Wilson County, North Carolina

Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 78,784. The county seat is Wilson. 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. 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.

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 , of which (1.48%) are covered by water.

State and local protected site Tobacco Farm Life Museum

Major water bodies Black Creek Buckhorn Reservoir Contentnea Creek Lake Wilson Silver Lake Wiggins Mill Reservoir

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

Major highways

(small section undesignated)

Major infrastructure Amtrak Thruway (Wilson Station) Wilson Industrial Air Center Wilson Station

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Wilson County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)39,77540,46139,49840,15736,10663.00%61.25%53.51%49.43%45.83%Black or African American alone (NH)22,61124,81728,88631,46229,84235.82%37.57%39.13%38.73%37.88%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)37631441902390.06%0.10%0.20%0.23%0.30%Asian alone (NH)981632866649000.16%0.25%0.39%0.82%1.14%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census142210xx0.02%0.03%0.01%Other race alone (NH)2720501082570.04%0.03%0.07%0.13%0.33%Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4799072,406xx0.65%1.12%3.05%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5845374,4577,7249,0240.93%0.81%6.04%9.51%11.45%Total63,13266,06173,81481,23478,784 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 78,784 people, 32,222 households, and 19,760 families were residing in the county. The population density was .

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

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.

About 62.1% of the residents lived in urban areas, while 37.9% lived in rural areas.

Of the 32,222 households in the county, 29.2% had children under 18 living in them, 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 or older.

The county had 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%.

2000 census At the 2000 census, of the 28,613 households, 31.9% had children under 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 25.6% under 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.20 males.

The median income in the county for a household was $33,116 and 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 13.8% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under 18 and 21.3% of those 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)

Communities

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

Wilson County, North Carolina

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