History
The area eventually comprising Anson County was originally occupied by Native Americans of the Catawba and Waxhaw tribes. [3]
The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral who circumnavigated the world. Anson purchased land in the state. [5] The county seat was designated at New Town in 1783. Four years later it was renamed Wadesboro.
Reductions to its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. Finally, in 1842 the western part of Anson County was combined with the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County to become Union County. [7]
Demographics
Historical population| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1790 | 5,133 | | — |
|---|
| 1800 | 8,146 | | 58.7% |
|---|
| 1810 | 8,831 | | 8.4% |
|---|
| 1820 | 12,534 | | 41.9% |
|---|
| 1830 | 14,095 | | 12.5% |
|---|
| 1840 | 15,077 | | 7.0% |
|---|
| 1850 | 13,489 | | −10.5% |
|---|
| 1860 | 13,664 | | 1.3% |
|---|
| 1870 | 12,428 | | −9.0% |
|---|
| 1880 | 17,994 | | 44.8% |
|---|
| 1890 | 20,027 | | 11.3% |
|---|
| 1900 | 21,870 | | 9.2% |
|---|
| 1910 | 25,465 | | 16.4% |
|---|
| 1920 | 28,334 | | 11.3% |
|---|
| 1930 | 29,349 | | 3.6% |
|---|
| 1940 | 28,443 | | −3.1% |
|---|
| 1950 | 26,781 | | −5.8% |
|---|
| 1960 | 24,962 | | −6.8% |
|---|
| 1970 | 23,488 | | −5.9% |
|---|
| 1980 | 25,649 | | 9.2% |
|---|
| 1990 | 23,474 | | −8.5% |
|---|
| 2000 | 25,275 | | 7.7% |
|---|
| 2010 | 26,948 | | 6.6% |
|---|
| 2020 | 22,055 | | −18.2% |
|---|
| 2024 (est.) | 22,432 | [13] | 1.7% |
|---|
|
2020 census
Anson County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 [19] | Pop 2010 [20] | Pop 2020 [21] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|
| White alone (NH) | 12,429 | 12,344 | 10,593 | 49.18% | 45.81% | 48.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 12,245 | 13,038 | 9,838 | 48.45% | 48.38% | 44.61% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 110 | 148 | 89 | 0.44% | 0.55% | 0.40% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 143 | 281 | 221 | 0.57% | 1.04% | 1.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 18 | 27 | 38 | 0.07% | 0.10% | 0.17% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 113 | 294 | 607 | 0.45% | 1.09% | 2.75% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 211 | 812 | 665 | 0.83% | 3.01% | 3.02% |
| Total | 25,275 | 26,948 | 22,055 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 22,055 and 5,809 families; the median age was 44.5 years, with 19.1% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males. [22] [1]
There were 8,554 households in the county, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.5% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [22]
There were 9,834 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.8% were owner-occupied and 31.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%. [22]
22.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.8% lived in rural areas. [23]
The racial makeup of the county was 48.5% White, 44.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population. [24]
Anson is a majority minority county. [25] Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Anson's population declined by 18.2 percent. [27]
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 26,948 people. The racial makeup of the county was 48.58% African American, 47.15% White American, 1.07% Asian, 0.61% Native American, 1.25% multiracial and 1.32% of other race. People of Hispanic and Latino origin account for 3.02% of the population. [28]
2000 census
At the 2000 census, [29] there were 25,275 people, 9,204 households, and 6,663 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 10,221 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 51.64% Black or African American, 48.53% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,204 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,849, and the median income for a family was $35,870. Males had a median income of $27,297 versus $20,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,853. About 15.50% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Anson County is governed by a board of commissioners, which constitutes seven members elected by district. [30] The board of commissioners appoint a county manager who oversees county administration and implements the policies of the board. [31]
Anson County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments. [32]
Anson County, like several neighboring rural counties, has historically favored Democratic candidates in most elections. After 2012, Republicans enjoyed more electoral success in the region, though Anson County voted more Democratic than its neighbors. [25] The county has been depopulating, and the African American share of its population has been decreasing.
In 2016, the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, won the county by a margin of 13 percent, though in 2020 the Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, won by only four percent. [34] The county favored a Republican candidate for a federal office in 2022 [25] and Donald Trump flipped the county in 2024, the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since Richard Nixon in 1972. [36]
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