Wilson County, North Carolina

County in North Carolina, United States

Not to be confused with Wilson, North Carolina.

County in North Carolina

Wilson County

County

County of Wilson

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′N 77°55′W﻿ / ﻿35.70°N 77.92°W﻿ / 35.70; -77.92
Country|  United States
State|  North Carolina
Founded| 1855
Named after| 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, 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.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Tobacco Farm Life Museum[6]

### Major water bodies

[edit]

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

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

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

### Major highways

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

## Demographics

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. | %
2024 | 19,750  | 49.32%  | 19,909  | 49.72% | 386  | 0.96%
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

[edit]

Map of Wilson County with municipal and township labels

### City

[edit]

* Wilson (county seat and largest community)

### Towns

[edit]

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

### Townships

[edit]

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

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Montclair
* New Hope
* Rock Ridge
* Lamms Crossroads

## See also

[edit]

* North Carolina portal

* 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

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "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

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilson County, North Carolina.

* Official website
* Geographic data related to Wilson County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
* NCGenWeb Wilson County, genealogy resources for the county
* Wilson County Genealogical Society
* Wilson County, North Carolina at Ballotpedia
* Works by or about Wilson County, North Carolina at the Internet Archive

Places adjacent to Wilson County, North Carolina

|  | Nash County | Edgecombe County

|
|

|  |

Wilson County, North Carolina

| Pitt County
|  |
Johnston County | Wayne County | Greene County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Wilson County, North Carolina, United States

County seat: Wilson

City|

* Wilson

Towns|

* Black Creek
* Elm City
* Kenly‡
* Lucama
* Saratoga
* Sharpsburg‡
* Sims
* Stantonsburg

Unincorporated
communities|

* Montclair

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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