Brunswick County, North Carolina

Brunswick County, North Carolina
Brunswick County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693. Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.
Brunswick County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. From 2013 to 2023, the county was part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. During that time, Brunswick County and Wilmington area leaders disputed the change, including many government leaders like Senator Richard Burr. Ultimately, their efforts were a success because the county was added back into the MSA after a 2023 realignment.
Much of the economy of the county is built around tourism, with beach communities lying along the south-facing beaches past Cape Fear such as Bald Head Island (the southernmost point of North Carolina) and Oak Island being popular destinations. Calabash, on the border of South Carolina, is renowned for its fried seafood, with "Calabash-style" restaurants dotting the region. The proximity to Cinespace Studios in nearby Wilmington has made Brunswick County a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows.
History
The county was formed in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named for the colonial port of Brunswick Town (now in ruins) which itself was named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; at the time held by the British kings of the House of Hanover.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (19.00%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. The Brunswick River and the Cape Fear River provide access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station is to the north of Southport.
Hydrogeology
The principal ground-water-supply sources for Brunswick County are the surficial aquifer for domestic supplies and the Castle Hayne aquifer for municipal supplies.
State and local protected area/sites
Bald Head Island Conservancy
Bald Head Island Natural Area
Bald Head Woods Maritime Forest Preserve
Bird Island Reserve
Brunswick County Botanical Garden
Brunswick Nature Park
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Columbus County Game Land (part)
Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve
Fort Caswell Historic District
Green Swamp Game Land
Green Swamp Preserve (part)
Juniper Creek Game Land (part)
Museum of Coastal Carolina
Myrtle Head Savanna
North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport (Fort Johnston also located on property)
Oak Island Lighthouse
Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum
Orton Creek Preserve
Pinch Gut Game Land
South of Onslow County Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area (part)
Zekes Island Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve (part)
Zeke's Island Reserve (part)
Major water bodies
Alligator Creek
Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
Brunswick River
Cape Fear River
Elizabeth River
Frying Pan Shoals
Intracoastal Waterway
Lockwood Folly River
Little River
Long Bay
North Lake
Northeast Cape Fear River
Onslow Bay
Orton Pond
Patricia Lake
Saucepan Creek
Shallotte River
Town Creek
Waccamaw River
Beaches
Caswell Beach
Holden Beach
Long Beach
Ocean Isle Beach
Sunset Beach
Yaupon Beach
Islands
Bald Head Island
Bird Island
Eagles Island
Oak Island
Adjacent counties
Pender County – north
New Hanover County – east
Columbus County – west-northwest
Horry County, South Carolina – west
Major highways
(Bolivia)
(Shallotte)
Major infrastructure
Bald Head Island Ferry, private ferry that serves Bald Head Island
Cape Fear Regional Jetport, near Oak Island
Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry (to New Hanover County)
Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, military base and terminal near Southport
Odell Williamson Municipal Airport
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 136,693 people, 59,416 households, and 39,806 families residing in the county.
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 73,143 people, 30,438 households, and 22,037 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 51,431 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 82.30% White, 14.38% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 2.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 30,438 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 29.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,888, and the median income for a family was $42,037. Males had a median income of $30,138 versus $22,066 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,857. About 9.50% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Brunswick County is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments.
The county lies in the inner coastal plain, most of which was highly pro-secession, and part of the Democratic “Solid South” from the late 19th century through 1964. However, Brunswick County was less fertile than the “Black Belt” and consequently had significant pro-Union and Populist sympathies. The county frequently backed Republicans at state and local levels even when the state was consistently Democratic apart from Herbert Hoover’s 1928 victory. Only three times since the Civil War – Grover Cleveland in 1888, Alton B. Parker in 1904 and Jimmy Carter in 1980 – has Brunswick County backed a losing Democratic presidential candidate. Carter in that 1980 election remains the last Democrat to win a majority of Brunswick County’s ballots, although Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992.
Communities
Cities
Boiling Spring Lakes
Northwest
Southport
Towns
Belville
Bolivia (county seat)
Calabash
Carolina Shores
Caswell Beach
Holden Beach
Leland (largest community)
Navassa
Oak Island
Ocean Isle Beach
Sandy Creek
Shallotte
St. James
Sunset Beach
Varnamtown
Village
Bald Head Island
Townships
Lockwoods Folly
Northwest
Shalotte
Smithville
Town Creek
Waccamaw
Unincorporated communities
Antioch
Ash
Batarora
Bell Swamp
Bishop
Biven
Bonaparte Landing
Boone's Neck
Bowensville
Brunswick Station
Camp Branch
Cedar Grove
Civietown
Clairmont
Coolvale
Doe Creek
Eastbrook
Easy Hill
Fort Caswell
Grissettown
Half Hell
Longwood
Maco
Old Town
Piney Grove
Red Bug
Sunset Harbor
Supply
Thomasboro
Town Creek
Winnabow
See also
List of counties in North Carolina
National Register of Historic Places listings in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Films and television shows produced in Wilmington, North Carolina
Colcor, political corruption investigation carried out in neighboring Columbus County
GenX, chemical compound found in the Cape Fear River south of Fayetteville
References
External links
Cape Fear (region)
1764 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1764