# 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. 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 373.10 square miles (966.3 km$^2$), of which 367.57 square miles (952.0 km$^2$) is land and 5.53 square miles (14.3 km$^2$) (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

* 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

* Amtrak Thruway (Wilson Station)
* Wilson Industrial Air Center
* Wilson Station

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Wilson County racial composition :
| 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/km$^2$). There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 units per square mile (32 units/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 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 :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | 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
### 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