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Edgecombe County, North Carolina
N 2011 66 Edgecombe County Courthouse (8476209570)
Postcard. Historic Edgecombe County Courthouse in Tarboro, North Carolina.
Map of North Carolina highlighting Edgecombe County
Location in the state of North Carolina
Map of the U.S
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1741
Named for Richard Edgcumbe
Seat Tarboro
Largest city Rocky Mount
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

507 sq mi (1,313 km²)
505 sq mi (1,308 km²)
1.3 sq mi (3 km²), 0.3
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

48,900
95.8/sq mi (37/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://www.edgecombecountync.gov

Edgecombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,900.[1] Its county seat is Tarboro.[2] Edgecombe County is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for Richard Edgcumbe,[3] a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1701 to 1742 and a lord of the treasury, who became 1st Baron Richard Edgecombe in 1742.

In 1746 part of Edgecombe County became Granville County; in 1758 another portion became Halifax County; and in 1777 yet another part became Nash County. In 1855 the formation of Wilson County from parts of Edgecombe County, Johnston County, Nash County, and Wayne County reduced Edgecombe to its present size, with a minor boundary adjustments.

Edgecombe County was historically home to the Tuscarora Indians. Although most migrated north to New York in the 18th century, descendants of the Tuscarora still live in some parts of the county.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 505 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

State and local protected area[]

Adjacent counties[]

Major water-bodies[]

  • Cokey Swamp
  • Deep creek
  • Dickson Branch
  • Fishing Creek
  • Swift Creek
  • Tar River
  • Town Creek

Major highways[]

  • [[Template:Infobox road/NC/link I-Future|Template:Infobox road/NC/abbrev I-Future]] (Concurrency with US-64)
  • US 13 US 13
  • US 64 US 64
  • US 258 US 258
  • US 301 US 301
  • Alt plate
    US 64 US 64 Alt.
  • NC 11 NC 11
  • NC 33 NC 33
  • NC 42 NC 42
  • NC 43 NC 43
  • NC 97 NC 97
  • NC 111 NC 111
  • NC 122 NC 122
  • NC 124 NC 124
  • NC 142 NC 142

Other major Infrastructure[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 10,265
1800 10,421 1.5%
1810 12,423 19.2%
1820 13,276 6.9%
1830 14,935 12.5%
1840 15,708 5.2%
1850 17,189 9.4%
1860 17,376 1.1%
1870 22,970 32.2%
1880 26,181 14.0%
1890 24,113 −7.9%
1900 26,591 10.3%
1910 32,010 20.4%
1920 37,995 18.7%
1930 47,894 26.1%
1940 49,162 2.6%
1950 51,634 5.0%
1960 54,226 5.0%
1970 52,341 −3.5%
1980 55,988 7.0%
1990 56,558 1.0%
2000 55,606 −1.7%
2010 56,552 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[9]

2020 census[]

Edgecombe County racial composition[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 17,340 35.46%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 27,299 55.83%
Native American 128 0.26%
Asian 112 0.23%
Pacific Islander 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,306 2.67%
Hispanic or Latino 2,706 5.53%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 48,900 people, 21,151 households, and 14,408 families residing in the county.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 56,552 people living in the county. 57.4% were Black or African American, 38.8% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.3% of some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 3.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census[]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families living in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (43/km2). There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.46% Black or African American, 40.06% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,392 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.20% were married couples living together, 21.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,983, and the median income for a family was $35,902. Males had a median income of $27,300 versus $21,649 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,435. About 16.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.


Law and government[]

Edgecombe County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.

The North Carolina Department of Corrections previously operated the Fountain Correctional Center for Women in an unincorporated area in the county, near Rocky Mount.[12] It closed in December 2014.[13]

United States presidential election results for Edgecombe County, North Carolina[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,206 36.13% 16,089 63.15% 182 0.71%
2016 8,261 33.20% 16,224 65.19% 401 1.61%
2012 8,546 31.68% 18,310 67.89% 116 0.43%
2008 8,445 32.57% 17,403 67.12% 82 0.32%
2004 8,163 38.73% 12,877 61.09% 39 0.19%
2000 6,836 37.56% 11,315 62.16% 51 0.28%
1996 6,010 34.78% 10,568 61.16% 700 4.05%
1992 6,275 31.92% 11,174 56.84% 2,208 11.23%
1988 6,831 42.92% 9,044 56.82% 41 0.26%
1984 9,635 47.66% 10,545 52.16% 36 0.18%
1980 5,916 42.09% 7,945 56.52% 195 1.39%
1976 4,850 37.40% 8,001 61.70% 117 0.90%
1972 8,244 62.53% 4,635 35.16% 305 2.31%
1968 3,198 22.36% 5,243 36.66% 5,861 40.98%
1964 3,932 33.42% 7,834 66.58% 0 0.00%
1960 2,279 22.07% 8,046 77.93% 0 0.00%
1956 1,840 19.03% 7,830 80.97% 0 0.00%
1952 1,927 18.47% 8,504 81.53% 0 0.00%
1948 478 6.69% 6,410 89.75% 254 3.56%
1944 448 6.21% 6,762 93.79% 0 0.00%
1940 316 4.03% 7,516 95.97% 0 0.00%
1936 266 3.83% 6,684 96.17% 0 0.00%
1932 248 4.04% 5,872 95.62% 21 0.34%
1928 977 18.93% 4,184 81.07% 0 0.00%
1924 171 6.70% 2,274 89.04% 109 4.27%
1920 24 0.71% 3,343 99.29% 0 0.00%
1916 135 6.17% 2,028 92.69% 25 1.14%
1912 102 4.91% 1,851 89.03% 126 6.06%
1908 438 19.99% 1,753 80.01% 0 0.00%
1904 126 7.15% 1,588 90.07% 49 2.78%
1900 1,635 35.20% 3,009 64.78% 1 0.02%
1896 2,758 57.47% 2,032 42.34% 9 0.19%
1892 986 29.87% 1,702 51.56% 613 18.57%
1888 2,542 65.55% 1,331 34.32% 5 0.13%
1884 3,293 66.15% 1,685 33.85% 0 0.00%
1880 3,475 66.81% 1,726 33.19% 0 0.00%



Education[]

Edgecombe County Public Schools has 14 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to thirteenth grade. These are separated into four high schools, four middle schools, five elementary schools, and 1 K-8 school.[15] It was formed in 1993 from the merger of the old Edgecombe County Schools and Tarboro City Schools systems.[16]

The county is home to Edgecombe Community College with campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount.[17]

Communities[]

Map of Edgecombe County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Map of Edgecombe County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City[]

Towns[]

  • Conetoe
  • Leggett
  • Macclesfield
  • Pinetops
  • Princeville
  • Sharpsburg
  • Speed
  • Tarboro (county seat)
  • Whitakers

Townships[]

The county is divided into fourteen townships, which are both numbered and named:

  • 1 (Tarboro)
  • 2 (Lower Conetoe)
  • 3 (Upper Conetoe)
  • 4 (Deep Creek)
  • 5 (Lower Fishing Creek)
  • 6 (Upper Fishing Creek)
  • 7 (Swift Creek)
  • 8 (Sparta)
  • 9 (Otter Creek)
  • 10 (Lower Town Creek)
  • 11 (Walnut Creek)
  • 12 (Rocky Mount)
  • 13 (Cokey)
  • 14 (Upper Town Creek)

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Crisp
  • Mercer

Notable people[]

  • Duncan Lamont Clinch (1787–1849) – born at Ard-Lamont in Edgecombe County, American Army officer in the First and Second Seminole Wars[18]
  • Dorsey Pender (1834–1863) – born at Pender's Crossroads in Edgecombe County, Major General in the Confederate Army.
  • Josiah Pender (1819-1864) – cousin to Dorsey Pender, who captured Fort Macon from Union soldiers in 1861.
  • Hugh Shelton (born 1942) – four-star General and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by President Clinton.

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
  • Edgecombe County serial killer
  • Halifax District Brigade#Edgecombe County Regiment

References[]

  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US37065. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. pp. 114. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  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. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  7. ^ 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. 
  8. ^ "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. 
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37065.html. 
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37065&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ "Fountain Correctional Center for Women." North Carolina Department of Public Safety. December 20, 2014. Retrieved on December 18, 2015. "Street Address 300 Fountain School Road Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804"
  13. ^ "Closed prisons" (Archive). North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Retrieved on December 18, 2015.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  15. ^ "Edgecombe County Public Schools". North Carolina's School Report Cards. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. 
  16. ^ Bender, Jaime (July 5, 2003). "Edgecombe schools marks 10 years". The Rocky Mount Telegram. 
  17. ^ "About ECC". Edgecombe Community College. http://www.edgecombe.edu/resources/about-edgecombe-community-college. 
  18. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 35°55′N 77°36′W / 35.91, -77.60


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Edgecombe 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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