Wilson County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
located in the U.S. state of
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 78,784. The county seat is
Wilson.
The county comprises the Wilson
Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included within the
Rocky Mount–Wilson–
Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
Combined Statistical Area
Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (µSA) across the 50 US states and the territory of Puerto Ric ...
.
History
On February 13, 1855, the
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Government of North Carolina, State government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the North Carolina Senate, Senate and the North Ca ...
established Wilson County "out of portions of
Edgecombe,
Johnston,
Nash, and
Wayne Counties." The county was named for
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Louis D. Wilson,
U.S. Volunteers, who died of fever while on
leave
Leave may refer to:
* Permission (disambiguation)
** Permitted absence from work
*** Leave of absence, a period of time that one is to be away from one's primary job while maintaining the status of employee
*** Annual leave, allowance of time away ...
from the
state senate
A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...
during the
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...
.
Wilson Speedway
Wilson Speedway was a half-mile dirt oval located in Wilson, North Carolina that held 12 NASCAR Cup Series between 1951 and 1960 and 5 races in the NASCAR Convertible Series from 1956 to 1958. and continued to hold local races until 1989 when th ...
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 United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (1.5%) are covered by water.
State and local protected site
*
Tobacco Farm Life Museum
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the c ...
Major water bodies
*
Black Creek
*
Buckhorn Reservoir
Buckhorn Reservoir is a reservoir in Wilson County, North Carolina, USA, created by the Buckhorn Dam. The reservoir is the primary water supply for the city of Wilson. The original Buckhorn Dam was built in 1974, upstream from the current dam. Th ...
*
Contentnea Creek
Contentnea Creek is a major tributary of the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA. It is part of the Neuse River Basin, and flows for 91 miles between the Buckhorn Reservoir (confluence of Moccasin and Turkey Creeks), where it begins, and Grifton, ...
*
Lake Wilson
*
Silver Lake
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
*
Wiggins Mill Reservoir
Adjacent counties
*
Nash County
Nash County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94,970. Its county seat is Nashville.
Nash County is now a part of the Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, instead of the ...
– north
*
Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,900. Its county seat is Tarboro.
Edgecombe County is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area ...
– northeast
*
Pitt County – east
*
Greene County – southeast
*
Wayne County – south
*
Johnston County – southwest
Major highways
*
* (Small section incomplete)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Major infrastructure
*
Amtrak Thruway
Amtrak Thruway is a system of through-ticketed transportation services to connect passengers with areas not served by Amtrak trains. In most cases these are dedicated motorcoach routes, but can also be non-dedicated intercity bus services, transi ...
(Wilson Station)
*
Wilson Industrial Air Center
*
Wilson Station
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 78,784 people, 32,384 households, and 19,760 families residing in the county. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 199 people per square mile (77/km
2). There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km
2). 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
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $17,102. About 13.80% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, 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 city)
Towns
*
Black Creek
*
Elm City
Elm City is a town in Wilson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,298 in 2010.
History
The Elm City Municipal Historic District, W. H. Langley House, and Webb-Barron-Wells House were listed on the National Register of His ...
*
Kenly (part)
*
Lucama
Lucama is a town in Wilson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,108 at the 2010 census.
History
The Lucama Municipal Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Geography
Lucama is loc ...
*
Saratoga
*
Sims
Sims, sims or SIMS may refer to:
Games
* ''The Sims'', a life simulation video game series
** ''The Sims'' (video game), the first installment, released in 2000
** ''The Sims 2'', the second installment, released in 2004
** '' The Sims 3'', th ...
*
Stantonsburg
*
Sharpsburg (part)
Unincorporated communities
*
Montclair
*
New Hope
* Rock Ridge
* Lamms Crossroads
Townships
* Black Creek
* Cross Roads
* Gardners
* Old Fields
* Saratoga
* Springhill
* Stantonsburg
* Taylors
* Toisnot
* Wilson
See also
*
List of counties in North Carolina
__NOTOC__
The U.S. state of North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh-highest number of counties in the country.
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles ...
*
List of places named after people in the United States
This is a list of places in the United States which are named after people. If not cited here, the etymology is generally referenced in the article about the person or the place.
A
* Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania – Aaron Levy (founder)
*Abbot, Ma ...
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilson County, North Carolina
*
Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport
Rocky Mount–Wilson Regional Airport is a public airport located seven miles (11 km) southwest of the central business district of Rocky Mount, a city located in Nash and Edgecombe Counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is al ...
, Airport just north of Wilson county in
Nash County
Nash County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94,970. Its county seat is Nashville.
Nash County is now a part of the Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, instead of the ...
.
*
List of future Interstate Highways
In the United States, future Interstate Highways include proposals to establish new mainline (one- and two-digit) routes to the Interstate Highway System. Excluded from this article are auxiliary Interstate Highways (designated by three-digit nu ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
; Official
*
; General information
*
Wilson County Genealogical Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson County, North Carolina
North Carolina counties
1855 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1855
Majority-minority counties in North Carolina