Harnett County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harnett County
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Harnett County Courthouse
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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 | 1855 |
Named for | Cornelius Harnett |
Seat | Lillington |
Largest city | Dunn |
Area | |
• Total | 601 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
• Land | 595 sq mi (1,540 km2) |
• Water | 6.3 sq mi (16 km2) 1.1%% |
Population | |
• Estimate
(2021)
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135,966 |
• Density | 228.5/sq mi (88.2/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional districts | 9th, 13th |
Harnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 133,568. Its county seat is Lillington, and its largest city is Dunn. Harnett County is part of the Fayetteville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Harnett County was formed in 1855 from land given by Cumberland County. It was named for American Revolutionary war soldier Cornelius Harnett, who was also a delegate to the Continental Congress. The first settlers came to the region in the mid-1720s, and were followed by Highland Scots immigrants. The Scots settled in the foothills, where land was more affordable, rather than in the rich alluvial soil area of the coastal plain. After the defeat by the British of Bonny Prince Charles at Culloden, Scots immigrants came up the Cape Fear River in ever increasing numbers and settled in western Harnett County. British immigrants had settled primarily along the banks of the Cape Fear River in the coastal area, generally from Erwin to Wilmington.
During the American Revolutionary War, many of the Scots were Loyalists. In their defeat in Scotland, they had been forced to take ironclad vows that prohibited taking up arms against the British.
Though Harnett County was not a site of warfare during the Civil War, one of the last battles took place near Averasboro which was once the third most populated town in North Carolina but is no longer in existence. During the Carolinas Campaign the Left Wing of General William Sherman's army under the command of Maj. General Henry W. Slocum defeated the army of General William Hardee in the Battle of Averasborough and proceeded eastward. A centennial celebration of the event was held in 1965 at the site of the battlefield.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 595 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (1.1%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Wake County - northeast
- Johnston County - east
- Sampson County - southeast
- Cumberland County - south
- Moore County - southwest
- Lee County - northwest
- Chatham County - northwest
Major highways
- I-95
- US 301
- US 401
- US 421
- NC 24
- NC 27
- NC 42
- NC 55
- NC 82
- NC 87
- NC 210
- NC 217
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 8,039 | — | |
1870 | 8,895 | 10.6% | |
1880 | 10,862 | 22.1% | |
1890 | 13,700 | 26.1% | |
1900 | 15,988 | 16.7% | |
1910 | 22,174 | 38.7% | |
1920 | 28,313 | 27.7% | |
1930 | 37,911 | 33.9% | |
1940 | 44,239 | 16.7% | |
1950 | 47,605 | 7.6% | |
1960 | 48,236 | 1.3% | |
1970 | 49,667 | 3.0% | |
1980 | 59,570 | 19.9% | |
1990 | 67,822 | 13.9% | |
2000 | 91,025 | 34.2% | |
2010 | 114,678 | 26.0% | |
2020 | 133,568 | 16.5% | |
2021 (est.) | 135,966 | 18.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 77,876 | 58.3% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 26,769 | 20.04% |
Native American | 978 | 0.73% |
Asian | 1,408 | 1.05% |
Pacific Islander | 242 | 0.18% |
Other/Mixed | 7,396 | 5.54% |
Hispanic or Latino | 18,899 | 14.15% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 133,568 people, 46,416 households, and 31,025 families residing in the county.
Communities
City
Towns
- Angier
- Coats
- Erwin
- Lillington (county seat)
Townships
- Anderson Creek
- Averasboro
- Barbecue
- Black River
- Buckhorn
- Duke
- Grove
- Hectors Creek
- Johnsonville
- Lillington
- Neills Creek
- Stewarts Creek
- Upper Little River
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Education
Harnett County is home to Campbell University and to 27 other different schools: 4 primary schools, 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school.
- Primary: Anderson Creek, Gentry, Harnett, North Harnett
- Elementary: Angier, Benhaven, Boone Trail, Buies Creek, Coats, Erwin, Highland, Johnsonville, LaFayette, Lillington-Shawtown, Overhills, South Harnett, Wayne Avenue
- Middle: Coats-Erwin, Dunn, Harnett Central, Overhills, Western Harnett, Highland
- High: Harnett Central, Overhills, Triton, Western Harnett
- Alternative: STAR Academy (grades 6–12)
- University: Campbell University
The county is served by the Harnett County Library System, based in Lillington with branches at Angier, Coats, Dunn, Erwin, Anderson Creek Primary School, and Boone Trail Community Center and Library.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Harnett para niños