Alamance County developed from Orange County in 1849. It is located in the center of the state and borders Orange, Chatham, Randolph, Guilford, and Caswell counties. The county was named after the Great Alamance Creek or the Battle of Alamance which took place on May 16, 1771.

Today, it is the home of more than 140,000 people who live in growing communities, as well as rural areas.

The Early Years 
Alamance County was once the home of several local tribes of Native Americans.  European settlement of this area actually began in the mid-1700's.

The first European settlers were mainly farmers who lived on what was the frontier area of North Carolina.  The area, (originally part of Orange County, which would eventually be known as Alamance County) experienced one of its most notable events in 1771 when a group of disorganized protesters called the Regulators, mostly farmers, engaged in a pre-Revolutionary War battle against the North Carolina Militia, led by Governor William Tryon.  The Battle of Alamance was an important early demonstration of the growing dissatisfaction with the crown.  

This dissatisfaction with English rule led the Alamance area to be a key area during the American Revolution.  No major battles took place in the county although several minor conflicts occurred. A few of these would eventually help to weaken the British Army for the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The English suffered sufficient losses to weaken them further for the approaching Battle of Yorktown, where the United States would win its independence. 

Early 1800's 
The next 60-70 years were marked by the development and growth of mills and mill towns, continued interest in farming and the development of travel.  The first significant mill was opened in 1837 by Edwin Michael (E. M.) Holt, which produced a then well-known cloth called Alamance Plaids.  Farming also remained popular in the area.  Alamance area farmers were mainly poor people who farmed their own small plots of land by themselves. 

In 1849 the area split off from Orange County to form Alamance County, named after the creek where the pre-Revolution battle had taken place nearly 80 years before.

The Civil War and After
In 1861, the United States began to split due to growing questions of states' rights concerning issues of money, agriculture, representation, and slavery. 

Alamance County joined the rest of North Carolina as the state split off from the Union and joined the Confederate States.  Only in the last months of the war did the residents of the county see a significant number of troops. Some of the most  significant effects of the Civil War were seen after the War.

After-War Growth
Alamance County communities continued to grow. Possibly the greatest growth in these communities occurring in Burlington.  The North Carolina Railroad had chosen to go through an area it called Company Shops, after Graham had voted not to allow the railroad through its town limits. Company Shops quickly grew into a small town, and continued to grow until today.  However, by 1887, the NC Railroad had moved it operations to Spencer, NC, and the residents chose to rename their town "Burlington."  During this time of growth, Alamance County had one of its own citizens to rise to the governorship of North Carolina: Thomas Holt in 1891.  It would later send two more governors, Kerr Scott (elected 1949) and Robert W. Scott (elected 1968).

The Twentieth Century and Beyond
Alamance County continued to grow. The county sent many men to fight in World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. The community has erected a memorial to them in front of the new Alamance County Courthouse.

Steady population and economic increases have marked the past few decades of Alamance County history. The restoration of several houses, the erecting of monuments and parks commemorating our county's history, and the upcoming renovations of some of our old mill towns.  These are being done, not only to help us remember, but to point our way to a bright future.