Vance County, North Carolina

Vance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,578.[1] Its county seat is Henderson.[2]

Vance County
County
Vance County Courthouse
Vance County Courthouse
Flag of Vance County
Flag
Official seal of Vance County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Vance County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°22′N 78°25′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1881
Named forZebulon Baird Vance
SeatHenderson
Largest communityHenderson
Area
 • Total268.69 sq mi (695.9 km2)
 • Land252.40 sq mi (653.7 km2)
 • Water16.29 sq mi (42.2 km2)  6.06%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total42,578
 • Estimate 
(2022)
42,138
 • Density168.69/sq mi (65.13/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.vancecounty.org

Vance County comprises the Henderson, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 2,106,463 in 2020.[3]

History

The Occaneechi Native Americans were the first inhabitants of what became Vance County in 1881. The first white explorer of the region was John Lederer and his Native American guide in 1670.[4]

Originally part of colony of Virginia, King Charles of England redrew the colony lines in 1665, so what is now Vance County became part of the Province of Carolina and then the Province of North Carolina in 1725.[5]

In 1826, the first armed forces academy, the Bingham School, was built by Captain D. H. Bingham in Williamsborough, North Carolina. It served for a short time as a training school for military officers.[4][6]

In 1871, a hotel called the "Glass House" was opened near the community of Kittrell. It was so named because of the glass porches surrounding the hotel. It was a popular resort for hunters and later tuberculosis patients until it burned down in 1895.[4][6]

As the area that is Vance County prospered in the mid to late 1880s, there were efforts to create a county named "Gilliam" and later as "Dortch". However, Vance County was formed by the white Democratic-dominated legislature in 1881 following the Reconstruction Era from parts of Franklin, Granville, and Warren counties. The county is named after Zebulon Baird Vance, a Governor of North Carolina (1862–65 & 1877–79) and United States Senator (1879–94).[7][5]

According to the 1955 book, Zeb's Black Baby, by Samuel Thomas Peace, Sr.,[8] this was a political decision to concentrate blacks and Republicans in one county and keep Democratic majorities in the other counties, an example of gerrymandering:

"The formation of Vance County was accomplished largely as a political expediency. It was in 1881 when Blacks in large numbers were voting solidly Republican. Granville and Franklin Counties were nip and tuck, Democratic or Republican. From the Democratic standpoint, Warren County was hopelessly Republican. But by taking from Granville, Franklin and Warren, those sections that were heavily Republican and out of these sections forming the new county of Vance, the Democratic party could lose Vance to the Republicans and save Granville and Franklin for the Democrats. [U.S.] Senator Vance was a Democrat. He took kindly to this move and thanked the [North Carolina] Legislature for honoring him with naming the new county after him. At the same time...Vance showed his humor by always referring to Vance County as 'Zeb's Black Baby.'"

In the 1890 Census, Vance County was more than 63 percent African American.[9] In 1894 a biracial coalition of Populists and Republicans elected African American George Henry White to the US Congress and gained control of the state house. The Democrats were determined to forestall this happening again. White strongly opposed the new constitution, saying "I cannot live in North Carolina and be a man and be treated as a man."[10] He left the state after his second term expired, setting up a business in Washington, DC.[10]

The Democrats in the North Carolina legislature settled the political competition with the Republicans by following other southern states and passing a law in 1896 making voting more difficult, and a new constitution in 1899 that disfranchised most blacks by poll taxes, literacy tests and grandfather clauses. Contemporary accounts estimated that 75,000 black male citizens of the state lost the vote.[11][12] In 1900 blacks numbered 630,207 citizens, about 33% of the state's total population.[13] This situation held until past the mid-20th century and after passage of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.[14]

Geography
Kerr Lake

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 268.69 square miles (695.9 km2), of which 252.40 square miles (653.7 km2) is land and 16.29 square miles (42.2 km2) (6.06%) is water.[15]

State and local protected areas

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189017,581—
190016,684−5.1%
191019,42516.4%
192022,79917.4%
193027,29419.7%
194029,9619.8%
195032,1017.1%
196032,002−0.3%
197032,6912.2%
198036,74812.4%
199038,8925.8%
200042,95410.4%
201045,4225.7%
202042,578−6.3%
2022 (est.)42,138[1]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19]
1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[1]

When originally established in 1881, the population of Vance County was approximately 9,000. From 1930 through 1970, the rural county population declined and growth slowed markedly as many blacks migrated to the North for better jobs and other opportunities in the Great Migration. Combined with other economic changes, this resulted in the county losing what had been its large African-American majority by the late 20th century. In the early 21st century, the white and black populations are nearly equal.[5][17][19][20]

2010/2020 census
Vance County, North Carolina – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the U.S. 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 Pop 2010[22] Pop 2020[23] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 19,101 16,243 42.05% 38.15%
Black or African American alone (NH) 22,477 21,081 49.48% 49.51%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 79 91 0.17% 0.21%
Asian alone (NH) 199 284 0.44% 0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 9 0.02% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 41 110 0.09% 0.26%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 467 1,043 1.03% 2.45%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,051 3,717 6.72% 8.73%
Total 45,422 42,578 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 42,578 people, 16,875 households, and 11,163 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[24] there were 42,954 people, 16,199 households, and 11,647 families residing in the county. The population density was 169 people per square mile (65 people/km2). There were 18,196 housing units at an average density of 72 units per square mile (28 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 48.21% White, 48.31% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 4.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,199 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.00% were married couples living together, 20.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.[24]

The county had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the state for the year 2005 as researched by the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of North Carolina. The rate was 110.4 per 1000 teens, significantly above the state average of 61.7 per 1000 teens.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.30 males.[24]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,301, and the median income for a family was $36,389. Males had a median income of $28,284 versus $21,433 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,897. About 16.30% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.[24]

Government and politics

Vance County is governed by a seven-member board of Commissioners, who appoint a county manager[25] Vance County is a member of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.[26]

United States presidential election results for Vance County, North Carolina[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,391 39.96% 12,431 59.20% 177 0.84%
2016 7,332 36.70% 12,229 61.22% 416 2.08%
2012 7,429 35.62% 13,323 63.89% 102 0.49%
2008 7,606 36.44% 13,166 63.08% 99 0.47%
2004 6,884 43.91% 8,762 55.89% 31 0.20%
2000 5,564 43.81% 7,092 55.84% 45 0.35%
1996 4,651 39.97% 6,385 54.88% 599 5.15%
1992 4,747 37.09% 6,598 51.55% 1,455 11.37%
1988 5,625 49.88% 5,631 49.94% 20 0.18%
1984 6,836 53.68% 5,880 46.18% 18 0.14%
1980 4,217 43.15% 5,415 55.40% 142 1.45%
1976 3,813 40.30% 5,620 59.40% 28 0.30%
1972 6,491 66.85% 3,117 32.10% 102 1.05%
1968 2,252 19.84% 3,852 33.94% 5,244 46.21%
1964 3,452 39.96% 5,186 60.04% 0 0.00%
1960 2,012 26.11% 5,694 73.89% 0 0.00%
1956 1,955 28.43% 4,922 71.57% 0 0.00%
1952 1,721 23.20% 5,697 76.80% 0 0.00%
1948 549 11.87% 3,679 79.51% 399 8.62%
1944 528 11.38% 4,110 88.62% 0 0.00%
1940 380 8.20% 4,252 91.80% 0 0.00%
1936 315 6.49% 4,536 93.51% 0 0.00%
1932 318 7.64% 3,833 92.03% 14 0.34%
1928 1,449 37.70% 2,395 62.30% 0 0.00%
1924 470 18.77% 2,013 80.39% 21 0.84%
1920 816 24.90% 2,461 75.10% 0 0.00%
1916 558 27.78% 1,451 72.22% 0 0.00%
1912 168 10.46% 1,204 74.97% 234 14.57%

Education
See also: Vance County Public Schools

Historical schools
  • Henderson Male Academy (whites only)[5][33]
  • Henderson Female Academy (whites only)[5][33]
  • Kittrell College, It was established as Kittrell Industrial Normal School for black males by the North Carolina General Assembly on March 7, 1787. It was renamed Kittrell Normal and Industrial Institute on January 30, 1889. It was renamed Kittrell College in 1901. It was closed in 1931 and then reopened from 1934 to 1948. It was operated as a high school from 1953 to 1965 and college from 1953 to 1975 when it was permanently closed.[5]
  • Middleburg Male Academy (also called Middleburg School, whites only, founded by Albert Anderson in the late 1800s)[34][33]
  • Townesville School (whites only)[33]
  • West End School

Communities
Map of Vance County with municipal and township labels

City
  • Henderson (county seat and largest community. Area was first settled in the early 1700s, founded in 1841 in Granville County, first post office September 28, 1838)[35][5]

Towns
  • Kittrell (founded in 1885, formerly Kittrell's Depot, Linbank, and Stauton in Granville County)[36]
  • Middleburg (formerly Middleburgh, Warren County)

Townships

By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, counties were to be divided into townships, which were solely administrative divisions of the county. The following township make up Vance County:[37]

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities
  • Adcock Crossroads
  • Bullocksville
  • Drewry
  • Faulkner Crossroads
  • Flint Hill[38]
  • Floytan Crossroads
  • Gill
  • Greenway
  • Harris Crossroads
  • Hicks Crossroads
  • Knotts Crossroads
  • Mobile[38]
  • Weldons Mill
  • West End[38][39]
  • Vicksboro

Former communities

The unincorporated communities in Vance County have included[36][40]

  • Bearpond (post office discontinued in 1903)
  • Bobbitt (post office discontinued in 1907)
  • Brookston (post office discontinued in 1906, formerly Warren County)
  • Carlton (post office discontinued in 1905)
  • Cokesbury (also Cokes, post office discontinued in 1905
  • Dabney (post office from December 3, 1883, to March 15, 1935)
  • Epsom (Epsom Sandy Creek, portions in Franklin County, post office discontinued in 1908)
  • Gillburg (post office discontinued in 1906)
  • Greystone (formerly Strickland, post office discontinued in 1932)
  • Steedsville (post office discontinued in 1894)
  • Townsville (established about 1821, formerly Lynesville before 1851, formerly in Granville County)
  • Tungsten (post office discontinued in 1959)
  • Watkins (post office discontinued in 1906)
  • Williamsboro (post office discontinued in 1905, Williamsboro since 1897, formerly Williamsborough in Granville County from about 1755, formerly Lick, formerly Nutbush)[41][40])
  • Woodworths (established about 1830, post office discontinued in 1914)

Notable people
  • Henry P. Cheatham (1857–1935), one of only five African Americans elected to Congress from the South in the Jim Crow era
  • Ben E. King (1938–2015), singer/musician

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Vance County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2020". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  4. Martin, Jonathan. "Vance County 1881". North Carolina History Project. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  5. Lewis, J.D. "Vance County, North Carolina". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  6. Powell, William S. (2006). Encyclopedia of North Carolina, Vance County. University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill, NC.
  7. Mazzocchi, Jay (2006). "Vance County". NCPedia.
  8. Peace, Samuel Thomas, Sr. (1989). Zeb's Black Baby, Vance County, North Carolina. A Short History.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "Vance County, North Carolina" demographics
  10. "George Henry White" Archived 2012-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, Black Americans in Congress, US Congress
  11. Albert Shaw, The American Monthly Review of Reviews, Vol.XXII, Jul-Dec 1900, p.274
  12. Richard H. Pildes, "Democracy, Anti-Democracy, and the Canon", Constitutional Commentary, Vol. 17, 2000, pp. 12-13
  13. Historical Census Browser, 1900 US Census, University of Virginia Archived 2007-08-23 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 Mar 2008
  14. Michael J. Klarman, From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality (Oxford University Press, 2006), p. 32
  15. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  16. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  17. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  19. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  20. "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.
  21. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  22. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Vance County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  23. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Vance County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  25. "Vance County Commissioners". Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  26. "Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments". Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  28. "Vance County K-12 Schools".
  29. "Henderson College".
  30. "Vance Charter School".
  31. "Kerr-Vance Academy".
  32. "Crossroads Christian School".
  33. Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the scholastic years of 1889 and 1890
  34. Macfie, John. "Albert Anderson (1859-1932)". NCPedia. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  35. "Map of old County Areas". November 3, 2012. Archived from the original (XSL) on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  36. Lewis, J.D. "Vance County Maps". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  37. State Constitution and map of Vance County
  38. Vann, Andre D. (November 27, 2000). Vance County, North Carolina. Black America Series. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738506630.
  39. "National Register of Historic Places, Vance County, North Carolina". Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  40. Lewis, J.D. "Vance County Post Offices". Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  41. Lewis, J.D. "Williamsboro". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved May 7, 2019.

Further reading
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