Wilson County, North Carolina

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 373.10 sqmi, of which 367.57 sqmi is land and 5.53 sqmi (1.48%) is 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

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 78,784 people, 32,222 households, and 19,760 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 /mi2.

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

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

There were 32,222 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 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 years of age or older.

There were 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, 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.

At that time, 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)

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

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. . (1855). ["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"](https://archive.org/stream/publiclawsofstat185455nor#page/30/mode/2up). *Holden & Wilson*.
3. 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". H. T. Ezekiel.
4. (August 23, 2022). "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Home {{!}} Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Inc.".
6. "Parks & Shelters".
7. Novak, Steven. "Fish Silver Lake - Wilson County, North Carolina".
8. "Parks & Shelters".
9. "Wilson Industrial Air Center {{!}} Wilson, NC".
10. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
14. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
16. "QuickFacts: Wilson County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
17. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilson County, North Carolina". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wilson County, North Carolina".
19. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wilson County, North Carolina".
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".