Lenoir County, North Carolina

Lenoir County, North Carolina
Lenoir County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 55,122. Its county seat is Kinston, located on the Neuse River, across which the county has its territory.
Lenoir County comprises the Kinston, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The county was formed in 1791 from the southern part of Dobbs County. It was named for William Lenoir (1751-1839), an officer in the American Revolutionary War who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain. He was a prominent political leader; when the county was established, he was serving as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (0.57%) is water.
State and local protected sites
CSS Neuse
Neuseway Nature Center and Planetarium
Major water bodies
Contentnea Creek
Neuse River
Southwest Creek
Wheat Swamp
Adjacent counties
Greene County – north
Pitt County – northeast
Craven County – east
Jones County – southeast
Duplin County – southwest
Wayne County – west
Major highways
Major Infrastructure
Amtrak Thruway (Kinston)
Kinston Regional Jetport
Global TransPark
Greyhound Bus Terminal, with a location in Kinston
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 55,122 people, 23,148 households, and 14,863 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 59,495 residents with 24,327 households and 15,993 families residing within the county. The population density was . There were 27,184 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 56.47% White, 40.43% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.88% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 3.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 23,862 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.40% were married couples living together, 17.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,191, and the median income for a family was $38,815. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $21,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,744. About 12.60% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Throughout the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, Lenoir County was a typical overwhelmingly Democratic "Solid South" county. It was always carried by the Democratic presidential nominee between at least 1876 and 1964, following upon which "American Independent" candidate George Wallace obtained a majority of the county's vote in 1968 amidst large-scale opposition to racial desegregation and civil rights for African-Americans. In every election since, Lenoir County has voted for the Republican presidential nominee, although on several occasions the GOP margin has been extremely close and on only five occasions out of twelve has the margin been more than ten percentage points.
Lenoir County is a member of the Eastern Carolina Council of Governments.
Lenoir County is represented by Chris Humphrey in the House of Representatives and Jim Perry in the North Carolina's 7th Senate district, who was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper on January 31, 2019. As of 2018, after redistricting, Lenoir County is in the 12th district for the North Carolinian State House, represented by George Graham. The current county commissioners are J. Mac Daughety (R), Eric Rouse (R- Vice Chairman), June Cummings (D), Preston Harris (D), and Roland Best (D), at large commissioners are Linda R Sutton (D-Chairman) and Chad Rouse (R). The Board of Education's chairman is Jonathan Sargeant (D), vice chairman Bruce Hill (D), and members Billy Davis (R), Keith King (R), Elijah Woods (D), and Merwyn K. Smith (D).
Education
Higher Education
Lenoir County is home to one higher learning institution, Lenoir Community College - which is located at 231 NC HWY 58 South, Kinston and is part of the North Carolina Community College System. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, or certificates for educational programs in college transfer, business, industry, public services, health sciences, and continuing education. Programs and support services are accessible through traditional and distance learning options.
Primary and Secondary Education
Public education in Lenoir County is administered and supported by the Lenoir County Public School Board, which formed from a merge of the City of Kinston and Lenoir County school systems in 1992. There are four public high schools in Lenoir County: Lenoir County Early College, North Lenoir, South Lenoir, and Kinston High School. Three public middle schools: E.B. Frink, Rochelle, and Woodington. There are also eight public elementary schools: Banks, La Grange, Moss Hill, Northeast, Northwest, Pink Hill, Southeast and Southwood. Additionally, Contentnea-Savannah is a K-8 school.
Lenoir County is also home to two private academies - Arendell Parrott Academy and Bethel Christian Academy - and two charter academies - Kinston Charter Academy and Children's Village Academy.
Libraries
Neuse Regional Library serves the residents of Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties. With eight different locations, the library system offers services such as 3D printing and an inter-library loan system, as well as an eLibrary.
Health
Lenoir County is home to UNC Lenoir Healthcare, a 261-bed non-profit hospital in Kinston.
Communities
City
Kinston (county seat and largest community)
Towns
La Grange
Pink Hill
Townships
Contentnea Neck
Falling Creek
Institute
Kinston
Moseley Hall
Neuse
Pink Hill
Sand Hill
Southwest
Trent
Vance
Woodington
Census-designated places
Deep Run
Graingers
Jackson Heights
Unincorporated community
Tick Bite
Notable people
Larry Beck, professional golfer
Jocelyn Brown, R&B singer
Reggie Bullock, NBA player
Dwight Clark, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Quinton Coples, NFL defensive end
David Christopher Hatcher, MLB pitcher
Malcolm Howard, Eastern District of North Carolina judge appointed by Ronald Reagan
Vivian Howard, American chef
Brandon Ingram, NBA player
Frank Lucas, American mobster
Susan Owens, seventh woman to serve on Washington Supreme Court
Maceo and Melvin Parker, jazz musicians
Jamie Pressley, actor
Frank Snepp, journalist
Jerry Stackhouse, NBA player
Donna Horton White, professional golfer
See also
List of counties in North Carolina
National Register of Historic Places listings in Lenoir County, North Carolina
Down East Wood Ducks, minor league baseball team plays in Grainger Stadium
References
External links
NCGenWeb Lenoir County, genealogy resources for the county
1791 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1791
Majority-minority counties in North Carolina