigma, severe discrimination, and other hardships. Consequently, many families, though supportive of integration efforts, chose to keep their children safe in valued Black schools such as Caswell County High School.

The school district's low integration rate resulted in the U.S. Office of Education citing the county in 1966 as one of seven in the state that were not in compliance with its civil rights Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IV guidelines. The bureau began taking steps to cut off federal funding.

The school district was not in full compliance with federal integration standards until 1969."Judge Rules Caswell in Compliance," ''The News & Observer'' (Raleigh, NC), April 11, 1969, p3 In that year, the Caswell County Board of Education implemented a plan for complete desegregation after Judge Stanley ordered the school district in August 1968 to integrate starting in the 1969–1970 school year.

When school integration and consolidation subsequently occurred, Bartlett Yancey High School in Yanceyville became the only public high school in the county after Caswell County High School's closure in 1969. The closed high school building's educational use was promptly reconfigured. The new integrated school was named N.L. Dillard Junior High School in honor of Nicholas Longworth Dillard, the former principal of Caswell County High School. Integrated elementary schools were established based on zoning.

Notable political figures

Caswell County has produced notable political leaders throughout its history. Such politicians include Donna Edwards, Archibald Murphey, Archibald Debow Murphey, Romulus Mitchell Saunders, and Bartlett Yancey.

Legislators from the county had considerable influence on state politics during the first half of the 19th century. Bartlett Yancey was speaker of the North Carolina Senate from 1817 to 1827. Romulus Mitchell Saunders was concurrently speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons from 1819 to 1820.

Archibald D. Murphey has been called North Carolina's "Father of Education." Serving as a state senator, he proposed a publicly financed system of education in 1817. Murphey also made proposals regarding internal improvements and constitutional reform.

Donna Edwards is a former U.S. congresswoman—the first African American woman elected to represent Maryland. As a Democrat, she served on key committees and championed various legislative initiatives. Her notable accomplishments include adding Maryland to the Afterschool Suppers Program, advocating for historically black colleges and women's reproductive rights, and introducing a constitutional amendment to repeal the Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision.

Depiction in the arts

Writers including Alex Haley and artists such as Maud Gatewood have commented on Caswell County's history in their work. The county was briefly referenced in Haley's 1977 television miniseries Roots (1977 miniseries), Roots. It was cited as the location of champion cock fighter Tom Moore's (Chuck Connors) plantation. When Gatewood designed the county seal in 1974, she added two large tobacco leaves as a symbol of the crop's long prominence in the area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.78%) is water. It is bordered by Person, Orange, Alamance, and Rockingham counties, and the state of Virginia. The Dan River flows through a part of the county. Hyco Lake is an important water source and popular recreational site.

For a comprehensive overview of Caswell County's geography see ''When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777–1977'', by William S. Powell (1977) at 1–22.

State and local protected areas

* Conservators Center, Burlington, Animal Park at the Conservators Center
* R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell Game Land

Major water bodies

* Country Line Creek
* Dan River
* S.R. Farmer Lake (North Carolina), S.R. Farmer Lake
* Hogans Creek (North Carolina), Hogans Creek
* Hyco Creek
* Hyco Lake
* Lynch Creek (Hyco Creek tributary), Lynch Creek
* Moon Creek (North Carolina), Moon Creek
* North Fork Rattlesnake Creek (North Carolina), North Fork Rattlesnake Creek
* South Hyco Creek
* Sugartree Creek (South Hyco Creek tributary), Sugartree Creek
* Wildwood Lake (North Carolina), Wildwood Lake

Adjacent counties

* Person County – east
* Orange County – southeast
* Alamance County, North Carolina, Alamance County – south
* Rockingham County, North Carolina, Rockingham County – west
* Pittsylvania County, Virginia – north
* Halifax County, Virginia – north
* Danville, Virginia (Independent city (United States), independent city) – north

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 22,736 people and an estimated 8,993 households and 6,186 families residing in the county. In 2020, the estimated median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females, there were an estimated 101.9 males.

2010 census

At the 2010 United States census, 2010 census, there were 23,719 people and an estimated 8,788 households and 6,345 families residing in Caswell County. In 2010, the estimated median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, there were an estimated 103.7 males.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 23,501 people and an estimated 8,670 households and 6,398 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,601 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 61.07% Race (United States Census), White, 36.52% Race (United States Census), African American, 1.77% Race (United States Census), Hispanic or Race (United States Census), Latino, 0.19% Race (United States Census), Native American, 0.15% Race (United States Census), Asian, 0.03% Race (United States Census), Pacific Islander, 1.17% from Race (United States Census), other races, and 0.86% from two or more races.

Out of the 8,670 households, 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 23.20% of all households consisted of individuals living alone and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution of the county's population consisted of 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,018 and the median income for a family was $41,905. Males had a median income of $28,968 versus $22,339 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,470. About 10.90% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 and over.

Government and politics

Seated in Yanceyville, Caswell County's government consists of 28 departments, an elected board of commissioners, a clerk to the board, and an appointed county manager. The county has additional central administration, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Cooperative Extension, E-911, and Juvenile Crime Prevention Council staff. Caswell County is a member of the Councils of governments in North Carolina, Piedmont Triad Council of Governments. The county lies within the bounds of the 22nd Prosecutorial District, the 17A North Carolina Superior Court, Superior Court District, and the 17A District Court District.

Elected officials

In January 2022, Caswell County's elected officials were:

* Tony Durden, Jr. (Democratic Party (United States), D), Caswell County Sheriff
* John Satterfield (D), Caswell County Clerk of Courts
* Ginny S. Mitchell (D), Caswell County Register of Deeds

Caswell County Board of Commissioners:
* Jeremiah Jefferies (D)
* Nathaniel Hall (D)
* William E. Carter (D)
* Rick McVey (Republican Party (United States), R), (chairman)
* David Owen (R), (Vice Chair)
* Steve Oestreicher (R)
* John D. Dickerson (R)

North Carolina General Assembly representatives:
* Senate: Graig R. Meyer (D–North Carolina's 23rd Senate district, 23rd)
* House: Renee Price (D–North Carolina's 50th House district, 50th)

U.S. House of Representatives:
* Valerie Foushee (D–North Carolina's 4th congressional district, 4th)
* Kathy Manning (D–North Carolina's 6th congressional district, 6th)

Economy

The economy of Caswell County is rooted in agriculture, which continues to Economic diversity , diversify beyond tobacco production. The area's accessible location, commercial properties, land primed for development, and relatively low property tax rate have contributed to an increase in business activity and entrepreneurship.

Caswell County's agricultural sector produces hemp, tobacco, soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, barley, hay, alfalfa, beef cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry farming, poultry. The county also produces minerals such as soapstone, graphite, mica, corundum, microcline, and beryl.

NC Cooperative Extension in Yanceyville connects local agribusinesses and farmers with crucial research-based information and technology. The Caswell County Local Foods Council manages the Caswell Farmers' Market in Yanceyville and initiates community-driven projects.

The county is home to two industrial parks: Pelham Industrial Park in Pelham and Caswell County Industrial Park in Yanceyville. CoSquare, a coworking space that fosters entrepreneurship and remote work, is located in Yanceyville Historic District, Yanceyville's downtown historic district. The largest industries in the county are accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing. Manufactured goods include textiles, clothing, electronics, and industrial maintenance chemicals.

Caswell County benefits from its proximity to the greater Piedmont Triad area, Danville, Virginia, and the Research Triangle. Residents have access to a host of goods, services, attractions, and employment in the region. The county receives economic activity in kind from these neighboring areas.

Caswell County's government is actively engaged in economic development initiatives, partnering with organizations including the North Carolina Economic Development Association and the Piedmont Triad Partnership to support business growth and entrepreneurship.

Infrastructure

Utilities

* Caswell County's electric system is maintained by Duke Energy and Piedmont Electric Cooperative.
* Telephone network: Brightspeed
* Wireless networks: AT&T Mobility, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless
* Broadband internet: Brightspeed and Comcast
* Cable television: Comcast

Public safety

Caswell County's public safety services are managed by several agencies:

*Law Enforcement: The Caswell County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services and operates the county detention center.
*Fire Protection: Fire protection is handled by volunteer fire departments, including the Yanceyville Fire Department.
*Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Caswell County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) delivers medical transport and pre-hospital emergency care.
*Emergency Management: Caswell Emergency Management (CEM) oversees disaster preparedness and response for the county.

Correctional facilities

* Caswell Correctional Center operates as a medium custody facility of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
* Dan River Prison Work Farm, a minimum custody facility of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Transportation

Major highways

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Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 are the closest interstate highways to the county, located south in Graham, North Carolina, Graham. When I-785 is completed, it will run through Caswell County near Pelham, NC, Pelham.

Airports

* Yanceyville Municipal Airport
* Danville Regional Airport, located north of Yanceyville.
* Person County Airport, located southeast of Yanceyville.
* Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport, located southwest of Yanceyville.
* Piedmont Triad International Airport, located southwest of Yanceyville.
* Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located southeast of Yanceyville.

Public transit

* Caswell County Area Transportation System (CATS)

Nearby rail access

Danville station, located north of Yanceyville.

Education

Higher education

*Piedmont Community College , Piedmont Community College's branch campus in Caswell County is located in Yanceyville.

Primary and secondary education

The Caswell County public school system has six schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The school district operates one High school in the United States, high school, one Secondary education in the United States#Middle school / Junior high school, middle school, and four Elementary schools in the United States, elementary schools:
* Bartlett Yancey High School
* N.L. Dillard Middle School
* North Elementary School
* Oakwood Elementary School
* South Elementary School
* Stoney Creek Elementary School

Healthcare

Caswell Family Medical Center is the county's largest primary care, primary care provider, also offering urgent care, specialty care, and behavioral health services.

Other health care providers in the county include:

*Caswell County Health Department Clinic, which offers primary care for all ages and public health services such as family planning, maternal health, and WIC program, WIC nutrition assistance.
*Caswell House, a senior living facility providing accommodations and support.
*Sovah Family Medicine-Yanceyville, a family medicine practice.
*Yanceyville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.

Arts, culture, and recreation

Arts

The Caswell County Civic Center, located in Yanceyville, features a full-size professionally equipped stage, a 912-seat auditorium, and meeting and banquet facilities for up to 500. It also includes accessories for concerts, theatre, and social functions, as well as a lobby art gallery. Performances are also held at the Yanceyville Pavilion.

Additional arts-related attractions include:

*Caswell Council for the Arts (in Yanceyville)
*Milton Studio Art Gallery (in Milton, North Carolina , Milton)
*Yanceyville Museum of Art

Historic landmarks

Downtown Yanceyville Historic District, Yanceyville's historic district features Caswell County Courthouse, an antebellum courthouse designed by William Percival and several other examples of antebellum architecture. In addition to the Yanceyville Historic District, the following are listed on National Register of Historic Places listings in Caswell County, North Carolina, National Register of Historic Places:

*Bartlett Yancey House
*Graves House
*John Johnston House (Yanceyville, North Carolina), John Johnston House
*Melrose/Williamson House
*Poteat House
*William Henry and Sarah Holderness House

Other cultural attractions

Caswell County hosts three major festivals annually:
*The Bright Leaf Hoedown, held in late September in downtown Yanceyville, features food vendors, live entertainment, crafts, and nonprofit organizations, drawing over 5,000 guests.
*The Caswell County Historical Association hosts an annual Heritage Festival in Yanceyville every May. This event celebrates local history through tours, living history reenactments, games, vendors, and live music.
*The Spring Fling, a two-day event, takes place in late April or early May at the Providence Volunteer Fire Department.

Gunn Memorial Public Library in Yanceyville offers summer reading programs for children of all ages.

Additional cultural attractions include:

* Caswell County Veterans Memorial (in Yanceyville)
* Caswell Farmers' Market (in Yanceyville)
* Caswell Horticulture Club (in Blanch, North Carolina , Blanch)
* Fulton-Walton Fellowship Center (in Yanceyville)
*Milton Historic District (Milton, North Carolina), Milton Historic District
* Milton Renaissance Foundation Museum & Visitors Center
* Piedmont Triad Visitor Center (in Pelham)
* Old Caswell County Jail (in Yanceyville)
* Old Poteat School/Poteat One-Room School (in Yanceyville)
* Red House Presbyterian Church (in Semora)
* Richmond-Miles History Museum (in Yanceyville)
* Shangri-La Miniature Stone Village (in Prospect Hill)
* Simmons Farm Museum (near Stony Creek)
* Thomas Day House and Union Tavern (in Milton)
* Town of Yanceyville Public Safety Memorial
* Yanceyville's municipal water tower
* Yoder's Country Market (in Yanceyville)

Parks and recreation

Indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, as well as sports programs and activities, are offered by the Caswell County Department of Parks & Recreation.

The Caswell Senior Center offers recreation and fitness facilities focused on well-being.

Additional recreational areas include:

* Conservators Center, Burlington, Animal Park at the Conservators Center (in Anderson township)
* Caswell Community Arboretum (in Yanceyville)
* Caswell Game Land (near Yanceyville)
* Caswell Pines Golf Club (in Yanceyville township)
* Cherokee Scout Reservation's Boy Scouts of America camp (near S.R. Farmer Lake)
* Country Line Creek (in Caswell Game Land)
* The Dan River (in Milton)
* Flying Disc Company (in Yanceyville)
* Hyco Creek (in Caswell Game Land)
* Hyco Lake (near Semora)
* Maud Gatewood, Maud F. Gatewood Municipal Park (in Yanceyville)
* S.R. Farmer Lake (in Yanceyville township)
* Yanceyville Park/Memorial Park (in Yanceyville)

Communities

Towns

* Milton
* Yanceyville (county seat and largest community)

Unincorporated communities

* Blanch
* Camp Springs
* Casville
* Cherry Grove, Caswell County, North Carolina, Cherry Grove
* Estelle
* Fitch, North Carolina, Fitch
* Frogsboro
* Hightowers, North Carolina, Hightowers
* Jericho, North Carolina, Jericho
* Leasburg
* Milesville, North Carolina, Milesville
* Osmond
* Pelham
* Prospect Hill
* Providence
* Purley
* Quick
* Semora
* Stony Creek

Townships

The following township (United States), townships are in Caswell County:

* Anderson
* Dan River
* Hightowers
* Leasburg
* Locust Hill
* Milton
* Pelham
* Stoney Creek
* Yanceyville

Notable people

Academia

* A. Oveta Fuller (1955–2022), associate professor of microbiology at University of Michigan Medical School
* Henry Lee Graves (1813–1881), president of Baylor University
* William Louis Poteat (1856–1938), professor of biology and president of Wake Forest University, public intellectual, early advocate of Darwinian evolution
* Henry Roland Totten (1892–1974), botanist
* Vanessa Siddle Walker (born 1958), professor of African American Educational Studies at Emory University

Art, literature, and music

* The Badgett Sisters, Folk music, folk and Gospel music, gospel group composed of sisters Celester, Connie, and Cleonia Badgett
* Max Drake (born 1952), musician
* Maud Gatewood (1934–2004), artist
* Mel Melton, musician
* Ida Isabella Poteat (1858–1940), artist and instructor
* Moses Roper (1815–1891), African American abolitionist, author, and orator
* Ray Scott (singer), Ray Scott (born 1969), country music artist
* Carolina Slim (1923–1953), Piedmont blues guitarist and singer
* Hazel Smith (1934–2018), country music journalist, publicist, singer-songwriter, television and radio show host, and cookbook author

Athletes

* Mic'hael Brooks (born 1991), former NFL player who attended high school in Yanceyville
* John Oliver Gunn Jr., John Gunn (1939–2010), race car driver
* Lee Pulliam (born 1988), stock car racing driver and team owner
* Neal Watlington (1922–2019), MLB player for the Philadelphia Athletics
* Carl Willis (born 1960), former MLB player and current pitching coach for the Cleveland Guardians

Business

* Thomas Day (1801–1861), free Negro, free Black furniture craftsman and cabinetmaker
* Edmund Richardson (1818–1886), entrepreneur who produced and marketed cotton
* Samuel Simeon Fels (1860–1950), businessman and philanthropist

Government and law

* Bedford Brown (1795–1870), U.S. senator
* Richard Caswell (1729–1789), first and fifth governor of North Carolina
* Archibald Dixon (1802–1876), U.S. senator
* Donna Edwards (born 1958), former U.S. representative
* Azariah Graves (1768–1850), general in the North Carolina militia during the War of 1812 and a state senator
* Calvin Graves (1804–1877), house member of the North Carolina General Assembly and member of the North Carolina Senate
* John Kerr Hendrick (1849–1921), U.S. representative
* Louisa Moore Holt (1833–1899), First Lady of North Carolina
* John Kerr (Virginia Congressman), John Kerr (1782–1842), member of the U.S. House of Representatives
* John Kerr Jr. (congress), John Kerr Jr. (1811–1879), congressional representative and jurist
* John H. Kerr (1873–1958), jurist and politician
* Benjamin J. Lea (1833–1894), lawyer and politician who served as a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court
* Jacob E. Long (1880–1955), 15th lieutenant governor of North Carolina from 1925 to 1929 serving under Governor Angus Wilton McLean, Angus W. McLean
* Giles Mebane (1809–1899), speaker of the North Carolina Senate during most of the American Civil War, Civil War
* Anderson Mitchell (1800–1876), U.S. representative
* Archibald Murphey, Archibald Debow Murphey (1777–1832), attorney, jurist, and politician who was known as the "Father of Education" in North Carolina
* Romulus Mitchell Saunders (1791–1867), U.S. representative
* John W. Stephens (1834–1870), North Carolina state senator, agent for the Freedmen's Bureau
* Jacob Thompson (1810–1885), U.S. Secretary of the Interior, U.S. secretary of the interior
* Hugh Webster (politician), Hugh Webster (1943–2022), register of deeds for Alamance County and North Carolina state senator
* Marmaduke Williams (1774–1850), Democratic-Republican U.S. congressman
* George “Royal George” Williamson (1788–1856), member of the North Carolina Senate
* Bartlett Yancey (1785–1828), Democrat-Republican U.S. congressman

Miscellaneous

* Oscar Penn Fitzgerald (1829–1911), Methodist clergyman, journalist, and educator
* Henrietta Phelps Jeffries (1857–1926), African American midwife and a founding member of Macedonia AME Church in Milton
* Peter U. Murphey (1810–1876), naval officer and captain of the during the Civil War

See also

* Haw River Valley AVA, wine region partially located in the county
* List of counties in North Carolina
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Caswell County, North Carolina
* Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, state-recognized tribe that resides in the county
* Virginia International Raceway, a nearby multi-purpose road course offering auto and motorcycle racing

References

Works cited

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*Walker, E.V. (1993). Caswell County Training School, 1933–1969: Relationships between Community and School. ''Harvard Educational Review, 63,'' 161–183.
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External links

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Caswell County History Website

Caswell County Photograph Collection

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Caswell County, North Carolina,
1777 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1777
Piedmont Triad