Editing Lenoir County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Lenoir, North Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lenoir County
 | state                = North Carolina
 | seal                 = Great Seal of Lenoir County nc.jpg
 | founded              = 1791
 | named for            = [[William Lenoir (general)|William Lenoir]]
 | seat wl              = Kinston
 | largest city wl      = Kinston
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 401.37
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 399.09
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.28
 | area percentage      = 0.57
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 55122
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 54895 {{loss}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 138.12
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.24|-77.64|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = lenoircountync.gov
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | ex image             = Lenoir County Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = [[Lenoir County Courthouse]] in Kinston
 | logo                 = Lenoir County Logo.png
 | flag                 = Lenoir County Flag.gif
}}

'''Lenoir County''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|'|n|ɔːr}} {{respell|le|NOR}})<ref name="North Carolina Collection">[https://library.unc.edu/wilson/ncc/talk-like-a-tar-heel/ Talk Like a Tarheel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622041633/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html |date=June 22, 2013 }}, from the North Carolina Collection website at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]. Retrieved August 16, 2023.</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 55,122.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Kinston, North Carolina|Kinston]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> located on the [[Neuse River]], across which the county has its territory.

Lenoir County comprises the Kinston, NC [[Micropolitan statistical area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The county was formed in 1791 from the southern part of [[Dobbs County, North Carolina|Dobbs County]]. It was named for [[William Lenoir (general)|William Lenoir]] (1751–1839), an officer in the [[American Revolutionary War]] who took part in the [[Battle of Kings Mountain]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n184 185]}}</ref> He was a prominent political leader; when the county was established, he was serving as [[Speaker of the North Carolina Senate]].

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507907|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Lenoir County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|401.37|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|399.09|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.28|sqmi}} (0.57%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===State and local protected sites===
* [[CSS Neuse]]
* [[Neuseway Nature Center and Planetarium]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Contentnea Creek]]
* [[Neuse River]]
* Southwest Creek
* [[Wheat Swamp (Contentnea Creek tributary)|Wheat Swamp]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greene County, North Carolina|Greene County]] – north
* [[Pitt County, North Carolina|Pitt County]] – northeast
* [[Craven County, North Carolina|Craven County]] – east
* [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]] – southeast
* [[Duplin County, North Carolina|Duplin County]] – southwest
* [[Wayne County, North Carolina|Wayne County]] – west

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|I|42|I-Future|42|nolink2=yes}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|258}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|11}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|55}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|58}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|118}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|148}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|241}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|903}}
{{Div col end}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Amtrak Thruway#East|Amtrak Thruway]] (Kinston)
* [[Kinston Regional Jetport]]
* [[Global TransPark]]
* [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound Bus Terminal]], with a location in Kinston

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1800= 4005
|1810= 5572
|1820= 6799
|1830= 7723
|1840= 7605
|1850= 7828
|1860= 10220
|1870= 10434
|1880= 15344
|1890= 14879
|1900= 18639
|1910= 22769
|1920= 29555
|1930= 35716
|1940= 41211
|1950= 45953
|1960= 55276
|1970= 55204
|1980= 59819
|1990= 57274
|2000= 59648
|2010= 59495
|2020= 55122
|estyear=2023
|estimate=54895
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37107.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607000245/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37107.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lenoircountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Lenoir County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Lenoir County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37107&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 24, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 26,582
| 48.22%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 22,034
| 39.97%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 134
| 0.24%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 332
| 0.6%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 22
| 0.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 1,653
| 3.0%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 4,365
| 7.92%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 55,122 people, 23,148 households, and 14,863 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 59,495 residents with 24,327 households and 15,993 families residing within the county.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=American FactFinder - Community Facts |url=https://archive.today/20200214010755/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/cf/1.0/en/county/Lenoir%20County,%20North%20Carolina/POPULATION/DECENNIAL_CNT |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/cf/1.0/en/county/Lenoir%20County,%20North%20Carolina/POPULATION/DECENNIAL_CNT |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=factfinder.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>  The [[population density]] was {{convert|149|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 27,184 housing units at an average density of {{convert|68|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The county's racial makeup was 56.47% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 40.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.88% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.66% from two or more races. 3.17% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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==
{{PresHead|place=Lenoir County, North Carolina|whig=no}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->{{PresRow|2024|Republican|14,564|12,700|239|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,590|13,605|214|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,613|12,634|560|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|13,980|13,948|158|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,401|13,378|118|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,939|10,207|33|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|11,512|9,527|124|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|9,433|8,635|857|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|8,932|8,793|2,117|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,669|7,649|35|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,321|8,556|37|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,832|7,546|336|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|7,715|7,650|109|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,065|3,672|238|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|3,844|3,853|8,036|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,617|7,617|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,658|8,126|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,564|6,847|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,233|6,723|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|515|5,445|190|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|554|5,253|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|440|6,247|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|351|5,854|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|350|4,677|24|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,311|2,363|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|514|2,191|25|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,153|2,560|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|667|1,666|2|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|122|1,568|347|North Carolina}}

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 [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Eastern Carolina Council of Governments]].

Lenoir County is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] by [[Don Davis (North Carolina politician)|Don Davis]], who is the representative for [[North Carolina's 1st congressional district]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Directory of Representatives |url=https://www.house.gov/representatives |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=house.gov}}</ref> The county is also in [[North Carolina's 3rd Senate district]], represented by [[Bob Brinson]], and [[North Carolina's 12th House district]], represented by [[Chris Humphrey (politician)|Chris Humphrey]].<ref name="NCGA Representation">{{Cite web |date= |title=Lenoir County Representation |url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/CountyRepresentation/Lenoir |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=North Carolina General Assembly}}</ref> The current Lenoir County Commissioners (as of 2024) are: Roland Best (D), June Cummings (D), J. Mac Daughety (R), Preston Harris (D), Keith King (R), Linda Rouse Sutton (D; chairman), and Eric Rouse (R; vice-chair).<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Commissioners |url=https://lenoircountync.gov/government/county-commissioners/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=lenoircountync.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> The current members of the Lenoir County Board of Education (as of 2024) are: W. D. Anderson (vice chair), Michelle Cash, Bruce Hill (chair), Merwyn K. Smith, Dr. Kimberly Outlaw-Starkey, Elijah Woods, and John Wiggins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=School Board |url=https://www.lcpsnc.org/domain/58 |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=www.lcpsnc.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
===Higher Education===
Lenoir County is home to one higher learning institution, [[Lenoir Community College]] – which is located at 231 [[North Carolina Highway 58|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lenoircc.edu/aboutlcc/|title=About LCC - Lenoir Community College|work=Lenoir Community College|access-date=December 1, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

===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 school (government funded)|public]] high schools in Lenoir County: Lenoir County Early College, [[North Lenoir High School|North Lenoir]], [[South Lenoir High School|South Lenoir]], and [[Kinston High School (North Carolina)|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 [[Lenoir Memorial Hospital|UNC Lenoir Healthcare]], a 199-bed<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.unclenoir.org/about-us/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=www.unclenoir.org}}</ref> [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] hospital in Kinston.

==Communities==
[[File:Map_of_Lenoir_County_North_Carolina_With_Municipal_and_Township_Labels.PNG|thumb|250px|Map of Lenoir County with municipal and township labels]]

===City===
* [[Kinston, North Carolina|Kinston]] (county seat and largest community)

===Towns===
* [[La Grange, North Carolina|La Grange]]
* [[Pink Hill, North Carolina|Pink Hill]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Contentnea Neck
* Falling Creek
* Institute
* Kinston
* Moseley Hall
* Neuse
* Pink Hill
* Sand Hill
* Southwest
* Trent
* Vance
* Woodington
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Deep Run, North Carolina|Deep Run]]
* [[Graingers, North Carolina|Graingers]]
* [[Jackson Heights, North Carolina|Jackson Heights]]

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Tick Bite, North Carolina|Tick Bite]]

==Notable people==
* [[Larry Beck]], professional golfer
* [[Jocelyn Brown]], R&B singer
* [[Reggie Bullock]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player
* [[Dwight Clark]], [[San Francisco 49ers]] wide receiver
* [[Quinton Coples]], [[National Football League|NFL]] defensive end
* [[Chris Hatcher (pitcher)|David Christopher Hatcher]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher
* [[Malcolm Howard (judge)|Malcolm Howard]], [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina|Eastern District of North Carolina]] judge appointed by [[Ronald Reagan]]
* [[Vivian Howard]], American chef<ref>{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Jessika Morgan, Staff|title=Meet 25 famous Kinstonians|url=https://www.kinston.com/article/20121031/news/310319991|access-date=June 14, 2020|website=The Free Press|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Brandon Ingram]], NBA player
* [[Frank Lucas]], American mobster
* [[Susan Owens]], seventh woman to serve on [[Washington Supreme Court]]
* [[Maceo Parker]], saxophonist
* [[Melvin Parker]], drummer
* [[Jaime Pressly|Jamie Pressley]], actor
* [[Frank Snepp]], journalist
* [[Jerry Stackhouse]], NBA player
* [[Donna White|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 that plays in [[Grainger Stadium]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528716}}
* {{Official website|https://lenoircountync.gov}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130207040447/http://ncgenweb.us/nc/lenoir/ NCGenWeb Lenoir County], genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Lenoir County, North Carolina
| North     = [[Greene County, North Carolina|Greene County]]
| Northeast = [[Pitt County, North Carolina|Pitt County]]
| East      = [[Craven County, North Carolina|Craven County]]
| Southeast = [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]]
| South     =
| Southwest = [[Duplin County, North Carolina|Duplin County]]
| West      = [[Wayne County, North Carolina|Wayne County]]
| Northwest =
}}
{{Lenoir County, North Carolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lenoir County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1791 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1791]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in North Carolina]]