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Nash County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 35°58′N 77°59′W / 35.97°N 77.99°W / 35.97; -77.99
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Nash County
County
Nash County Courthouse in Nashville
Nash County Courthouse in Nashville
Flag of Nash County
Flag
Official seal of Nash County
Seal
Official logo of Nash County
Logo
Motto: 
"Where Business meets Opportunity"
Map of North Carolina highlighting Nash 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.
Coordinates: 35°58′N 77°59′W / 35.97°N 77.99°W / 35.97; -77.99
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1777
Named forFrancis Nash
SeatNashville
Largest communityRocky Mount
Area
 • Total542.82 sq mi (1,405.9 km2)
 • Land540.44 sq mi (1,399.7 km2)
 • Water2.38 sq mi (6.2 km2)  0.44%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total94,970
 • Estimate 
(2023)
96,551
 • Density175.73/sq mi (67.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitenashcountync.gov

Nash County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94,970.[1] Its county seat is Nashville.[2]

Nash County is part of the Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Nash County was formed in 1777 from Edgecombe County. It was named for American Revolutionary War Brigadier General Francis Nash, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown.[3] In 1815 the county seat was designated as Nashville.[4]

In 1855, parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, and Wayne counties were combined to form Wilson County.[5] In 1871 all parts of Edgecombe County west of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad were annexed to Nash, resulting in the bifurcation of several communities.[6][7]

Geography

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Map
Interactive map of Nash County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 542.82 square miles (1,405.9 km2), of which 540.44 square miles (1,399.7 km2) is land and 2.38 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.44%) is covered by water.[8]

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%±
17907,390—
18006,975−5.6%
18107,2684.2%
18208,18512.6%
18308,4903.7%
18409,0476.6%
185010,65717.8%
186011,6879.7%
187011,077−5.2%
188017,73160.1%
189020,70716.8%
190025,47823.0%
191033,72732.4%
192041,06121.7%
193052,78228.5%
194055,6085.4%
195059,9197.8%
196061,0021.8%
197059,122−3.1%
198067,15313.6%
199076,67714.2%
200087,42014.0%
201095,8409.6%
202094,970−0.9%
2023 (est.)96,551[1]1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[1]

2020 census

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Nash County racial composition[15]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 46,317 48.77%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 36,679 38.62%
Native American 615 0.65%
Asian 904 0.95%
Pacific Islander 28 0.03%
Other/Mixed 3,105 3.27%
Hispanic or Latino 7,322 7.71%

As of the 2020 census, there were 94,970 people, 37,574 households, and 27,002 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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At the 2000 census,[16] there were 87,420 people, 33,644 households, and 23,920 families living in the county. The population density was 162 people per square mile (63 people/km2). The 37,051 housing units averaged 69 units per square mile (27 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 61.94% White, 33.93% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. About 3.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 33,644 households, 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.70% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were not families. About 25% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,147, and for a family was $44,769. Males had a median income of $32,459 versus $24,438 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,863. About 10.30% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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Government

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Nash County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners, with the commissioners elected in districts to serve four-year terms.[17]

Nash County lies within the bounds of North Carolina's 8th Prosecutorial District, the 8A Superior Court District, and the 8th District Court District.[18]

Nash County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.

Politics

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From the turn of the 20th century North Carolina established barriers that effectively disfranchised the large black population, which had been supporting Republican candidates. Conservative whites voted overwhelmingly Democratic and the county and state were part of the resulting political "Solid South" county. Although it gave a plurality to Populist candidate James B. Weaver in 1892, unlike Sampson County or Alabama's Chilton County, it did not subsequently turn to the Republican Party.

Nash County would vote Democratic in every election from 1896 to 1964 – in Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman's five elections, the Republicans never received eleven percent of the county's limited electorate's ballots. Many whites supported George Wallace's American Independent candidacy in 1968, after passage of the Voting Rights Act. More voted Republican for the first time in 1972.

While Nash voters supported favorite son and Southern Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1976, the county's majority white voters shifted to Republican candidates from 1980 to 2004. But the last four elections have been closely contested. The margin of victory has been less than 1,000 votes in every election since.[19][20] Nash County has emerged in recent years as a swing county and a bellwether county. As of 2024, it is the only North Carolina county to support the winning U.S. presidential election four times in a row, supporting Barack Obama in 2012, Donald Trump in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Trump in 2024. In 2024, it also split its majority vote between Republican and Democratic statewide candidates.[21]

United States presidential election results for Nash County, North Carolina[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 25,827 49.41% 25,947 49.64% 497 0.95%
2016 23,319 48.92% 23,235 48.75% 1,111 2.33%
2012 23,842 49.17% 24,313 50.14% 337 0.69%
2008 23,728 50.36% 23,099 49.02% 291 0.62%
2004 21,902 58.14% 15,693 41.66% 78 0.21%
2000 17,995 58.97% 12,376 40.56% 142 0.47%
1996 15,309 54.17% 11,142 39.42% 1,811 6.41%
1992 14,446 48.34% 10,809 36.17% 4,631 15.50%
1988 15,906 64.34% 8,740 35.35% 76 0.31%
1984 17,295 66.73% 8,588 33.14% 34 0.13%
1980 11,043 56.34% 8,184 41.75% 374 1.91%
1976 8,477 48.12% 8,937 50.73% 202 1.15%
1972 12,679 71.39% 4,503 25.35% 579 3.26%
1968 4,602 24.08% 5,283 27.64% 9,230 48.29%
1964 6,396 41.11% 9,163 58.89% 0 0.00%
1960 3,896 27.86% 10,086 72.14% 0 0.00%
1956 2,665 21.09% 9,969 78.91% 0 0.00%
1952 2,636 20.18% 10,424 79.82% 0 0.00%
1948 684 7.98% 7,590 88.50% 302 3.52%
1944 876 10.36% 7,577 89.64% 0 0.00%
1940 613 6.76% 8,456 93.24% 0 0.00%
1936 517 5.62% 8,682 94.38% 0 0.00%
1932 532 6.61% 7,472 92.79% 49 0.61%
1928 2,066 32.72% 4,249 67.28% 0 0.00%
1924 823 20.16% 3,129 76.63% 131 3.21%
1920 1,556 27.85% 4,031 72.15% 0 0.00%
1916 826 27.22% 2,189 72.15% 19 0.63%
1912 172 6.49% 1,862 70.21% 618 23.30%
1908 1,334 44.29% 1,678 55.71% 0 0.00%
1904 645 31.02% 1,428 68.69% 6 0.29%
1900 1,337 33.96% 2,600 66.04% 0 0.00%
1896 1,699 36.81% 2,916 63.17% 1 0.02%
1892 476 16.96% 997 35.53% 1,333 47.51%
1888 1,719 44.08% 2,181 55.92% 0 0.00%
1884 1,556 45.75% 1,845 54.25% 0 0.00%
1880 1,406 46.59% 1,612 53.41% 0 0.00%

Sheriff

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The Sheriff's Office provides police services for the unincorporated areas of the county.

Communities

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Map of Nash County with municipal and township labels

Cities

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  • Rocky Mount (largest community; parts located in Edgecombe County)

Towns

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Townships

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  • Bailey
  • Battleboro
  • Castalia
  • Coopers
  • Dry Wells
  • Ferrells
  • Griffins
  • Jackson
  • Mannings
  • Nashville
  • North Whitakers
  • Oak Level
  • Red Oak
  • Rocky Mount
  • Spring Hope
  • South Whitakers
  • Stony Creek

Unincorporated community

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Nash County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Corbitt 2000, p. 157.
  4. ^ Corbitt 2000, pp. 157–158.
  5. ^ Corbitt 2000, p. 158.
  6. ^ Corbitt 2000, p. 159.
  7. ^ Kelley, Lucas. "The Historical Origins of the 1871 Nash-Edgecombe County Line". Digital Rocky Mount Mills. Community Histories Workshop, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  13. ^ "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. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 27, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ "Commissioners". Nash County, North Carolina. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Nash County". North Carolina Judicial Branch. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  20. ^ "Anatomy of a swing state: What these 6 counties tell us about the upcoming NC election". The Charlotte Observer. November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "NC county gets presidential prediction right yet again by backing Trump in 2024". The Charlotte Observer. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 16, 2018.

Works cited

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