County History: In 1750 the county formed from Bladen and was named for Lord George Anson, an English Admiral.  Later Mecklenburg and Union were created from Anson.  Cotton used to be the chief producer in the state.

Bibliography:

Corbitt, David Leroy. 
The Formation of the North Carolina Counties 1633-1943. Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, 1950.