2019 Map of Singletary Lake

About this map

The Cape Fear River carves a winding path through this corner of Bladen County, defining a landscape dominated by the Carolina Bays — distinct elliptical depressions that form a complex network of wetlands and lakes. Singletary Lake and White Lake stand as the most prominent of these geological features, surrounded by dozens of smaller, vegetation-filled basins including Old House Bay, Kings Bay, and Bandeau Bay. These bays and the sprawling Colly Swamp created a challenging environment for early settlement, which is clustered here in small communities like Lagoon and Bladen Springs. Family history is preserved in scattered burial grounds such as the Smith Cemeteries, Atkinson Cem, and Beatty Cem. Evidence of rural infrastructure remains visible through landmarks like Bevans Bridge and the overlook at Walkers Bluff, showing how residents navigated this watery terrain.