North Carolina
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Population News Articles
Population Density
Historic & Projected Growth
Population by County
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 196.1
People per square mile, 2020: 214.7
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
393,751 |
1800 |
478,103 |
1810 |
555,500 |
1820 |
638,829 |
1830 |
737,987 |
1840 |
753,419 |
1850 |
869,039 |
1860 |
992,622 |
1870 |
1,071,361 |
1880 |
1,399,750 |
1890 |
1,617,949 |
1900 |
1,893,810 |
1910 |
2,206,287 |
1920 |
2,559,123 |
1930 |
3,170,276 |
1940 |
3,571,623 |
1950 |
4,061,929 |
1960 |
4,556,155 |
1970 |
5,084,411 |
1980 |
5,880,095 |
1990 |
6,628,637 |
2000 |
8,049,313 |
2010 |
9,535,483 |
2020 |
10,439,388 |
2030 |
11,609,883 |
2040 |
12,658,927 |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
Census 2020 Population |
Census 2010 Population |
Change from 2020 |
Percent Change |
|
NORTH CAROLINA |
10,439,388 |
9,535,483 |
903,905 |
9.48% |
Alamance County |
171415 |
151,131 |
20,284 |
13.42% |
Alexander County |
36444 |
37,198 |
-754 |
-2.03% |
Alleghany County |
10888 |
11,155 |
-267 |
-2.39% |
Anson County |
22055 |
26,948 |
-4,893 |
-18.16% |
Ashe County |
26577 |
27,281 |
-704 |
-2.58% |
Avery County |
17806 |
17,797 |
9 |
0.05% |
Beaufort County |
44652 |
47,759 |
-3,107 |
-6.51% |
Bertie County |
17934 |
21,282 |
-3,348 |
-15.73% |
Bladen County |
29606 |
35,190 |
-5,584 |
-15.87% |
Brunswick County |
136693 |
107,431 |
29,262 |
27.24% |
Buncombe County |
269452 |
238,318 |
31,134 |
13.06% |
Burke County |
87570 |
90,912 |
-3,342 |
-3.68% |
Cabarrus County |
225804 |
178,011 |
47,793 |
26.85% |
Caldwell County |
80652 |
83,029 |
-2,377 |
-2.86% |
Camden County |
10355 |
9,980 |
375 |
3.76% |
Carteret County |
67686 |
66,469 |
1,217 |
1.83% |
Caswell County |
22736 |
23,719 |
-983 |
-4.14% |
Catawba County |
160610 |
154,358 |
6,252 |
4.05% |
Chatham County |
76285 |
63,505 |
12,780 |
20.12% |
Cherokee County |
28774 |
27,444 |
1,330 |
4.85% |
Chowan County |
13708 |
14,793 |
-1,085 |
-7.33% |
Clay County |
11089 |
10,587 |
502 |
4.74% |
Cleveland County |
99519 |
98,078 |
1,441 |
1.47% |
Columbus County |
50623 |
58,098 |
-7,475 |
-12.87% |
Craven County |
100720 |
103,505 |
-2,785 |
-2.69% |
Cumberland County |
334728 |
319,431 |
15,297 |
4.79% |
Currituck County |
28100 |
23,547 |
4,553 |
19.34% |
Dare County |
36915 |
33,920 |
2,995 |
8.83% |
Davidson County |
168930 |
162,878 |
6,052 |
3.72% |
Davie County |
42712 |
41,240 |
1,472 |
3.57% |
Duplin County |
48715 |
58,505 |
-9,790 |
-16.73% |
Durham County |
324833 |
267,587 |
57,246 |
21.39% |
Edgecombe County |
48900 |
56,552 |
-7,652 |
-13.53% |
Forsyth County |
382590 |
350,670 |
31,920 |
9.10% |
Franklin County |
68573 |
60,619 |
7,954 |
13.12% |
Gaston County |
227943 |
206,086 |
21,857 |
10.61% |
Gates County |
10478 |
12,197 |
-1,719 |
-14.09% |
Graham County |
8030 |
8,861 |
-831 |
-9.38% |
Granville County |
60992 |
59,916 |
1,076 |
1.80% |
Greene County |
20451 |
21,362 |
-911 |
-4.26% |
Guilford County |
541299 |
488,406 |
52,893 |
10.83% |
Halifax County |
48622 |
54,691 |
-6,069 |
-11.10% |
Harnett County |
133568 |
114,678 |
18,890 |
16.47% |
Haywood County |
62089 |
59,036 |
3,053 |
5.17% |
Henderson County |
116281 |
106,740 |
9,541 |
8.94% |
Hertford County |
21552 |
24,669 |
-3,117 |
-12.64% |
Hoke County |
52082 |
46,952 |
5,130 |
10.93% |
Hyde County |
4589 |
5,810 |
-1,221 |
-21.02% |
Iredell County |
186693 |
159,437 |
27,256 |
17.10% |
Jackson County |
43109 |
40,271 |
2,838 |
7.05% |
Johnston County |
215999 |
168,878 |
47,121 |
27.90% |
Jones County |
9172 |
10,153 |
-981 |
-9.66% |
Lee County |
63285 |
57,866 |
5,419 |
9.36% |
Lenoir County |
55122 |
59,495 |
-4,373 |
-7.35% |
Lincoln County |
86810 |
78,265 |
8,545 |
10.92% |
McDowell County |
44578 |
44,996 |
-418 |
-0.93% |
Macon County |
37014 |
33,922 |
3,092 |
9.12% |
Madison County |
21193 |
20,764 |
429 |
2.07% |
Martin County |
22031 |
24,505 |
-2,474 |
-10.10% |
Mecklenburg County |
1115482 |
919,628 |
195,854 |
21.30% |
Mitchell County |
14903 |
15,579 |
-676 |
-4.34% |
Montgomery County |
25751 |
27,798 |
-2,047 |
-7.36% |
Moore County |
99727 |
88,247 |
11,480 |
13.01% |
Nash County |
94970 |
95,840 |
-870 |
-0.91% |
New Hanover County |
225702 |
202,667 |
23,035 |
11.37% |
Northampton County |
17471 |
22,099 |
-4,628 |
-20.94% |
Onslow County |
204576 |
177,772 |
26,804 |
15.08% |
Orange County |
148696 |
133,801 |
14,895 |
11.13% |
Pamlico County |
12276 |
13,144 |
-868 |
-6.60% |
Pasquotank County |
40568 |
40,661 |
-93 |
-0.23% |
Pender County |
60203 |
52,217 |
7,986 |
15.29% |
Perquimans County |
13005 |
13,453 |
-448 |
-3.33% |
Person County |
39097 |
39,464 |
-367 |
-0.93% |
Pitt County |
170243 |
168,148 |
2,095 |
1.25% |
Polk County |
19328 |
20,510 |
-1,182 |
-5.76% |
Randolph County |
144171 |
141,752 |
2,419 |
1.71% |
Richmond County |
42946 |
46,639 |
-3,693 |
-7.92% |
Robeson County |
116530 |
134,168 |
-17,638 |
-13.15% |
Rockingham County |
91096 |
93,643 |
-2,547 |
-2.72% |
Rowan County |
146875 |
138,428 |
8,447 |
6.10% |
Rutherford County |
64444 |
67,810 |
-3,366 |
-4.96% |
Sampson County |
59036 |
63,431 |
-4,395 |
-6.93% |
Scotland County |
34174 |
36,157 |
-1,983 |
-5.48% |
Stanly County |
62504 |
60,585 |
1,919 |
3.17% |
Stokes County |
44520 |
47,401 |
-2,881 |
-6.08% |
Surry County |
71359 |
73,673 |
-2,314 |
-3.14% |
Swain County |
14117 |
13,981 |
136 |
0.97% |
Transylvania County |
32986 |
33,090 |
-104 |
-0.31% |
Tyrrell County |
3245 |
4,407 |
-1,162 |
-26.37% |
Union County |
238267 |
201,292 |
36,975 |
18.37% |
Vance County |
42578 |
45,422 |
-2,844 |
-6.26% |
Wake County |
1129410 |
900,993 |
228,417 |
25.35% |
Warren County |
18642 |
20,972 |
-2,330 |
-11.11% |
Washington County |
11003 |
13,228 |
-2,225 |
-16.82% |
Watauga County |
54086 |
51,079 |
3,007 |
5.89% |
Wayne County |
117333 |
122,623 |
-5,290 |
-4.31% |
Wilkes County |
65969 |
69,340 |
-3,371 |
-4.86% |
Wilson County |
78784 |
81,234 |
-2,450 |
-3.02% |
Yadkin County |
37214 |
38,406 |
-1,192 |
-3.10% |
Yancey County |
18470 |
17,818 |
652 |
3.66% |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
North Carolina Population News Articles
NC inpatient psychiatric beds not keeping pace with population growth – Jan 25, 2024
Researchers say wildfires in NC will likely only get worse. Here’s why – Jan 24, 2024
A decades-long battle against North Carolina’s largest landfill is ramping up – Jan 19, 2024
Population growth spurs Bartlett mill expansion – Jan 15, 2024
Domestic migration fuels North Carolina’s swelling population – Jan 5, 2024
Coastal crossroads: NC’s growing risk of Maui-like wildfires – August 16, 2023
EPA Denies Factory Farm Water Pollution Petition – August 15, 2023
NC school enrollment trends raise big questions about the future – August 8, 2023
Discover the 5 Fastest-Shrinking Counties in North Carolina – July 28, 2023
High percentage of federal police funding supplied to sanctuary jurisdictions – July 27, 2023
How North Carolina’s Carbon Emissions Compare to Other States – July 26, 2023
Raleigh ranks 9th in the nation for apartment shortages – August 28, 2022
North Carolina temperatures will feel like 125°F by 2053, study shows – August 17, 2022
NC pellet plant wants to expand, but some worry about emissions – August 15, 2022
Beachgoers beware: Climate change may be increasing fecal bacteria at North Carolina beaches – August 5, 2022
Here’s How Much the Population Grew in Wilmington, NC During the Pandemic – April 27, 2022
North Carolina faces shortage of 900,000 housing units by 2030, exec warns – April 29, 2022
Buncombe’s unsheltered homeless population doubles in a year – May 12, 2022
Plan would fund clean energy, hog farm buyouts, resilience – May 18, 2022
Beach house washed away by Atlantic Ocean sparks Zillow and climate change chatter – May 11, 2022
N.C. governor’s climate order marks a turning point on transportation – January 20, 2022
17% of people live near toxic release facilities. Here’s how it breaks down in North Carolina – January 11, 2022
PFAS, Climate Change, Mining, and Hazardous Waste: 2022 Will Be Another Critical Year for the Environment in North Carolina – January 6, 2022
Hog farming has a massive poop problem – January 4, 2022
Along the NC coast, the Cape Lookout National Seashore is embracing its dark side – December 23, 2021
Climate change: North Carolina gov signs major energy law – October 13, 2021
How Habitat Protection Can Help North Carolina’s Coastal Communities, Fish, and Ecosystems – October 12, 2021
New air pollution report points to health problems in the mountains – October 5, 2021
Winston-Salem population is just shy of 250,000 in the 2020 Census, but city is more diverse – October 2, 2021
See how much of North Carolina is experiencing drought conditions – September 26, 2021
The oldest tree in eastern US survived millennia – but rising seas could kill it – August 1, 2021
This Is The Fastest Growing City In North Carolina – July 25, 2021
Environmental groups encourage action to improve coastal water quality – July 15, 2021
‘It’s just not getting better’: North Carolina riverkeepers cry foul over state’s farm law – July 11, 2021
Report: Charlotte’s Air Quality is the Worst in the Southeast – April 21, 2021
How North Carolina is already seeing the impact of climate change – April 15, 2021
Shortfalls in North Carolina’s infrastructure threaten future – April 13, 2021
How a shortage of doctors impacts medical care in North Carolina’s rural areas – April 12, 2021
Record warm & record wet: 2020 in North Carolina shows signs of climate change – January 15, 2020
Groups call on NC to adopt a price on carbon, join compact to reduce emissions – January 14, 2021
Forests to Burn – December 28, 2020
NC third for population growth; Greensboro now third largest city – December 24, 2020
NC Will Pay for Climate Inaction: Report – December 21, 2020
More drivers are striking animals in North Carolina, report says. Here’s why – October 12, 2020
Climate change ‘threat multiplier’ means extra risk of heat illness in rural North Carolina – October 27, 2020
North Carolina lags in development of electric vehicles, despite strong policy initiatives – October 15, 2020
NC attorney general files suit against DuPont over PFAS pollution – October 13, 2020
Proposed poultry farm in Chatham County: 750,000 birds, taxpayer-funded — and lots of secrets – September 29, 2020
Climate migration could bring influx to WNC – August 28, 2020
NC Groups Challenge Trump Admin. Rewrite of Bedrock Environmental Law – August 19, 2020
Attorney general investigating industries that pollute NC’s waterways with PFAS – August 12, 2020
Duke pauses aerial spray program following complaints – August 12, 2020
North Carolina Announces Plan to Replace Old Buses, Improve Emissions – August 5, 2020
North Carolina’s Pedestrian Traffic Deaths Are Up: New Study – March 2, 2020
Poll: North Carolinians say feds must address climate change, unhappy with Tillis – March 19, 2020
Not-so-clean North Carolina generated 501.4 million pounds of chemical waste in 2018 – February 28, 2020
New state report: The climate crisis is coming home to roost in NC – March 13, 2020
Climate change may hurt Hilton Head’s ability to borrow money for projects, report says – March 9, 2020
Piedmont region drinking wells exceed North Carolina’s hexavalent chromium standards – November 21, 2019
Hurricanes cause sewage to flow into NC rivers and burst from manholes. Can it be fixed? – November 7, 2019
Filing moves to stop PFAS pollution from central N.C. wastewater treatment plants – November 6, 2019
NC Annual Economic Report: Population Change – October 31, 2019
Warming temperatures may move NC farmers to switch crops – September 18, 2019
Swift action needed toward N.C. Clean Energy Plan goal – September 13, 2019
Snakebites Hit Record Highs in Southern States as Suburbs Expand – August 5, 2019
New Report says water contamination threatens health of beachgoers – August 5, 2019
NC Ranks 3rd in US in costs to Protect Coast – August 4, 2019
North Carolina coastal flooding is worsening with climate change, population growth – July 23, 2019
Challenge from Clean Air Groups Forces NC Wood Pellet Factory to Install Pollution Controls – June 3, 2019
Drought, water shortage puts focus on maxed-out infrastructure in eastern Pender County – May 31, 2019
More Pollution by More Toxic Substances Found at Duke Energy Coal Ash Sites – May 30, 2019
Sounding the Alarm on North Carolina’s Poultry Industry – May 29, 2019
Neighbors in North Carolina suing over pig fumes spur ‘right-to-farm’ push – May 22, 2019
Statewide Rallies are Being Planned Against Offshore Drilling After Injunction Against Seismic Surveys is Filed – March 3, 2019
UNDER THE RADAR – February 13, 2019
Butterfly Highway Connects Safe Habitats – February 12, 2019
Eastern Pender County schools are over capacity and thousands more students are expected. Now what? – January 16, 2019
N.C. Aquariums join coalition and state leaders in opposition to Atlantic Coast seismic blasting – January 10, 2019
State, local leaders seek best route for NC’s transportation future – January 9, 2019
In North Carolina, wood pellet foes see opportunity in Cooper’s climate order – January 2, 2019