[7][5] Bladen County began as a vast territory, with indefinite northern and western boundaries.

However, southeastern Bladen averages only 40–50 days of frost conditions annually, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

[17] Between 2010 and 2020, Bladen County experienced a population decline of 15.9 percent,[23] losing 5,584 residents.

[25] Following the 2018 United States Midterm Elections, an investigation was opened into accusations of an absentee ballot fraud scheme directed by McCrae Dowless in Bladen County, within North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.

Accusations were based around the Republican Primary election, in which Mark Harris defeated incumbent Robert Pittenger, and around the general election, in which Harris initially appeared to defeat Democrat Dan McCready.

[27][28] Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, Democrat, said it was possible over 1,000 ballots had been destroyed.

[29] According to District Attorney Jon David, Republican, the county has a "troubled history of political groups exploiting the use of absentee ballots.

Bladen County is served by a single hospital, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, based in Elizabethtown.

[31] Smithfield Foods operates a pork processing facility north of the town of Tar Heel, the largest such plant in the world.

Area farmers also grow soybeans, peanuts, corn, wheat, and cotton.

[9] According to census figures, about 70 percent of working people in Bladen are employed outside the county.