Bladen County decreased in size in 1750 when Anson County was created; in 1754 when Cumberland County was created; in 1764 when Brunswick County was created; in 1787 when Robeson County was created; in 1808 when Columbus County was created; in 1873 when it transferred more land to Columbus County; and in 1874 when it transferred some land to Cumberland County.

Its population grew from 5,084 in 1790 to 35,190 in 2010.

Click on the maps below to peruse the known towns and villages that came and went over the past two centuries and a half - a few cannot be located since they do not show up on available maps of NC.