Wilson County, North Carolina

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.

Not to be confused with Wilson, North Carolina.

Wilson County
County
Wilson County Courthouse
Wilson County Courthouse
Official seal of Wilson County
Seal
Official logo of Wilson County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Wilson 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: 35°42′N 77°55′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1855
Named forCol. Louis D. Wilson
SeatWilson
Largest communityWilson
Area
 • Total373.10 sq mi (966.3 km2)
 • Land367.57 sq mi (952.0 km2)
 • Water5.53 sq mi (14.3 km2)  1.48%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total78,784
 • Estimate 
(2022)
78,449
 • Density214.34/sq mi (82.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−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 code252
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.wilsoncountync.gov

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, an 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

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

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18609,720—
187012,25826.1%
188016,06431.0%
189018,64416.1%
190023,59626.6%
191028,26919.8%
192036,81330.2%
193044,91422.0%
194050,21911.8%
195054,5068.5%
196057,7165.9%
197057,486−0.4%
198063,1329.8%
199066,0614.6%
200073,81411.7%
201081,23410.1%
202078,784−3.0%
2022 (est.)78,449[1]−0.4%
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
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

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

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wilson County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  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.
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