Maple Hill, located in the extreme eastern area of Pender County, with its broad open spaces, is quite an agricultural center and a community of fine farmers who are known for their delectable ham meats and turkeys.

Maple Hill is said to be named for the number of maple trees, or a large maple tree that stood on a hill either in or adjacent to the community.

This community has been the home of the James family for many, many years, their ancestors originally coming from Wales during Colonial times. Now the family, like many others, is scattered all over, but the elder member, Mr. Gibson James, represented the County in the Legislature two consecutive terms and was also a member of the Board of County Commissioners for several years. Joshua James, son of Gibson James, resigned as Clerk of the Superior Court in Pender to volunteer for the army.

Maple Hill has furnished many patriotic citizens both in the War Between the States, the First World War, as well as World War II.

Kinchen F. Powers was Sheriff of Pender County for one term and Ben Wooten Court Crier for a number of years, where many of his family have resided for years as well as the Laniers, Raynors, and many other farmers; some of its farmers marketing as many as five thousand turkeys in a season.