Largest city Wilson Website www.wilson-co.com Population 81,667 (2013) County seat Wilson | Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Founded 1855 Congressional districts 1st, 13th Area code 252 | |
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Named for Colonel Louis D. Wilson ZIP code(s) 27542, 27557, 27803, 27807, 27813, 27822, 27829, 27830, 27851, 27852, 27873, 27878, 27880, 27883, 27888, 27893, 27896 Cities Wilson, Elm City, Lucama, Stantonsburg, Black Creek, Saratoga, Sims Colleges and Universities Wilson Community College, Barton College, Mitchells Hairstyling Academy | ||
Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 81,234. The county seat is Wilson. The county comprises the Wilson Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included within the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
Map of Wilson County, NC, USA
History
On February 13, 1855, the North Carolina General Assembly established Wilson County "out of portions of Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, and Wayne counties." The county was named for Colonel Louis D. Wilson, U.S. Volunteers, who died of fever while on leave from the State senate during the Mexican-American War.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 368 square miles (950 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (1.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there 73,814 people, 28,613 households, and 19,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 199 people per square mile (77/km²). There were 30,729 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.83% White, 39.33% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 6.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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.
Government
Wilson County Government is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. It has several law enforcement agencies. Those agencies are as follows: