Pender County formed in 1875. South Washington, now Watha, was designated the temporary county seat. In 1877, Pender citizens voted and chose Burgaw for the county seat. The town was first named Cowan, then Stanford, and then, in 1879, by act of the General Assembly, the Town of Burgaw. Many streets were named for railroad officials: Ashe, Bridgers, Dickinson, Dudley, Fremont, and MacRae. Other streets were named for local persons and families.