The town of Newton Grove was first incorporated in 1879 as the New Town at the Grove, because of the prominent oak grove, then again in 1935 as Newton Grove. 

Early courthouse records of Sampson County show that the Newton Grove post office was once known as Blackman's Store. Another post office, six miles west of Newton Grove, was known as Blackman's Mills from 1858 to 1914. The Blackman family were affluent planters who settled in the area in the early 18th century. They were descendants of Jeremiah Blackman, mariner of London who captained several ships that brought English settlers to the Colony of Virginia in the 17th century.