Editing Goldsboro, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Goldsboro, North Carolina
| settlement_ty            = 
| motto                    = "Be More, Do More, Seymour"
| image_skyline            = Fountain in Goldsboro.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Center Street
| image_flag               = Goldsboro, NC City Flag.gif
| image_seal               = Goldsboro, NC City Seal.jpg
| image_map                = NCMap-doton-Goldsboro.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Goldsboro in North Carolina
| pushpin_map              = North Carolina#USA
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| pushpin_label      = Goldsboro
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|North Carolina}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Wayne County, North Carolina|Wayne]]
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Charles Gaylor<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Goldsboro |url=https://www.goldsboronc.gov/mayor-of-goldsboro/ |website=City of Goldsboro |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref>
| established_title        = Founded / Incorporated
| established_date         = 1787 / 1847
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_sq_mi         = 28.74
| area_total_km2           = 74.45
| area_land_sq_mi          = 28.59
| area_land_km2            = 74.05
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.15
| area_water_km2           = 0.40
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 33657
| population_metro         = 117333 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|334th]])
| population_urban         = 54456 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 478th]])<ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|author=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_urban_km2   = 395.5
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1024.4
| population_density_km2   = 454.52
| population_density_sq_mi = 1177.23
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| coordinates              = {{coord|35|22|40|N|77|58|19|W|region:US-NC_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 108
| website                  = {{URL|www.goldsboronc.gov}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 27530-27534
| area_codes                = [[Area code 919|919]], [[Area code 984|984]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 37-26880<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2403709<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403709}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| population_footnotes     = 
}}
[[File:Goldsboro, North Carolina (circa 1915).jpg|thumb|West Walnut Street, circa 1915]]

'''Goldsboro''', originally '''Goldsborough''', is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Wayne County, North Carolina]], United States. The population was 33,657 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Goldsboro-North-Carolina.html |title=Goldsboro, North Carolina (NC) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders |publisher=City-data.com |access-date=2013-08-16}}</ref> It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina [[Goldsboro metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787, and Goldsboro was incorporated in 1847. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref>

The city is situated in North Carolina's [[Coastal Plain]] and is bordered on the south by the [[Neuse River]] and the west by the [[Little River (Neuse River)|Little River]], approximately {{Convert|40|mi|km|abbr=out}} southwest of [[Greenville, North Carolina|Greenville]],<ref>https://www.google.com/maps Google Maps</ref> {{Convert|50|mi|km|abbr=out}} southeast of [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], the state capital, and {{Convert|75|mi|km|abbr=out}} north of [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]] in Southeastern North Carolina. [[Seymour Johnson Air Force Base]] is located in Goldsboro.

==History==
Around 1787, when [[Wayne County, North Carolina|Wayne County]] was formed, a town named Waynesborough grew around the county's courthouse. In 1787, [[William Whitfield III]] (son of [[William Whitfield II]]) and his son were appointed "Directors and Trustees"
for designing and building the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wayne.lostsoulsgenealogy.com/cems/whitfieldcem.htm |title=Whitfield Cemetery |website=Wayne.lostsoulsgenealogy.com |access-date=2017-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814013558/http://wayne.lostsoulsgenealogy.com/cems/whitfieldcem.htm |archive-date=2015-08-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://walkofhonor.com/whitfield_william_army.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120194058/http://www.walkofhonor.com/whitfield_william_army.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |title=William Whitfield |website=Walkofhonor.com |access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> Located on the east bank of the [[Neuse River]], the town became the [[county seat]]. Population growth in Waynesborough continued through the 1830s. However, this changed once the [[Wilmington and Weldon Railroad]] was completed in the early 1840s. By then, a hotel had been built at the intersection of the railroad and [[New Bern, North Carolina|New Bern]] Road, which grew into a community after the train started to transport passengers from there.

More and more citizens soon relocated from Waynesborough to this growing village, named eventually "Goldsborough's Junction" after Major Matthew T. Goldsborough, an Assistant Chief Engineer with the railroad line. Later this was shortened simply to Goldsborough. In 1847, the town was [[Incorporation (municipal government)|incorporated]] and became the new Wayne County seat following a vote of the citizens of Wayne County. Local legend has it the Goldsborough supporters put [[moonshine]] in the town's well to encourage people to vote for Goldsborough.

In the following decades, Goldsborough's growth continued in part by new railroad connections to [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] and [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]]. By 1861, the town's population was estimated to be 1,500. It was the trading center of a rural area that started with yeoman farmers. By this time, it had been developed as large cotton plantations dependent on the labor of [[Slavery in the United States|enslaved African Americans]], as the invention of the [[cotton gin]] had enabled profitable cultivation of short-staple cotton in the up-counties.

Because of its importance as railroad junction, Goldsborough played a significant role in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], both for stationing [[Confederate States of America|Confederate troops]] and for transporting their supplies. The town also provided hospitals for soldiers wounded in nearby battles.

In December 1862, the [[Battle of Goldsborough Bridge]] was waged, in which both sides fought for possession of the strategically significant [[Wilmington and Weldon Railroad]] Bridge. [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] General [[John G. Foster|John Foster]] arrived with his troops on December 17, aiming to destroy this bridge in order to put an end to the vital supply chain from the port of [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]]. He succeeded on that same day, his troops overpowering the small number of defending [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] soldiers and burning down the bridge. On their way back to New Bern, Foster's men were attacked again by Confederate troops, but they survived with fewer casualties than the enemy. The important bridge at Goldsborough was rebuilt in a matter of weeks.

Goldsborough was the scene of another Union offensive in 1865, during Union [[General Sherman]]'s [[Carolinas Campaign]]. After the battles of [[Battle of Bentonville|Bentonville]] and [[Battle of Wyse Fork|Wyse Fork]], Sherman's forces met with the armies of [[John Schofield|Schofield]], their troops taking over the city in March. During the following three weeks, Goldsborough was occupied by over 100,000 Union soldiers. After the war was over, some of these troops continued to stay in the city.

In 1869, the spelling of the city was officially changed to Goldsboro. Wayne County was part of [[North Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] following the Civil War, when it was known as the "Black Second", for its majority-black population. This district elected four Republican African Americans to Congress in the 19th century, three of them ''after'' the Reconstruction era. The attorney [[George Henry White]] was the last to serve, being elected in 1894 and serving two terms.

The Democrat-dominated legislature established legal racial segregation in public facilities. To further this, in the 1880s it authorized a facility to serve the black mentally ill, the State Hospital in Goldsboro. In 1899 the legislature authorized an addition but did not appropriate sufficient funds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/hospital/hospital.html |title=State Hospital (Goldsboro, N.C.). Report of the State Hospital, at Goldsboro, N. C., from November 30, 1902, to November 30, 1904 |website=Docsouth.unc.edu |access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> This operated until after passage of civil rights legislation requiring integration of public facilities. In addition, the hospital was affected by the 1970s movement to de-institutionalize care for the mentally ill. Most states have failed to adequately support community programs to replace such facilities.

During [[World War II]] the North Carolina congressional delegation was successful in gaining the present-day [[Seymour Johnson Air Force Base]], which opened on the outskirts of Goldsboro in April 1942 as a [[US Army Air Forces]] installation named Seymour Johnson Field. From this point on, the city's population and businesses increased as a result of the federal defense installation. The base's name was changed to Seymour Johnson AFB in 1947 following the establishment of the [[US Air Force]] as an independent service.

The city is home to Goldsboro Milling Company, the 10th largest producer of [[Domestic pig|hogs]] in the U.S., and also a major producer of [[turkey (bird)|turkey]]s.
 
The [[Borden Manufacturing Company]], [[First Presbyterian Church (Goldsboro, North Carolina)|First Presbyterian Church]], [[L. D. Giddens and Son Jewelry Store]], [[Goldsboro Union Station]], [[Harry Fitzhugh Lee House]], [[Odd Fellows Lodge (Goldsboro, North Carolina)|Odd Fellows Lodge]], and [[Solomon and Henry Weil Houses]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref>

===Nuclear accident===
{{Main|1961 Goldsboro B-52 crash}}
In 1961, two 3.8 [[TNT equivalent|megaton]] [[hydrogen bombs]] were dropped accidentally on the village of [[Faro, North Carolina|Faro]], {{convert|12|mi}} north of Goldsboro, after a [[1961 Goldsboro B-52 crash|B-52 aircraft broke up in mid air]]. The two [[Mark 39 nuclear bomb]]s were released after the crew abandoned a [[B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]] bomber which had suffered mid-flight [[structural failure]]. Both bombs went through several steps in the arming sequence, but neither detonated.<ref>{{cite web | title=Nuclear Mishap in Goldsboro| work=Broken Arrow: Goldsboro, NC (2000)| url=http://www.ibiblio.org/bomb/ | access-date=June 14, 2005}}</ref> One bomb was recovered. Although much of the second bomb was also recovered, a missing piece containing uranium was believed to have sunk deep into the swampy earth and could not be recovered. The piece remains in land that the Air Force eventually purchased in order to prevent any land use or digging.<ref>{{cite web |title=January 1961 - Bombs Over Goldsboro |work=This Month in North Carolina History, University of North Carolina Libraries |url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/jan2008/index.html |access-date=April 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228001711/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/jan2008/index.html |archive-date=December 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013, it was revealed that three safety mechanisms on one bomb had failed, leaving just one low-voltage switch preventing detonation.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/20/usaf-atomic-bomb-north-carolina-1961 "USAF Atomic Bomb in North Carolina 1961"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', September 20, 2013.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|24.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|24.8|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}}  (0.08%) is water.

The [[Neuse River]] defines the southern boundary of the city.
[[Little River (Neuse River tributary)|Little River]] is a class WS-III river that provides the water source for Goldsboro.
It runs through the west of the city, and joins the Neuse River about {{convert|2|mi}} south of US 70.<ref>{{citation|title=US 70 Goldsboro Bypass, SR 1237 to SR 1731, Wayne County: Environmental Impact Statement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D8o1AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA5|year=1998|page=3}}</ref>
[[Stoney Creek (North Carolina)|Stoney Creek]] runs through the east of the city between downtown and the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.<ref>{{citation |title=Stoney Creek Watershed |date=July 2004 |author=NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program |url=https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/PublicFolder/Work%20With/Watershed%20Planners/Stoney%20Creek_Prelim%20Findings%20and%20Rec_Phase%20I_Combined.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622164521/https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/PublicFolder/Work%20With/Watershed%20Planners/Stoney%20Creek_Prelim%20Findings%20and%20Rec_Phase%20I_Combined.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |access-date=2018-06-22 }}</ref>
As of 1982 the Goldsboro waste-water treatment plant accounted for 59% of total effluent discharged into the Neuse between Clayton and Kinston.<ref name=Hamed/>

The closest lakes to the city center are McArthur Lake, {{convert|3.3|mi}} to the southwest, Cedar Lake, {{convert|4.6|mi}} to the north and Quaker Neck Lake, {{convert|4.7|mi}} to the west.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.geostat.org/data/goldsboro-nc/lakes |title=Lakes Near Goldsboro, North Carolina |work=GeoStat.org}}</ref>
Quaker Neck Lake is an artificial lake that supplies cooling water to the [[H.F. Lee Energy Complex]].<ref name=Hamed>{{citation |last=Harned|first=Douglas A.|title=U.S. Geological Survey Water-supply Paper|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ez9SAQAAMAAJ&pg=SL4-PA6 |access-date=2018-06-22|year=1982|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|chapter=Water Quality of the Neuse River, North Carolina - Variability, pollution loads, and long-term trends|page=6}}</ref> 
The closest reservoirs are Cogdells Pond, {{convert|2.6|mi}} to the northeast and Wills Pond, {{convert|5.4|mi}} to the west.
Wills Pond is also known as Bear Creek W/S Lake Number Four.<ref>{{citation|title=Reservoirs Near Goldsboro, North Carolina|work=geostat.org |url=http://www.geostat.org/data/goldsboro-nc/reservoirs}}</ref>
Wills Pond impounds Old Mill Branch, a tributary of [[Bear Creek (Neuse River)|Bear Creek]] that flows east and enters Bear Creek near its headwaters.<ref>{{citation |title=Northeast Goldsboro Quadrangle : North Carolina-Wayne Co. |publisher=USGS: United States Geological Survey |year=2013 |url=https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Maps/USTopo/PDF/NC/NC_Northeast_Goldsboro_20130506_TM_geo.pdf |access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref>

===Climate===
Goldsboro's location on the [[Atlantic Coastal Plain]] lends it a [[Humid subtropical climate]], with hot humid summers and cool winters. The hottest month is July, with an average high temperature of 91&nbsp;°F (31&nbsp;°C), and an average low of 71&nbsp;°F (22&nbsp;°C). The coldest month is January, with an average high of 54&nbsp;°F (11&nbsp;°C), and an average low of 34&nbsp;°F (0&nbsp;°C). Annual total rainfall is 52.53&nbsp;inches (1,334&nbsp;mm), falling relatively evenly with a slight wet season in the late summer/early fall. Some light to moderate snowfall can take place in winter, but amounts can fluctuate greatly and can range from no snow to totals over one foot (30&nbsp;cm) in some years.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = GOLDSBORO 4 SE, NC, 1991-2020 normals
|single line = Y
| Jan high F = 54.2
| Feb high F = 58.1
| Mar high F = 65.1
| Apr high F = 75.2
| May high F = 81.8
| Jun high F = 88.0
| Jul high F = 91.0
| Aug high F = 89.1
| Sep high F = 83.4
| Oct high F = 74.8
| Nov high F = 65.5
| Dec high F = 57.3
|year high F = 73.6
|Jan mean F = 44.4
|Feb mean F = 47.3
|Mar mean F = 54.1
|Apr mean F = 63.1
|May mean F = 70.6
|Jun mean F = 78.4
|Jul mean F = 81.3
|Aug mean F = 80.0
|Sep mean F = 74.8
|Oct mean F = 64.3
|Nov mean F = 54.4
|Dec mean F = 47.3
|year mean F = 63.3
| Jan low F = 34.6
| Feb low F = 36.4
| Mar low F = 43.1
| Apr low F = 51.0
| May low F = 59.5
| Jun low F = 68.8
| Jul low F = 71.7
| Aug low F = 70.8
| Sep low F = 66.3
| Oct low F = 53.9
| Nov low F = 43.3
| Dec low F = 37.3
|year low F = 53.1
|Jan record high F =
|Feb record high F =
|Mar record high F =
|Apr record high F =
|May record high F =
|Jun record high F =
|Jul record high F =
|Aug record high F =
|Sep record high F =
|Oct record high F =
|Nov record high F =
|Dec record high F =
|year record high F =
|Jan record low F =
|Feb record low F =
|Mar record low F =
|Apr record low F =
|May record low F =
|Jun record low F =
|Jul record low F =
|Aug record low F =
|Sep record low F =
|Oct record low F =
|Nov record low F =
|Dec record low F =
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.55
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.24
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.22
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.90
| May precipitation inch = 3.52
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.40
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.42
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.42
| Sep precipitation inch = 7.03
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.79
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.17
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.60
|year precipitation inch = 52.26
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 11.9
| Feb precipitation days = 9.5
| Mar precipitation days = 11.3
| Apr precipitation days = 8.7
| May precipitation days = 9.5
| Jun precipitation days = 10.3
| Jul precipitation days = 12.8
| Aug precipitation days = 10.8
| Sep precipitation days = 10.1
| Oct precipitation days = 7.4
| Nov precipitation days = 8.2
| Dec precipitation days = 10.4
| year precipitation days = 120.9
|Jan snow inch = 1.3
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.7
|year snow inch = 2.0
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.7
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.2
|year snow days = 1.0
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url =
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013713&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = January 1, 2022
}}</ref> }}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 885
|1870= 1134
|1880= 3286
|1890= 4017
|1900= 5877
|1910= 6107
|1920= 11296
|1930= 14985
|1940= 17274
|1950= 21454
|1960= 28873
|1970= 26960
|1980= 31871
|1990= 40709
|2000= 39043
|2010= 36437
|2020= 33657
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Goldsboro racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US3726880&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-24|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 10,931
| 32.48%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 17,867
| 53.09%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]]
| 103
| 0.31%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]]
| 781
| 2.32%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 29
| 0.09%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 1,563
| 4.64%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. census)|Latino]]
| 2,383
| 7.08%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 33,657 people, 14,404 households, and 8,320 families residing in the city.

===2019===
As of 2019 census estimates,<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: Goldsboro city, North Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/goldsborocitynorthcarolina/IPE120219 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref> there were 34,186 people and 14,339 households residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,214.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 52.7% [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 39.9% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], and 4.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.8% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,043, and the median income for a family was $59,844. Males had a median income of $55,223 versus $56,850 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,666. About 26.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].

==Arts and culture==

===Sites of interest===
* [[Cliffs of the Neuse State Park]] is a state park located near the city. It covers {{convert|751|acre|km2}} along the southern banks of the Neuse River. It has a swimming area, several hiking trails, fishing areas, a nature museum, and picnic areas. The cliffs rise 90 feet above the Neuse River.
* Waynesborough Historical Village is a reconstructed "village" located near the original site of the town of Waynesborough. It is home to historical Wayne County buildings ranging from various periods of time. These buildings include a family home, a medical office, a one-room school, a [[law office]], and a [[Quaker]] Meeting House.
* Herman Park includes a recreational center, miniature train, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a turn-of-the-century park house, [[gazebo]], goldfish pond, fountain, and children's playground.
* The [[Congregation Oheb Sholom (Goldsboro, North Carolina)|Oheb Shalom]] synagogue's [[Romanesque Revival]] building is one of fewer than a hundred nineteenth-century synagogues still standing in the United States, and the second [[Oldest synagogues in the United States|oldest synagogue building]] in the state.<ref>Gordon, Mark W., ''[http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_jewish_history/v084/84.1gordon_tab01.html Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues]''. ''American Jewish History'', 84.1, 1996, pp. 11–27. [http://www.ajhs.org/rediscovering-jewish-infrastructure 2019 article update].</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Goldsboro City Hall.jpg|thumb|Goldsboro City Hall]]
Chuck Allen served as the city's [[Mayor]], succeeding Alfonzo "Al" King in 2016 who succeeded Hal Plonk in 2002. As mayor, Allen was the official and ceremonial head of city government and presides at all City Council meetings. The mayor and the city council are elected to office for a four-year term. Goldsboro has a [[council-manager government]]. As of 2020, the city manager is Tim Salmon.<ref>[https://www.goldsboronc.gov/city-manager/ City Manager]</ref>

In June 2021, Allen abruptly resigned citing health issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.witn.com/2021/06/15/goldsboro-mayor-resigns-immediately/|title=Goldsboro mayor resigns immediately|date=2021-06-15|publisher=WITN|access-date=2021-08-10}}</ref>

===City council===
{{unsourced|section|date=July 2023}}
* 1st District: Hiawatha Jones
* 2nd District: Bill Broadway
* 3rd District: Taj Polak
* 4th District: Brandi Matthews 
* 5th District: Charles Gaylor
* 6th District: Greg Batts

===Federal representatives===
Goldsboro has been in [[North Carolina's 7th congressional district]] since January 3, 2017, and is currently represented by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[David Rouzer]]. Beginning on January 3, 2021, Goldsboro was placed in [[North Carolina's 1st congressional district]] and was represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[G. K. Butterfield]].

Goldsboro is represented in the Senate by Republicans [[Ted Budd]] and [[Thom Tillis]].

==Education==

===Colleges===
* [[North Carolina Wesleyan College]] Goldsboro campus
* [[Wayne Community College]]

===High schools===
* [[Eastern Wayne High School]]
* [[Goldsboro High School]]
* [[Rosewood High School]]
* Wayne Early/Middle College High School
* [[Wayne School of Engineering]]
* [[Charles B. Aycock High School]]
* Spring Creek High School
* Southern Wayne High School
* Wayne School of Technical Arts

===Middle schools===
*Dillard Middle School
*Eastern Wayne Middle School
*Greenwood Middle School
*Rosewood Middle School
*Brogden Middle School
*Norwayne Middle School 
*Spring Creek Middle School

===Elementary schools===
*Carver Heights Elementary School
*Dillard Academy Charter School
*Eastern Wayne Elementary School
*Grantham Elementary School
*Meadow Lane Elementary School
*North Drive Elementary School
*Rosewood Elementary School
*School Street Early Learning Center
*Spring Creek Elementary School
*Tommy's Road Elementary School
• Northwest Elementary School 

• Northeast Elementary School

===Private schools===
*Faith Christian Academy
*Pathway Christian Academy
*St. Mary Catholic School
*Wayne Christian School
*Wayne Country Day School
*Wayne Preparatory Academy

==Media==

===Newspaper===
''[[The Goldsboro News-Argus]]'' is a paid subscription to Goldsboro's daily newspaper with a circulation of approximately 16,500.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://echo-media.com/medias/details/4247|title=Echo Media V3 Print Media Experts}}</ref>

''Goldsboro Daily News'' is a free online daily newspaper.

===Television===
Goldsboro supports one television station. [[WHFL-CD|WHFL TV 43]] is a low-power broadcast station on UHF channel 43 and is also found on two local cable networks. The station is a FamilyNet affiliate and carries religious, local, and family programming. The area is also served by television stations from the [[Raleigh-Durham]] and [[Greenville, North Carolina|Greenville]] areas. CBS affiliate [[WNCN-TV]], Channel 17, is licensed to Goldsboro but has its studios in Raleigh. Up until August 2010, a [[Public, educational, and government access]] (PEG) [[cable TV]] station called PACC-10 TV was available to [[Time Warner Cable]] customers. The station aired its own programming as well as City Council and County Commissioner meetings. Time Warner Cable transferred the channel to [[Wayne County, North Carolina|Wayne County]] which currently provides local announcements and community interest programming.

===Radio stations based in Goldsboro===
* [[WZKT]] 97.7 FM Country
* [[WFMC]] 730 AM Black Gospel
* [[WGBR]] 1150 AM News/Talk
* [[WSSG]] 1300 AM/92.7 FM JAMZ Urban

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
The closest civilian airport is [[Wayne Executive Jetport]], but is only used for general aviation. The nearest public commercial airport is [[Pitt-Greenville Airport]] {{Airport codes|PGV}} in [[Greenville, North Carolina|Greenville]] about 36 miles northeast of Goldsboro. However, most residents use [[Raleigh-Durham International Airport]] for domestic and international travel.

Major highways that run through the city are [[U.S. Route 70 in North Carolina|US 70]] (the main thoroughfare through Goldsboro), [[U.S. Route 13 (North Carolina)|US 13]], [[U.S. Route 117 (North Carolina)|US 117]], [[North Carolina Highway 111|NC 111]], and [[North Carolina Highway 581|NC 581]]. [[Interstate 795 (North Carolina)|I-795]] now connects Goldsboro to [[Interstate 95 in North Carolina|I-95]] in [[Wilson, North Carolina|Wilson]].

The Goldsboro Bypass which is a route of [[U.S. Route 70|U.S. 70]] was fully opened in May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/beach-bound-triangle-residents-now-have-goldsboro-bypass/15733252/ |title=Beach-bound Triangle residents now have Goldsboro Bypass |website=Wral.com |date=2016-05-28 |access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> Previously NC&nbsp;44 while partially open and under construction, it became US&nbsp;70 Byp. upon completion and has been designated as [[Interstate 42|I-42]].<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://apps.ncdot.gov/NewsReleases/details.aspx?r=12558 |title=North Carolina Gains Names for Two New Interstate Designations |location=Raleigh, NC |publisher=North Carolina Department of Transportation |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616164024/https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=12558 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=2016S |page=7 |access-date=May 26, 2016}}</ref>

The city has a bus system known as Gateway which runs four routes.

Until the 1960s, the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] and the [[Seaboard Coast Line]] ran passenger trains in and out of [[Goldsboro Union Station]] to points west, north and south.<ref>''Official Guide of the Railways,'' June 1963, Southern Railway section</ref><ref>''Official Guide of the Railways,'' October 1967, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad section</ref>

===Hospitals===
* [[Wayne Memorial Hospital (North Carolina)]], a medical facility located in Goldsboro, is the county's second-largest employer.
* [[Cherry Hospital]] is a [[psychiatric hospital]] which first started in 1880 as a facility to treat mentally ill [[African American]]s. A museum depicting its history is also part of the hospital campus.
*[[O'Berry Neuro-Medical Center]] is a [[North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services]] hospital providing rehabilitative services to people with intellectual disabilities/ developmental disabilities.

==Notable people==
* [[George Altman]], baseball player for [[Chicago Cubs]]
* [[Christopher R. Barron]], member of board of directors and co-founder of [[GOProud]]
* [[Curtis Hooks Brogden]], 19th-century politician
* [[Dan Bullock]], [[United States Marine]], [[Private First Class]], [[Vietnam War]] 
* [[Doris Coley]], singer, member of [[The Shirelles]]
* [[Annie Dove Denmark]], educator 
* [[Jimmy Graham]], tight end for [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[Seattle Seahawks]]
* [[Johnny Grant (radio personality)|Johnny Grant]], radio personality, television producer and honorary mayor of Hollywood
* [[Andy Griffith]], actor, lived in Goldsboro, teaching English, drama, and music at [[Goldsboro High School]]
* [[John W. Gulick]], U.S. Army major general<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Giffin |first=Stewart S. |date=May 1930 |title=Major General John W. Gulick, Chief of Coast Artillery |url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a502618.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302041020/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a502618.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=March 2, 2017 |magazine=The Coast Artillery Journal |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps |access-date=June 18, 2018 |pages=382–384|ref={{sfnRef|”Major General John W. Gulick, Chief of Coast Artillery”}}}}</ref>
* [[Anne Jeffreys]], actress, born Annie Jeffreys Carmichael on January 26, 1923, in Goldsboro, North Carolina
* [[John H. Kerr, III]], state senator
* [[Joshua Kindred]], US federal judge in Alaska
* [[Clyde King]], baseball pitcher and manager of [[Atlanta Braves]] and [[New York Yankees]]
* [[Jerry Narron]], baseball catcher and coach, and manager of [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] and [[Cincinnati Reds]]
* [[Mark O'Meara]], golfer who won 1998 [[The Masters Tournament|Masters]] and [[The Open Championship|British Open]]
* [[Jarran Reed]], [[National Football League|NFL]] defensive tackle
* [[Kenneth Claiborne Royall]], [[United States Army|Army]] [[General officer|general]] and last [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]]
* [[Dave Simmons (linebacker born 1957)|Dave Simmons]], football player for four NFL teams
* [[David Thornton (football)|David Thornton]], football player for [[Tennessee Titans]] and [[Indianapolis Colts]]
* [[Big Daddy V]], former [[WWE]] wrestler. His real name was Nelson Frazier Jr
* [[Greg Warren (American football)|Greg Warren]], long snapper for [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
* [[Joby Warrick]], winner of two Pulitzer Prizes
* [[Thomas Washington]], an admiral during World War I
* [[William Henry Washington]], 19th-century politician
* [[Coby White]], [[NBA]] basketball player for [[Chicago Bulls]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
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* {{Official website}}
* {{osmrelation-inline}}
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{{Wayne County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina county seats}}

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[[Category:Goldsboro, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1787 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Cities in Wayne County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:County seats in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1787]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Neuse River]]