The first explorers to see what is now called Pender County coasted on-shore in 1524. They reported on the numerous varieties of game, particularly wild turkeys, found in the area. A century later in 1663, the Barbados commissioners, in attempting to settle the Lower Cape Fear, explored the northeast branch of the Cape Fear River. The Commissioners named the community "Rocky Point", the name which it retains today.

Although settled by 1725, the county itself was not formed from New Hanover until 150 years later. While the Moores opened up the area to the south at New Brunswick, the Lord Proprietors laid out a tract to the north for Welsh settlers. They came seeking good bottom land and tidal river transportation. Brisk commercial success followed and large plantations were built during this period of prosperity.

The people of Pender were ardent patriots during the Revolution and it was here, at Moore's Creek, that they defeated the Scottish Highlanders sent from Fayetteville by Flora McDonald, the Scottish heroine.

In the War Between The States, this area sent nearly 4,000 troops to battle and gave the Confederacy its youngest general, William D. Pender (for whom the county is named), a Confederate soldier who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. It is in the southeastern section of the State and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, Sampson, Duplin and Onslow counties. The present land area is 870.76 square miles and the 1990 population was 28,855.

Still a part of New Hanover after the war, Pender's prosperous plantation system was swept away during the Reconstruction years. However, it was out of Reconstruction politics that the county was born in 1875 from New Hanover. Wilmington, overrun with carpetbaggers,was under corrupt rule. The county commissioners were ordered to hold their first meeting at Rocky Point. The act provided for the establishment of the town of Cowan as the county seat. By popular vote, and despite strong Republican opposition, the county was created with the City of Watha as the first county seat.

In 1877 an act was passed repealing that section of the law relative to the town, and another law was enacted whereby the qualified voters were to vote on the question of moving the county seat to South Washington or any other place which the majority of the voters designated. Whatever place was selected, the town should be called Stanford. In 1879 Stanford was changed to Burgaw, which was by that law incorporated. It is the county seat. Burgaw received its name from a local tribe of Indians.