Wilson County, North Carolina

Last updated

County of Wilson
Wilson County NC courthouse from SSW 1.JPG
Wilson County Seal.jpg
Wilson County Logo.png
Map of North Carolina highlighting Wilson County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°42′N77°55′W / 35.70°N 77.92°W / 35.70; -77.92
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina
Founded1855
Named after Col. Louis D. Wilson
Seat Wilson
Largest communityWilson
Area
  Total
373.10 sq mi (966.3 km2)
  Land367.57 sq mi (952.0 km2)
  Water5.53 sq mi (14.3 km2)  1.48%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
78,784
  Estimate 
(2024)
79,958 Increase2.svg
  Density214.34/sq mi (82.756/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
27542, 27557, 27803, 27807, 27813, 27822, 27829, 27830, 27851, 27852, 27873, 27878, 27880, 27883, 27888, 27893, 27895, 27896
Area code 252
Congressional district 1st
Website www.wilsoncountync.gov

Wilson County, officially the County of Wilson, is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,784. [1] The county seat is Wilson. [2] The county comprises the Wilson, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included within the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

On February 13, 1855, the North Carolina General Assembly established Wilson County from parts of Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, and Wayne counties. [3] The county was named for Colonel Louis D. Wilson, a U.S. Volunteers soldier, who died of yellow fever while on leave from the state senate during the Mexican–American War. [4]

Wilson Speedway held 12 NASCAR Cup Series races at the county fairgrounds in Wilson between 1951 and 1960. The half mile dirt track operated between 1934 and 1989.

Geography

Wilson County, North Carolina
Interactive map of Wilson County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 373.10 square miles (966.3 km2), of which 367.57 square miles (952.0 km2) is land and 5.53 square miles (14.3 km2) (1.48%) is water. [5]

State and local protected site

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860 9,720
1870 12,25826.1%
1880 16,06431.0%
1890 18,64416.1%
1900 23,59626.6%
1910 28,26919.8%
1920 36,81330.2%
1930 44,91422.0%
1940 50,21911.8%
1950 54,5068.5%
1960 57,7165.9%
1970 57,486−0.4%
1980 63,1329.8%
1990 66,0614.6%
2000 73,81411.7%
2010 81,23410.1%
2020 78,784−3.0%
2024 (est.)79,958 [11] 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
1790–1960 [13] 1900–1990 [14]
1990–2000 [15] 2010 [16] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Wilson County racial composition [17]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)36,10645.83%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)29,84237.88%
Native American 2390.3%
Asian 9001.14%
Pacific Islander 100.01%
Other/Mixed 2,6633.38%
Hispanic or Latino 9,02411.45%

As of the 2020 census, there were 78,784 people, 32,222 households, and 19,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 people per square mile (77 people/km2). [18] [1]

The median age was 41.9 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over. [18]

The racial makeup of the county was 47.4% White, 38.2% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.2% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.5% of the population. [19]

62.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 37.9% lived in rural areas. [20]

There were 32,222 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.0% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [18]

There were 36,252 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.1% were owner-occupied and 39.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. [18]

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 28,613 households, out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.10% were married couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

At that time, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,116, and the median income for a family was $41,551. Males had a median income of $30,364 versus $21,997 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,102. About 13.80% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Wilson County government is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. It has several law-enforcement agencies:

United States presidential election results for Wilson County, North Carolina [21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
%%%
1912 823.44%1,74173.03%56123.53%
1916 73026.24%2,05273.76%00.00%
1920 1,37428.21%3,49671.79%00.00%
1924 57417.53%2,61979.99%812.47%
1928 1,93335.35%3,53564.65%00.00%
1932 5177.69%6,15391.55%510.76%
1936 5496.80%7,52293.20%00.00%
1940 5846.87%7,91293.13%00.00%
1944 76910.61%6,48089.39%00.00%
1948 6659.55%6,00886.25%2934.21%
1952 2,56922.83%8,68477.17%00.00%
1956 2,83025.36%8,32874.64%00.00%
1960 3,11427.97%8,02172.03%00.00%
1964 5,00240.87%7,23859.13%00.00%
1968 4,05325.13%4,17325.87%7,90349.00%
1972 12,06073.04%4,16625.23%2861.73%
1976 6,79545.05%8,20954.42%800.53%
1980 8,32949.86%8,04248.14%3331.99%
1984 12,24359.31%8,34340.42%570.28%
1988 10,99757.11%8,21442.65%460.24%
1992 10,17644.36%10,10544.06%2,65611.58%
1996 10,51849.03%9,77945.59%1,1545.38%
2000 13,46654.24%11,26645.38%940.38%
2004 16,26453.26%14,20646.52%650.21%
2008 17,37546.72%19,65252.84%1640.44%
2012 17,95445.91%20,87553.38%2800.72%
2016 17,53145.97%19,66351.56%9412.47%
2020 19,58148.07%20,75450.95%4000.98%
2024 19,75049.32%19,90949.72%3860.96%

Communities

Map of Wilson County with municipal and township labels Map of Wilson County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG
Map of Wilson County with municipal and township labels

City

Towns

Townships

  • Black Creek
  • Cross Roads
  • Gardners
  • Old Fields
  • Saratoga
  • Springhill
  • Stantonsburg
  • Taylors
  • Toisnot
  • Wilson

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts: Wilson County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Public Laws of the State of North-Carolina, Passed by the General Assembly, at its Session of 1854–'55: Together with the Comptroller's Statement of Public Revenue and Expenditure. Raleigh: Holden & Wilson. 1855. p. 30. LCCN   83644405 via Internet Archive.
  4. Lichtenstein, Gaston (1911). Louis D. Wilson, Mexican War Martyr, also, Thos. H. Hall, Andrew Johnson as he Really was, and, Our Town Common; Four Articles. Richmond, Va.: H. T. Ezekiel. p. 7. OCLC   1127629. OL   14021029M via Internet Archive.
  5. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  6. "Home | Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Inc". Tobacco Farm Life Mu. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  7. "Parks & Shelters". www.wilsonnc.org. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  8. Novak, Steven. "Fish Silver Lake - Wilson County, North Carolina". Lake-Link. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  9. "Parks & Shelters". www.wilsonnc.org. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. "Wilson Industrial Air Center | Wilson, NC". www.wilsonnc.org. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  11. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  16. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  19. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  20. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.