Wilson, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilson, North Carolina
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Wilson Municipal Building
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Location of Wilson in Wilson County, North Carolina
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 Wilson, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Location in the United States
Wilson, North Carolina
Location in North America
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| County | Wilson | ||||
| Townships |
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| Incorporated | January 29, 1849 | ||||
| Named for | Col. Louis D. Wilson | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Council–Manager | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 32.12 sq mi (83.18 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 31.24 sq mi (80.92 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.87 sq mi (2.26 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 108 ft (33 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47,851 | ||||
| • Density | 1,531.53/sq mi (591.32/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern Time Zone (USA/Canada)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (-4) | ||||
| Zip Codes |
27822, 27880, 27893, 27894, 27895, 27896
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| Area code | 252 | ||||
| FIPS code | 37-74540 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2405758 | ||||
| Interstate Highways |    |
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| U.S. Highways |    |
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Wilson is a city in North Carolina, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Wilson County, North Carolina. Wilson is the 23rd largest city in North Carolina. It is located about 40 miles (64 km) east of Raleigh, the state capital. Major highways like Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 264 meet here.
In 2020, Wilson had a population of 47,869 people. It is also a key city in a larger area called the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA. This area had a total population of 297,726 in 2018.
In the early 2000s, Wilson was one of the fastest-growing cities in North Carolina. Its population grew by over 40% between 1990 and 2010. This growth brought new homes and shops, especially in the northwest part of the city. Wilson is a diverse community. In 2012, about 48% of the people were African American and 43% were White. Other groups, like Latinos and Asians, made up the rest. Many people from other countries have moved to Wilson County since 2000.
Long ago, Wilson was famous for growing tobacco. It was even called "the World’s Greatest Tobacco Market." Today, Wilson has a varied economy. It includes farming, manufacturing, and many different businesses and services.
Contents
History of Wilson
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The city of Wilson started as a small community. It grew around the Toisnot Primitive Baptist Church in the early 1800s. The community was first known as Toisnot. In 1836, a railroad company began building a train line. The railway reached Toisnot in 1839. By 1840, trains were running both north and south, helping the community grow.
The North Carolina General Assembly officially created the Town of Wilson. It was named after state senator Colonel Louis D. Wilson. He passed away in 1848 during the Mexican–American War. The first town leaders included Joshua Barnes, John W. Farmer, and James D. Barnes.
Many historic places in Wilson are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Gen. Joshua Barnes House, Branch Banking, and the Cherry Hotel. Other important sites are the East Wilson Historic District and the Wilson County Courthouse.
Geography and Climate
Wilson covers a total area of about 32.12 square miles (83.18 km2). Only a small part, about 0.87 square miles (2.26 km2), is covered by water.
The city is located where Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 264 meet. It is about a 45-minute drive east of Raleigh, the state capital. Wilson is also the start of Interstate 795. This highway connects to Interstate 40 and the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Weather in Wilson
| Climate data for WILSON 3 SW, NC, 1991-2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.1 (11.2) |
55.4 (13.0) |
62.9 (17.2) |
72.5 (22.5) |
79.7 (26.5) |
86.8 (30.4) |
90.2 (32.3) |
88.2 (31.2) |
82.7 (28.2) |
73.4 (23.0) |
63.5 (17.5) |
55.5 (13.1) |
71.9 (22.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.4 (5.8) |
44.8 (7.1) |
51.6 (10.9) |
60.8 (16.0) |
69.0 (20.6) |
76.8 (24.9) |
80.6 (27.0) |
79.0 (26.1) |
73.4 (23.0) |
62.5 (16.9) |
52.3 (11.3) |
45.5 (7.5) |
61.6 (16.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
34.3 (1.3) |
40.4 (4.7) |
49.2 (9.6) |
58.3 (14.6) |
66.9 (19.4) |
71.1 (21.7) |
69.7 (20.9) |
64.0 (17.8) |
51.6 (10.9) |
41.1 (5.1) |
35.4 (1.9) |
51.2 (10.7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.75 (95) |
3.04 (77) |
4.16 (106) |
3.88 (99) |
3.92 (100) |
4.14 (105) |
5.75 (146) |
5.33 (135) |
6.08 (154) |
3.36 (85) |
3.29 (84) |
3.60 (91) |
50.30 (1,278) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.8 (2.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
1.9 (4.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.1 | 10.0 | 11.2 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 11.0 | 120.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 960 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,036 | 7.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,475 | 42.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,126 | 44.1% | |
| 1900 | 3,525 | 65.8% | |
| 1910 | 6,717 | 90.6% | |
| 1920 | 10,612 | 58.0% | |
| 1930 | 12,613 | 18.9% | |
| 1940 | 19,234 | 52.5% | |
| 1950 | 23,010 | 19.6% | |
| 1960 | 28,753 | 25.0% | |
| 1970 | 29,347 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 34,424 | 17.3% | |
| 1990 | 36,930 | 7.3% | |
| 2000 | 44,405 | 20.2% | |
| 2010 | 49,167 | 10.7% | |
| 2020 | 47,851 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Wilson's Population in 2020
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 17,503 | 36.58% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 22,914 | 47.89% |
| Native American | 114 | 0.24% |
| Asian | 811 | 1.69% |
| Pacific Islander | 10 | 0.02% |
| Multiracial | 1,675 | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,824 | 10.08% |
As of the 2020 United States census, Wilson had 47,869 people living in 19,667 households. There were 11,529 families.
Wilson's Population in 2000
In 2000, Wilson had 44,405 people. There were 17,296 households and 11,328 families. About 31.6% of households had children under 18. About 29.4% of all households were single individuals.
The average household had 2.47 people. The average family had 3.06 people. The median age in the city was 35 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 88 males.
Economy and Jobs
Wilson is where Branch Banking and Trust Corporation started. This company is now called Truist Financial. Truist Financial is one of the biggest employers in Wilson County. It provides jobs for about 2,200 people in financial services.
Bridgestone Americas has a factory in Wilson. More than 1,800 people work there making tires for cars and trucks. Bridgestone recently spent $250 million to update the factory. It now makes special "run-flat" tires.
Other large employers in Wilson include Wilson County Schools and Wilson Medical Center. Companies like Smithfield Packing Co., Collins Aerospace, Sandoz, and Merck also provide many jobs.
Top Employers in Wilson
Here are the top employers in Wilson, based on a 2023 report:
| Rank | Employer | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Truist Bank | 2,200 |
| 2 | Wilson County Schools | 1,500 |
| 3 | Collins Aerospace | 984 |
| 4 | NC Department of Health and Human Services | 917 |
| 5 | Wilson Medical Center | 900 |
| 6 | Wilson County | 764 |
| 7 | City of Wilson | 760 |
| 8 | Smithfield Packing Company | 670 |
| 9 | Alliance One | 500 |
| 10 | Novartis | 462 |
Sports in Wilson
Wilson is home to the Wilson Tobs. This is a summer baseball team for college players. The Tobs play at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. They started playing in 1997.
A professional baseball team, the Carolina Mudcats, is planning to move to Wilson after the 2025 season. They will play in a new $75.5-million stadium near downtown. This new stadium will be about 20 miles (32 km) east of their current home.
Fun Places to Visit
Wilson is home to the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. This park features amazing outdoor art. The artist, Vollis Simpson, made large moving sculptures called "whirligigs." He created them from old metal parts.
Simpson became famous for his art. He even made a whirligig for the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. It was 55 feet (17 m) tall and 45 feet (14 m) wide. Other whirligigs by Simpson have been shown in museums in New York City and Williamsburg, Virginia. The Whirligig Park in Wilson opened in late 2017.
City Government
Wilson has a city council-city manager type of government. The city council has seven members. They are elected by people living in different areas of the city. The mayor is elected by all the city's voters. Everyone serves for four years.
The city council makes important decisions about policies and the city's budget. They also hire a city manager and staff. These people help carry out the council's decisions and manage the city's daily operations.
Carlton Stevens, Jr., was elected mayor of Wilson on November 5, 2019. He grew up in Wilson.
Schools and Colleges
Wilson has many schools for students of all ages.
Public Elementary Schools
- Wells
- Margaret Hearne
- Vick
- New Hope
- Vinson-Bynum
- B.O. Barnes
- Winstead
- Frederick Douglass (Formerly Elm City)
- Stantonsburg
- Lee Woodard
- Lucama
- Rock Ridge
- Gardners
- Jones
Public Middle Schools
- C H Darden
- Forest Hills Middle
- Toisnot
- Elm City
- Speight
- Springfield
Public High Schools
- E. T. Beddingfield High School
- Ralph L. Fike High School
- James B. Hunt High School
- Wilson Early College Academy
- Wilson Academy of Applied Technology
- Wilson Preparatory Academy
Alternative Schools
- Daniels Learning Center (for grades 6-8).
Charter Schools
The Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts and Education is a charter school. Wilson Preparatory Academy is another charter school that serves Wilson and nearby areas.
State-Operated Schools
The Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf is in Wilson. It is run by the state of North Carolina.
Private Schools
Wilson also has several private schools:
- Community Christian School (Daycare - Pre-K -12)
- Garnett Christian Academy
- Wilson Christian Academy (Daycare - Pre-K -12)
- Greenfield School (Pre-K-12)
- Charis Prep (Christian, 9-12)
Colleges in Wilson
- Barton College
- Wilson Community College
Media and News
The main newspaper in Wilson is the Wilson Times. It started in 1896. Local TV news comes from stations in Raleigh, North Carolina. These stations cover Wilson as part of their viewing area.
City Services and Transportation
Internet and Phone Services
The city of Wilson has its own local cable TV and internet provider called Greenlight. It offers cable TV, digital phone, and internet services to residents. Greenlight started in 2008. It gives people a local choice for these services. Greenlight also provides free wireless internet in downtown Wilson. In 2013, Wilson was the first city in North Carolina to offer super-fast gigabit internet. This service lets users download or upload data very quickly.
Getting Around Wilson
Wilson has two airports: Wilson Industrial Airport and Rocky Mount-Wilson Airport (RWI). You can also travel by train from the Wilson Amtrak Station.
Major highways that go through Wilson include I-95, I-587, I-795, U.S. 301, U.S. Route 264, and U.S. 117.
RIDE is Wilson's on-demand transportation service. It replaced the old bus system in 2020. You can use RIDE to get around the city.
Healthcare in Wilson
Wilson Medical Center is a hospital in Wilson. It has 330 beds for patients.
Famous People from Wilson
Many notable people have come from Wilson, North Carolina:
- Jamareo Artis - Musician and bass player for Bruno Mars.
- Cora Lily Woodard Aycock - Former First Lady of North Carolina.
- Red Barrett - A professional baseball pitcher.
- Glenn Bass - A former American football player.
- Hunter Bell - An author and actor.
- G. K. Butterfield - A former U.S. Representative.
- Jean Farmer-Butterfield - A member of the North Carolina General Assembly.
- Freddie Bynum - A former professional baseball shortstop.
- Ben Flowers - A professional baseball player.
- Jentezen Franklin - A senior pastor.
- Celeste Gold Broughton - A writer.
- Daisy Hendley Gold - A journalist and author.
- Pleasant Daniel Gold - A publisher and clergyman.
- James B. Hunt, Jr. - Served as governor of North Carolina for a record four terms.
- Martha Hunt - An American fashion model.
- Izel Jenkins - A football player for the Philadelphia Eagles and other teams.
- Thomas Kenan - A Confederate soldier and politician.
- Ike Lassiter - A former American football defensive lineman.
- Walt McKeel - A former professional baseball player.
- Louis B. Meyer - A North Carolina judge.
- Ed Mitchell - A famous barbecue pitmaster.
- Naomi E. Morris - A judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
- Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. - An American actor.
- Vance Page - A professional baseball pitcher.
- Stan Partenheimer - A professional baseball pitcher.
- Julius Peppers - A retired American football player for the Carolina Panthers.
- Randy Renfrow - A former NASCAR driver.
- Corey Thomas - A former professional American football wide receiver.
- Gregory Walcott - An American actor.
- John Webb - A former Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
- Harry F. Weyher Jr. - An American lawyer.
- John E. Woodard - A former mayor of Wilson and state senator.
See also
In Spanish: Wilson (Carolina del Norte) para niños
- List of municipalities in North Carolina
- List of places named after people in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilson County, North Carolina
