Wilson County, North Carolina

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Wilson County, officially the County of Wilson, is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,784.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> The county seat is Wilson.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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

Template:Maplink According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.48%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

State and local protected site

Tobacco Farm Life Museum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Major water bodies

Black Creek
Buckhorn Reservoir
Contentnea Creek
Lake Wilson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Silver Lake<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Wiggins Mill Reservoir<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Nash County – north
Edgecombe County – northeast
Pitt County – east
Greene County – southeast
Wayne County – south
Johnston County – southwest

Major highways

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Major infrastructure

Amtrak Thruway (Wilson Station)
Wilson Industrial Air Center<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Wilson Station

Demographics

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2020 census

Wilson County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 Template:Convert. There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.