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Edgecombe County, North Carolina

Coordinates:35°55′N77°36′W/ 35.92°N 77.60°W/35.92; -77.60
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Edgecombe County
County
Edgecombe County Courthouse
Edgecombe County Courthouse
Official seal of Edgecombe County
Seal
Official logo of Edgecombe County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Edgecombe County
Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within theU.S.
Coordinates:35°55′N77°36′W/ 35.92°N 77.60°W/35.92; -77.60
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
Founded1741
Named forRichard Edgcumbe
SeatTarboro
Largest communityRocky Mount
Area
• Total506.87 sq mi (1,312.8 km2)
• Land505.44 sq mi (1,309.1 km2)
• Water1.43 sq mi (3.7 km2) 0.28%
Population
(2020)
• Total48,900
• Estimate
(2023)
48,832
• Density96.75/sq mi (37.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.edgecombecountync.gov

Edgecombe County(/ˈɛdʒkəm/EJ-kumor/ˈɛdʒkoʊm/EJ-kohm)[1][2]is acountylocated in the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina.As of the2020 census,the population was 48,900.[3]Itscounty seatisTarboro.[4]

Edgecombe County is part of theRocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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This area was historically home to theTuscarora,aNative Americantribe who wereIroquoian languagespeakers. Other Iroquoian peoples had historically been concentrated further north around the Great Lakes. The Tuscarora were the most numerousIndigenous peoplein the Rocky Mount area. They lived along theRoanoke,Neuse,Tar(TorhuntaorNarhontes), andPamlicorivers.[5]

After the 18th-century wars of 1711–1713 (known as theTuscarora War) against English colonists and their Indigenous allies, most of the surviving Tuscarora left North Carolina and migrated north toPennsylvaniaand New York, over a period of 90 years.[6][7][8][9]By 1722 the leaders declared the migration complete and the official tribe based in the North. Descendants of the Tuscarora still live in some parts of Edgecombe County.

The current county was formed by Anglo Europeans in 1741 fromBertie County.It was named forRichard Edgcumbe,[10]aMember of Parliament(MP) from 1701 to 1742 and alord of the treasury.He became 1st Baron Richard Edgecombe in 1742.

In 1746 part of Edgecombe County becameGranville County;in 1758 another portion becameHalifax County;and in 1777 yet another part becameNash County.In 1855 the formation ofWilson Countyfrom parts of Edgecombe County,Johnston County,Nash County, andWayne Countyreduced Edgecombe to its present size, with a minor boundary adjustments.

Geography

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Map
Interactive map of Edgecombe County

According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 506.87 square miles (1,312.8 km2), of which 505.44 square miles (1,309.1 km2) is land and 1.43 square miles (3.7 km2) (0.28%) is water.[11]

State and local protected areas

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Major water bodies

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Major infrastructure

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179010,265—
180010,4211.5%
181012,42319.2%
182013,2766.9%
183014,93512.5%
184015,7085.2%
185017,1899.4%
186017,3761.1%
187022,97032.2%
188026,18114.0%
189024,113−7.9%
190026,59110.3%
191032,01020.4%
192037,99518.7%
193047,89426.1%
194049,1622.6%
195051,6345.0%
196054,2265.0%
197052,341−3.5%
198055,9887.0%
199056,5581.0%
200055,606−1.7%
201056,5521.7%
202048,900−13.5%
2023 (est.)48,832[3]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16]1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18]2010[19]2020[3]

2020 census

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Edgecombe County racial composition[20]
Race Number Percentage
White(non-Hispanic) 17,340 35.46%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic) 27,299 55.83%
Native American 128 0.26%
Asian 112 0.23%
Pacific Islander 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,306 2.67%
HispanicorLatino 2,706 5.53%

As of the2020 census,there were 48,900 people, 21,151 households, and 14,408 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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At the2010 census,there were 56,552 people living in the county. 57.4% wereBlack or African American,38.8%White,0.3%Native American,0.2%Asian,2.3% of some other race and 1.0%of two or more races.3.7% wereHispanic or Latino(of any race).

2000 census

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At the2000 census,[21]there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families living in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 110 people per square mile (42 people/km2). There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 units per square mile (19 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.46%BlackorAfrican American,40.06%White,0.20%Native American,0.13%Asian,0.01%Pacific Islander,1.56% fromother races,and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.79% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.

There were 20,392 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.20% weremarried couplesliving together, 21.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,983, and the median income for a family was $35,902. Males had a median income of $27,300 versus $21,649 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $14,435. About 16.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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Edgecombe County is a member of the regionalUpper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.

TheNorth Carolina Department of Correctionspreviously operated theFountain Correctional Center for Womenin anunincorporated areain the county, nearRocky Mount.[22]It closed in December 2014.[23]

United States presidential election results for Edgecombe County, North Carolina[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,206 36.13% 16,089 63.15% 182 0.71%
2016 8,261 33.20% 16,224 65.19% 401 1.61%
2012 8,546 31.68% 18,310 67.89% 116 0.43%
2008 8,445 32.57% 17,403 67.12% 82 0.32%
2004 8,163 38.73% 12,877 61.09% 39 0.19%
2000 6,836 37.56% 11,315 62.16% 51 0.28%
1996 6,010 34.78% 10,568 61.16% 700 4.05%
1992 6,275 31.92% 11,174 56.84% 2,208 11.23%
1988 6,831 42.92% 9,044 56.82% 41 0.26%
1984 9,635 47.66% 10,545 52.16% 36 0.18%
1980 5,916 42.09% 7,945 56.52% 195 1.39%
1976 4,850 37.40% 8,001 61.70% 117 0.90%
1972 8,244 62.53% 4,635 35.16% 305 2.31%
1968 3,198 22.36% 5,243 36.66% 5,861 40.98%
1964 3,932 33.42% 7,834 66.58% 0 0.00%
1960 2,279 22.07% 8,046 77.93% 0 0.00%
1956 1,840 19.03% 7,830 80.97% 0 0.00%
1952 1,927 18.47% 8,504 81.53% 0 0.00%
1948 478 6.69% 6,410 89.75% 254 3.56%
1944 448 6.21% 6,762 93.79% 0 0.00%
1940 316 4.03% 7,516 95.97% 0 0.00%
1936 266 3.83% 6,684 96.17% 0 0.00%
1932 248 4.04% 5,872 95.62% 21 0.34%
1928 977 18.93% 4,184 81.07% 0 0.00%
1924 171 6.70% 2,274 89.04% 109 4.27%
1920 24 0.71% 3,343 99.29% 0 0.00%
1916 135 6.17% 2,028 92.69% 25 1.14%
1912 102 4.91% 1,851 89.03% 126 6.06%

Education

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Edgecombe County Public Schoolshas 14 schools ranging frompre-kindergartentothirteenth grade.These are separated into fourhigh schools,fourmiddle schools,fiveelementary schools,and one K–8 school.[25]It was formed in 1993 from the merger of the old Edgecombe County Schools and Tarboro City Schools systems.[26]

The county is home toEdgecombe Community Collegewith campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount.[27]

Communities

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Map of Edgecombe County with municipal and township labels

City

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  • Rocky Mount(largest community; partially located also in Nash County)

Towns

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Townships

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The county is divided into fourteentownships,which are both numbered and named:

  • 1 (Tarboro)
  • 2 (Lower Conetoe)
  • 3 (Upper Conetoe)
  • 4 (Deep Creek)
  • 5 (Lower Fishing Creek)
  • 6 (Upper Fishing Creek)
  • 7 (Swift Creek)
  • 8 (Sparta)
  • 9 (Otter Creek)
  • 10 (Lower Town Creek)
  • 11 (Walnut Creek)
  • 12 (Rocky Mount)
  • 13 (Cokey)
  • 14 (Upper Town Creek)

Unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"NC Pronunciation Guide".WRAL.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  2. ^Talk Like a TarheelArchivedJune 22, 2013, at theWayback Machine,from the North Carolina Collection website at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. ^abc"QuickFacts: Edgecombe County, North Carolina".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 21,2024.
  4. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon July 12, 2012.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  5. ^F.W. Hodge, "Tuscarora",Handbook of American Indians,Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1906, at AccessGenealogy, accessed October 28, 2009
  6. ^American Anthropologist,American Anthropological Association, Anthropological Society of Washington (Washington, D.C.), American Ethnological Society.
  7. ^Davi Cusick,Ancient History of the Six Nations,1828
  8. ^Recounted in Tuscarora oral tradition
  9. ^Merrell, James."Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture".The William and Mary Quarterly.69:451–512.doi:10.5309/willmaryquar.69.3.0451.JSTOR10.5309/willmaryquar.69.3.0451.
  10. ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.114.
  11. ^"2020 County Gazetteer Files - North Carolina".United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  12. ^"NCWRC Game Lands".ncpaws.org.RetrievedMarch 30,2023.
  13. ^"NCWRC Game Lands".ncpaws.org.RetrievedMarch 30,2023.
  14. ^"New CCX Intermodal Terminal Adds Supply Chain Capacity, Supports Growth".CSX.November 18, 2021.RetrievedMarch 9,2024.
  15. ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 14,2015.
  16. ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedJanuary 14,2015.
  17. ^Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995)."Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 14,2015.
  18. ^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 27, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 14,2015.
  19. ^"State & County QuickFacts".United States Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2011.RetrievedOctober 19,2013.
  20. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 24,2021.
  21. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  22. ^"Fountain Correctional Center for Women."North Carolina Department of Public Safety.December 20, 2014. Retrieved on December 18, 2015. "Street Address 300 Fountain School Road Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804"
  23. ^"Closed prisons"(Archive).North Carolina Department of Public Safety.Retrieved on December 18, 2015.
  24. ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedMarch 15,2018.
  25. ^"Edgecombe County Public Schools".North Carolina's School Report Cards.North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
  26. ^Bender, Jaime (July 5, 2003). "Edgecombe schools marks 10 years".The Rocky Mount Telegram.
  27. ^"About ECC".Edgecombe Community College. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 16,2013.
  28. ^Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896.Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
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