Onslow County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Onslow County
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Onslow 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 | 1734 | ||||
Named for | Arthur Onslow | ||||
Seat | Jacksonville | ||||
Largest community | Jacksonville | ||||
Area | |||||
• Total | 905.20 sq mi (2,344.5 km2) | ||||
• Land | 762.08 sq mi (1,973.8 km2) | ||||
• Water | 143.12 sq mi (370.7 km2) 15.81% | ||||
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 204,576 | ||||
• Estimate
(2023)
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213,676 | ||||
• Density | 268.44/sq mi (103.65/km2) | ||||
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
Congressional district | 3rd |
Onslow County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 204,576. Its county seat is Jacksonville. The county was created in 1734 as Onslow Precinct and gained county status in 1739. Onslow County comprises the Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The southern border is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
History
European, mainly English, settlers arrived here in 1713 in what was originally part of the colonial precincts of Carteret and New Hanover. Onslow County was formed in 1734 and was named for Arthur Onslow, the longest serving speaker of the House of Commons. After a lethal 1752 hurricane, the county courthouse was relocated from Town Point to Wantland's Ferry; this settlement was eventually incorporated in 1842 and named Jacksonville after President Andrew Jackson. Through much of the first half of the 20th century, the county was largely rural, with an economy based on agrarian and maritime communities.
During World War II, Onslow County was dramatically changed in the early 1940s with the establishment of the United States Army Camp Davis near Holly Ridge (now defunct), and the creation of Camp Lejeune in 1941. This increased county population and generated related growth in housing and businesses.
Onslow County's flat, rolling terrain covers 767 square miles (1,990 km2) and is located in the southeastern coastal plain of North Carolina, about 120 miles (190 km) east of Raleigh and 50 miles (80 km) north of Wilmington. The city of Jacksonville is the county seat, and the areas surrounding the city constitute the major population centers and growth areas in the county. The county is home to more than 200,000 people and includes the incorporated towns of Holly Ridge, Richlands, Swansboro, North Topsail Beach, part of Surf City and unincorporated Sneads Ferry. The U.S. Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, comprises roughly 156,000 acres (630 km2); more than 43,000 marines and sailors are stationed there.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 905.20 square miles (2,344.5 km2), of which 762.08 square miles (1,973.8 km2) are land and 143.12 square miles (370.7 km2) (15.81%) are covered by water. It is bordered by Jones County, Carteret County, Pender County, and Duplin County.
Wildlife
The New River and its vicinity is sometimes inhabited by bald eagles, dolphins, and cownose rays.
State and local protected areas
- Bear Island Area Outstanding Resource Water
- Croatan Game Land (part)
- Hammocks Beach State Park
- Hofmann Forest (part)
- North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Onslow Beach
- Permuda Island
- Primary Nursery Areas
- Rocky Run Game Land
- Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area (part)
- Sea Turtle Sanctuary
- Stones Creek Game Land
- Stump Sound Area Outstanding Resource Water
- White Oak River Game Land
- White Oak River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area (part)
- White Oak River Impoundment Game Land (part)
Major water bodies
- Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
- Intracoastal Waterway
- New River
- Onslow Bay
- Queen Creek
- Stones Bay
- White Oak River
Major highways
- US 17
US 17 Bus.- US 258
- NC 24
NC 24 Bus.- NC 50
- NC 53
- NC 111
- NC 172
- NC 210
Major infrastructure
- Albert J. Ellis Airport, located in Richlands and is served by two commercial airlines.
- Amtrak Thruway (Jacksonville)
- Marine Corps Air Station New River, military base in Jacksonville
- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, military training facility in Jacksonville
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 5,387 | — | |
1800 | 5,623 | 4.4% | |
1810 | 6,669 | 18.6% | |
1820 | 7,016 | 5.2% | |
1830 | 7,814 | 11.4% | |
1840 | 7,527 | −3.7% | |
1850 | 8,283 | 10.0% | |
1860 | 8,856 | 6.9% | |
1870 | 7,569 | −14.5% | |
1880 | 9,829 | 29.9% | |
1890 | 10,303 | 4.8% | |
1900 | 11,940 | 15.9% | |
1910 | 14,125 | 18.3% | |
1920 | 14,703 | 4.1% | |
1930 | 15,289 | 4.0% | |
1940 | 17,939 | 17.3% | |
1950 | 42,047 | 134.4% | |
1960 | 82,706 | 96.7% | |
1970 | 103,126 | 24.7% | |
1980 | 112,784 | 9.4% | |
1990 | 149,838 | 32.9% | |
2000 | 150,355 | 0.3% | |
2010 | 177,772 | 18.2% | |
2020 | 204,576 | 15.1% | |
2023 (est.) | 213,676 | 20.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 129,499 | 65.7% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 26,939 | 15.8% |
Native American | 1,019 | 0.5% |
Asian | 4,508 | 2.2% |
Pacific Islander | 777 | 0.38% |
Other/Mixed | 14,193 | 6.94% |
Hispanic or Latino | 27,641 | 12.9% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 204,576 people, 63,604 households, and 46,202 families residing in the county.
Education
Onslow County Schools serves the county, except for Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, which are served by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.
Communities
Incorporated communities
- Jacksonville (county seat and largest community)
- Holly Ridge
- North Topsail Beach
- Richlands
- Surf City
- Swansboro
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
- Camp Lejeune UT
- Hofmann Forest UT
- Jacksonville
- Richlands
- Stump Sound
- Swansboro
- White Oak
Camp Lejeune and Hofmann Forest are classified as unorganized territories instead of townships.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Onslow para niños