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Coordinates: 34°02′N 78°13′W / 34.04, -78.22

Brunswick County, North Carolina
Old Brunswick County Courthouse
Brunswick County Courthouse.
Seal of Brunswick County, North Carolina
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Brunswick County
Location in the state of North Carolina
Map of the U.S
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1764
Named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Seat Bolivia
Largest town Leland
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,050 sq mi (2,719 km²)
847 sq mi (2,194 km²)
203 sq mi (526 km²), 19%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

136,693
127/sq mi (49/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/

Brunswick County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693.[1] Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. A 2019 estimated population of 142,820 makes Brunswick the fourth-fastest-growing county in the country. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.[2]

Brunswick County is included in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formerly part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Brunswick County and Wilmington area leaders disputed the change, but unsuccessfully.[3]

Much of the economy of the county is built around tourism, with beach communities lying along the south-facing beaches past Cape Fear such as Bald Head Island (the southernmost point of North Carolina) and Oak Island being popular destinations. Calabash, on the border of South Carolina, is renowned for its fried seafood, with "Calabash-style" restaurants dotting the region. The proximity to EUE/Screen Gems Studios in nearby Wilmington has made Brunswick County a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows.

History[]

The county was formed in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named for the colonial port of Brunswick Town (now in ruins) which itself was named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; at the time held by the British kings of the House of Hanover.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,050 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 847 square miles (2,190 km2) is land and 203 square miles (530 km2) (19%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. The Brunswick River and the Cape Fear River provide access to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station is to the north of Southport.

Hydrogeology[]

The principal ground-water-supply sources for Brunswick County are the surficial aquifer for domestic supplies and the Castle Hayne aquifer for municipal supplies.[5]

Beaches[]

  • Caswell Beach
  • Holden Beach
  • Long Beach
  • Ocean Isle Beach
  • Sunset Beach
  • Yaupon Beach

Islands[]

  • Bald Head Island
  • Bird Island
  • Oak Island

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-140 I-140
  • US 17 US 17
  • US 74 US 74
  • US 76 US 76
  • US 421 US 421
  • NC 87 NC 87
  • NC 130 NC 130
  • NC 133 NC 133
  • NC 179 NC 179
  • NC 211 NC 211
  • NC 904 NC 904
  • NC 906 NC 906

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 3,071
1800 4,110 33.8%
1810 4,778 16.3%
1820 5,480 14.7%
1830 6,516 18.9%
1840 6,255 −4.0%
1850 7,272 16.3%
1860 8,406 15.6%
1870 7,754 −7.8%
1880 9,389 21.1%
1890 10,900 16.1%
1900 12,657 16.1%
1910 14,432 14.0%
1920 14,876 3.1%
1930 15,818 6.3%
1940 17,125 8.3%
1950 19,238 12.3%
1960 20,278 5.4%
1970 24,223 19.5%
1980 35,777 47.7%
1990 50,985 42.5%
2000 73,143 43.5%
2010 107,431 46.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census[]

Brunswick County racial composition[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 110,716 81.0%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 11,392 8.33%
Native American 743 0.54%
Asian 890 0.65%
Pacific Islander 75 0.05%
Other/Mixed 5,457 3.99%
Hispanic or Latino 7,420 5.43%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 136,693 people, 58,385 households, and 39,806 families residing in the county.

2000 census[]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 73,143 people, 30,438 households, and 22,037 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile (33/km2). There were 51,431 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.30% White, 14.38% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 2.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,438 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 29.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,888, and the median income for a family was $42,037. Males had a median income of $30,138 versus $22,066 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,857. About 9.50% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.


Communities[]

Map of Brunswick County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Map of Brunswick County, North Carolina, with municipal and township labels

Cities[]

  • Boiling Spring Lakes
  • Northwest
  • Southport

Leland, North Carolina

Towns[]

  • Belville
  • Bolivia (county seat)
  • Calabash
  • Carolina Shores
  • Caswell Beach
  • Holden Beach
  • Leland
  • Navassa
  • Oak Island
  • Ocean Isle Beach
  • Sandy Creek
  • Shallotte
  • St. James
  • Sunset Beach
  • Varnamtown

Village[]

  • Bald Head Island

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Antioch
  • Ash
  • Batarora
  • Bell Swamp
  • Bishop
  • Biven
  • Bonaparte Landing
  • Boone's Neck
  • Bowensville
  • Brunswick Station
  • Camp Branch
  • Cedar Grove
  • Civietown
  • Clairmont
  • Clarendon
  • Coolvale
  • Doe Creek
  • Eastbrook
  • Easy Hill
  • Half Hell
  • Longwood
  • Maco
  • Piney Grove
  • Red Bug
  • Sunset Harbor
  • Supply
  • Thomasboro
  • Winnabow

Politics, law and government[]

Brunswick County is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments. The county lies in the inner coastal plain, most of which was highly pro-secession, and part of the Democratic “Solid South” from the late 19th century through 1964. However, Brunswick County was less fertile than the “Black Belt” and consequently had significant pro-Union and Populist sympathies. The county frequently backed Republicans at state and local levels even when the state was consistently Democratic apart from Herbert Hoover’s 1928 victory. Only three times since the Civil War – Grover Cleveland in 1888, Alton B. Parker in 1904 and Jimmy Carter in 1980[12] – has Brunswick County backed a losing Democratic presidential candidate. Carter in that 1980 election remains the last Democrat to win a majority of Brunswick County’s ballots, although Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992.

United States presidential election results for Brunswick County, North Carolina[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 55,850 61.94% 33,310 36.94% 1,015 1.13%
2016 42,720 62.50% 23,282 34.06% 2,349 3.44%
2012 34,743 60.57% 22,038 38.42% 581 1.01%
2008 30,753 58.46% 21,331 40.55% 524 1.00%
2004 22,925 60.37% 14,903 39.24% 149 0.39%
2000 15,427 53.49% 13,118 45.49% 294 1.02%
1996 10,065 45.70% 10,041 45.59% 1,917 8.70%
1992 8,833 39.43% 10,177 45.43% 3,390 15.13%
1988 10,007 55.78% 7,881 43.93% 51 0.28%
1984 9,673 58.67% 6,774 41.08% 41 0.25%
1980 5,897 45.35% 6,761 52.00% 345 2.65%
1976 3,636 32.86% 7,377 66.66% 53 0.48%
1972 6,153 69.06% 2,500 28.06% 256 2.87%
1968 2,404 27.52% 2,972 34.03% 3,358 38.45%
1964 3,721 46.74% 4,240 53.26% 0 0.00%
1960 2,915 40.37% 4,305 59.63% 0 0.00%
1956 3,299 50.02% 3,297 49.98% 0 0.00%
1952 2,958 50.06% 2,951 49.94% 0 0.00%
1948 1,896 40.49% 2,052 43.82% 735 15.70%
1944 1,997 45.98% 2,346 54.02% 0 0.00%
1940 1,522 35.90% 2,717 64.10% 0 0.00%
1936 1,625 37.49% 2,710 62.51% 0 0.00%
1932 1,798 44.29% 2,245 55.30% 17 0.42%
1928 1,931 65.48% 1,018 34.52% 0 0.00%
1924 1,296 52.79% 1,118 45.54% 41 1.67%
1920 1,362 52.08% 1,253 47.92% 0 0.00%
1916 989 54.94% 810 45.00% 1 0.06%
1912 280 18.51% 777 51.35% 456 30.14%
1908 841 58.08% 607 41.92% 0 0.00%
1904 487 46.34% 564 53.66% 0 0.00%
1900 643 53.85% 525 43.97% 26 2.18%
1896 878 40.69% 1,279 59.27% 1 0.05%
1892 446 23.65% 755 40.03% 685 36.32%
1888 965 48.44% 1,023 51.36% 4 0.20%
1884 936 50.21% 928 49.79% 0 0.00%
1880 889 53.33% 746 44.75% 32 1.92%



See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Brunswick County, North Carolina
  • Cape Fear Museum

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37019.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Archived copy". http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/05/07/regional-fight-continues-to-move-brunswick-county-back-into-wilmingtons-msa.  Wilmington disputes move
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_37.txt. 
  5. ^ Harden, Stephen L. (2003). Hydrogeology and Ground-water Quality of Brunswick County, North Carolina. Raleigh, NC: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS65974. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37019&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ Melendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 265-270 ISBN 0786422173
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Brunswick County, North Carolina. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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