2020 census
Cleveland 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 [16] | Pop 2010 [17] | Pop 2020 [18] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|
| White alone (NH) | 73,357 | 72,793 | 70,163 | 76.19% | 74.22% | 70.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 20,010 | 20,237 | 20,034 | 20.78% | 20.63% | 20.13% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 137 | 193 | 222 | 0.14% | 0.20% | 0.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 647 | 735 | 854 | 0.67% | 0.75% | 0.86% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 22 | 23 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 84 | 74 | 327 | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 610 | 1,268 | 3,857 | 0.63% | 1.29% | 3.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,433 | 2,756 | 4,039 | 1.49% | 2.81% | 4.06% |
| Total | 96,287 | 98,078 | 99,519 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 99,519 and a median age of 42.4 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over. [19]
There were 39,887 households in the county, including 21,410 families. [1] Of those households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 45.9% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [19]
There were 43,630 housing units, of which 8.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.3% were owner-occupied and 33.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. [19]
The racial makeup of the county was 71.4% White, 20.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population. [20]
37.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.2% lived in rural areas. [21]
2010 census
At the 2010 census, [22] there were 98,078 people, 37,046 households, and 27,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 207 people per square mile (80 people/km2). There were 40,317 housing units at an average density of 87 units per square mile (34 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74% White, 21% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Of any race, 3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
There were 37,046 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,283, and the median income for a family was $41,733. Males had a median income of $30,882 versus $21,995 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,395. About 10.10% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
United States
North Carolina 
