kids encyclopedia robot

Northampton County, North Carolina facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Northampton County
Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson
Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson
Official seal of Northampton County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Northampton 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 1741
Named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton
Seat Jackson
Largest town Gaston
Area
 • Total 551 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Land 537 sq mi (1,390 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.5%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
17,129
 • Density 31.9/sq mi (12.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st

Northampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,471. Its county seat is Jackson.

Northampton County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton. In 1759 parts of Northampton County, Bertie County, and Chowan County were combined to form Hertford County.

In 1959, the county went to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the use of a literacy test as a requirement to vote. In Lassiter v. Northampton County Board of Elections, the court held that, provided the tests were applied equally to all races and were not "merely a device to make racial discrimination easy," they were allowable. Congress subsequently prohibited use of such tests under the National Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 551 square miles (1,430 km2), of which 537 square miles (1,390 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • I-95
  • US 158
  • US 258
  • US 301
  • NC 35
  • NC 46
  • NC 48
  • NC 186
  • NC 305
  • NC 308
  • NC 561

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 9,992
1800 12,353 23.6%
1810 13,082 5.9%
1820 13,242 1.2%
1830 13,391 1.1%
1840 13,369 −0.2%
1850 13,335 −0.3%
1860 13,372 0.3%
1870 14,749 10.3%
1880 20,032 35.8%
1890 21,242 6.0%
1900 21,150 −0.4%
1910 22,323 5.5%
1920 23,184 3.9%
1930 27,161 17.2%
1940 28,299 4.2%
1950 28,432 0.5%
1960 26,811 −5.7%
1970 24,009 −10.5%
1980 22,584 −5.9%
1990 20,798 −7.9%
2000 22,086 6.2%
2010 22,099 0.1%
2020 17,471 −20.9%
2021 (est.) 17,129 −22.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Northampton County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 6,835 39.12%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9,649 55.23%
Native American 43 0.25%
Asian 27 0.15%
Pacific Islander 4 0.02%
Other/Mixed 560 3.21%
Hispanic or Latino 353 2.02%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,471 people, 8,547 households, and 5,610 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 22,099 people living in the county; 58.4% were Black or African American, 39.2% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.8% of some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Communities

Map of Northampton County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Northampton County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Gaston
  • Jackson
  • Kirby
  • Occoneechee
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Rich Square
  • Roanoke
  • Seaboard
  • Wiccanee

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Northampton (Carolina del Norte) para niños

kids search engine
Northampton County, North Carolina Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.