Wilson County, North Carolina

Not to be confused with Wilson, North Carolina.

Wilson County
County
Wilson County Courthouse
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°42′N77°55′W / 35.70°N 77.92°W / 35.70; -77.92
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1855
Named for	Col. Louis D. Wilson
Seat	Wilson
Largest community	Wilson
Area
• Total	373.10 sq mi (966.3 km2)
• Land	367.57 sq mi (952.0 km2)
• Water	5.53 sq mi (14.3 km2)  1.48%
Population  (2020)
• Total	78,784
• Estimate  (2023)	78,970
• Density	210/sq mi (82/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 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.

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

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

• Tobacco Farm Life Museum ^[6]

Major water bodies

• Black Creek
• Buckhorn Reservoir
• Contentnea Creek
• Lake Wilson ^[7]
• Silver Lake ^[8]
• Wiggins Mill Reservoir ^[9]

Adjacent counties

• Nash County – north
• Edgecombe County – northeast
• Pitt County – east
• Greene County – southeast
• Wayne County – south
• Johnston County – southwest

Major highways

• I-95
• 
  I-587  / Future I-587 (small section undesignated)
• I-795
• US 117
• US 264
• 
  US 264 Alt.
• US 301
• NC 42
• NC 58
• NC 111
• NC 222
• NC 581

Major infrastructure

• Amtrak Thruway (Wilson Station)
• Wilson Industrial Air Center ^[10]
• Wilson Station

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	9,720		—
1870	12,258		26.1%
1880	16,064		31.0%
1890	18,644		16.1%
1900	23,596		26.6%
1910	28,269		19.8%
1920	36,813		30.2%
1930	44,914		22.0%
1940	50,219		11.8%
1950	54,506		8.5%
1960	57,716		5.9%
1970	57,486		−0.4%
1980	63,132		9.8%
1990	66,061		4.6%
2000	73,814		11.7%
2010	81,234		10.1%
2020	78,784		−3.0%
2023 (est.)	78,970	[1]	0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13] 1990–2000 [14] 2010 [15] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Wilson County racial composition ^[16]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	36,106	45.83%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	29,842	37.88%
Native American	239	0.3%
Asian	900	1.14%
Pacific Islander	10	0.01%
Other/Mixed	2,663	3.38%
Hispanic or Latino	9,024	11.45%

As of the 2020 census, there were 78,784 people, 32,384 households, and 19,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 people per square mile (77 people/km²). There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 units per square mile (32 units/km²). 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.

In the county, 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:

• Wilson County Sheriff's Office
• Wilson Police Department (City of Wilson)
• Stantonsburg Police Department (Town of Stantonsburg)
• Black Creek Police Department (Town of Black Creek)
• Sharpsburg Police Department (Town of Sharpsburg)

United States presidential election results for Wilson County, North Carolina ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	19,581	48.07%	20,754	50.95%	400	0.98%
2016	17,531	45.97%	19,663	51.56%	941	2.47%
2012	17,954	45.91%	20,875	53.38%	280	0.72%
2008	17,375	46.72%	19,652	52.84%	164	0.44%
2004	16,264	53.26%	14,206	46.52%	65	0.21%
2000	13,466	54.24%	11,266	45.38%	94	0.38%
1996	10,518	49.03%	9,779	45.59%	1,154	5.38%
1992	10,176	44.36%	10,105	44.06%	2,656	11.58%
1988	10,997	57.11%	8,214	42.65%	46	0.24%
1984	12,243	59.31%	8,343	40.42%	57	0.28%
1980	8,329	49.86%	8,042	48.14%	333	1.99%
1976	6,795	45.05%	8,209	54.42%	80	0.53%
1972	12,060	73.04%	4,166	25.23%	286	1.73%
1968	4,053	25.13%	4,173	25.87%	7,903	49.00%
1964	5,002	40.87%	7,238	59.13%	0	0.00%
1960	3,114	27.97%	8,021	72.03%	0	0.00%
1956	2,830	25.36%	8,328	74.64%	0	0.00%
1952	2,569	22.83%	8,684	77.17%	0	0.00%
1948	665	9.55%	6,008	86.25%	293	4.21%
1944	769	10.61%	6,480	89.39%	0	0.00%
1940	584	6.87%	7,912	93.13%	0	0.00%
1936	549	6.80%	7,522	93.20%	0	0.00%
1932	517	7.69%	6,153	91.55%	51	0.76%
1928	1,933	35.35%	3,535	64.65%	0	0.00%
1924	574	17.53%	2,619	79.99%	81	2.47%
1920	1,374	28.21%	3,496	71.79%	0	0.00%
1916	730	26.24%	2,052	73.76%	0	0.00%
1912	82	3.44%	1,741	73.03%	561	23.53%

Communities

Map of Wilson County with municipal and township labels

City

• Wilson (county seat and largest community)

Towns

• Black Creek
• Elm City
• Kenly (part)
• Lucama
• Saratoga
• Sims
• Stantonsburg
• Sharpsburg (part)

Townships

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

Unincorporated communities

• Montclair
• New Hope
• Rock Ridge
• Lamms Crossroads

See also

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilson County, North Carolina
• List of places named after people in the United States
• Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport, airport north of the county in Nash County

References

1. "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. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
14. "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.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.

External links

• Geographic data related to Wilson County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website
• Wilson County Genealogical Society