Edgecombe County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edgecombe County
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Postcard. Historic Edgecombe County Courthouse in Tarboro, North Carolina.
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
Founded | 1741 |
Named for | Richard Edgcumbe |
Seat | Tarboro |
Largest city | Rocky Mount |
Area | |
• Total | 507 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
• Land | 505 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
• Water | 1.3 sq mi (3 km2) 0.3% |
Population | |
• Estimate
(2021)
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48,359 |
• Density | 95.8/sq mi (37.0/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Edgecombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,900. Its county seat is Tarboro. Edgecombe County is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for Richard Edgcumbe, a Member of Parliament from 1701 to 1742 and a lord of the treasury, who became 1st Baron Edgcumbe 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, descendents 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.
Adjacent counties
- Halifax County - northeast
- Martin County - east
- Pitt County - southeast
- Wilson County - southwest
- Nash County - northwest
Major highways
- US 13
- US 64
- US 258
- US 301
- NC 11
- NC 33
- NC 42
- NC 43
- NC 97
- NC 111
- NC 122
- NC 124
- NC 142
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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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% | |
2020 | 48,900 | −13.5% | |
2021 (est.) | 48,359 | −14.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
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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).
Communities
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
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. It was formed in 1993 from the merger of the old Edgecombe County Schools and Tarboro City Schools systems.
The county is home to Edgecombe Community College with campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount.
Notable people
- Duncan Lamont Clinch (1787–1849) – born at Ard-Lamont in Edgecombe County, American Army officer in the First and Second Seminole Wars
- 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
In Spanish: Condado de Edgecombe para niños