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Lenoir County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Lenoir County
Lenoir County Courthouse in Kinston
Lenoir County Courthouse in Kinston
Flag of Lenoir County
Flag
Official seal of Lenoir County
Seal
Official logo of Lenoir County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Lenoir County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded 1791
Named for William Lenoir
Seat Kinston
Largest community Kinston
Area
 • Total 401.37 sq mi (1,039.5 km2)
 • Land 399.09 sq mi (1,033.6 km2)
 • Water 2.28 sq mi (5.9 km2)  0.57%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 55,122
 • Estimate 
(2023)
54,895
 • Density 138.12/sq mi (53.33/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Lenoir County (/lɛˈnɔːr/ LE-nor) is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located in the eastern part of the state.

As of the 2020 census, about 55,122 people live here. The main city and county seat is Kinston. Kinston is located along the Neuse River.

Lenoir County is part of the Kinston, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area. This means Kinston is a central city for the smaller towns around it.

History of Lenoir County

Lenoir County was created in 1791. It was formed from the southern part of an older county called Dobbs County.

The county was named after William Lenoir (1751–1839). He was an important officer in the American Revolutionary War. He fought in the famous Battle of Kings Mountain.

William Lenoir was also a strong political leader. When Lenoir County was formed, he was serving as the Speaker of the North Carolina Senate.

Geography of Lenoir County

Lenoir County covers a total area of about 401 square miles. Most of this area, about 399 square miles, is land. The rest, about 2.28 square miles, is water.

Protected Natural Areas

Lenoir County has special places that are protected. These include:

Major Rivers and Creeks

Important water bodies in the county include:

Neighboring Counties

Lenoir County shares borders with several other counties:

Main Roads and Transportation


  • I-42 / Future I-42
  • US 70
  • US 258
  • NC 11
  • NC 55
  • NC 58
  • NC 118
  • NC 148
  • NC 241
  • NC 903

Lenoir County also has important transportation hubs:

  • Amtrak Thruway (in Kinston)
  • Kinston Regional Jetport (an airport)
  • Global TransPark (a large business and transportation park)
  • Greyhound Bus Terminal (in Kinston)

Population of Lenoir County

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 4,005
1810 5,572 39.1%
1820 6,799 22.0%
1830 7,723 13.6%
1840 7,605 −1.5%
1850 7,828 2.9%
1860 10,220 30.6%
1870 10,434 2.1%
1880 15,344 47.1%
1890 14,879 −3.0%
1900 18,639 25.3%
1910 22,769 22.2%
1920 29,555 29.8%
1930 35,716 20.8%
1940 41,211 15.4%
1950 45,953 11.5%
1960 55,276 20.3%
1970 55,204 −0.1%
1980 59,819 8.4%
1990 57,274 −4.3%
2000 59,648 4.1%
2010 59,495 −0.3%
2020 55,122 −7.4%
2023 (est.) 54,895 −7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

The population of Lenoir County has changed over many years. In 1800, there were just over 4,000 people. By 2020, the population grew to 55,122.

2020 Census Information

Lenoir County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 26,582 48.22%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 22,034 39.97%
Native American 134 0.24%
Asian 332 0.6%
Pacific Islander 22 0.04%
Other/Mixed 1,653 3.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4,365 7.92%

In 2020, there were 55,122 people living in Lenoir County. These people lived in 23,148 households. About 14,863 of these were families.

Education in Lenoir County

Lenoir County offers many educational opportunities for students of all ages.

Colleges and Universities

Lenoir County has one college: Lenoir Community College. It is located in Kinston. This college is part of the North Carolina Community College System.

The college offers different types of degrees and certificates. These include programs for transferring to a four-year university. They also have programs for business, industry, health, and continuing education.

Schools for Kids

Public schools in Lenoir County are managed by the Lenoir County Public School Board. This board was formed in 1992.

There are four public high schools in the county:

  • Lenoir County Early College
  • North Lenoir High School
  • South Lenoir High School
  • Kinston High School

There are also three public middle schools:

  • E.B. Frink Middle School
  • Rochelle Middle School
  • Woodington Middle School

The county has eight public elementary schools:

  • Banks Elementary
  • La Grange Elementary
  • Moss Hill Elementary
  • Northeast Elementary
  • Northwest Elementary
  • Pink Hill Elementary
  • Southeast Elementary
  • Southwood Elementary

Contentnea-Savannah is a special school that teaches students from kindergarten all the way to 8th grade.

Lenoir County also has private schools. These include Arendell Parrott Academy and Bethel Christian Academy. There are also two charter schools: Kinston Charter Academy and Children's Village Academy.

Libraries

The Neuse Regional Library system serves Lenoir County. It also helps people in Greene and Jones counties. The library system has eight different locations.

They offer many services, like 3D printing and borrowing books from other libraries. They also have an eLibrary where you can read books online.

Communities in Lenoir County

Map of Lenoir County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Lenoir County with municipal and township labels

Lenoir County has several towns and communities.

Cities

  • Kinston is the largest city and the county seat.

Towns

Townships

  • Contentnea Neck
  • Falling Creek
  • Institute
  • Kinston
  • Moseley Hall
  • Neuse
  • Pink Hill
  • Sand Hill
  • Southwest
  • Trent
  • Vance
  • Woodington

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.

Unincorporated Community

Famous People from Lenoir County

Many notable people have come from Lenoir County, including:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Lenoir para niños

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