Kelly, NC

Kelly is a quiet, rural community tucked away in Bladen County’s river country between the Cape Fear and Black rivers. With only a few hundred residents, it offers wide-open space, tall pines, and an easygoing pace of life. Water is at the heart of daily living here. Locals spend weekends fishing, kayaking, and launching boats off Hunts Bluff Road into the scenic waters of the Black River, while the historic Elwell Ferry offers a charming way to cross the Cape Fear nearby.

Living in Kelly appeals most to people looking for rural privacy and a close connection to nature. Because the area sits between two major river basins, water levels and flood awareness are simply part of life in the lowlands. In return, residents enjoy large lots, quiet country roads, and a neighborly atmosphere, all while staying within an easy drive of Elizabethtown and the coast around Wilmington.