Columbus County, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 54,749 people, 21,308 households, and 15,043 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 58/sq mi (23/km²). As of 2004, there were 24,668 housing units at an average density of 26/sq mi (10/km²). The racial makeup for the county was 68.9% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 23.1% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.1% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.2% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.7% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.6% from two or more races. 2.7% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
By 2005 62.3% of the county population was non-Hispanic whites. 31.1% of the population was African-American. 3.2% of the population was Native American. 2.8% of the population was Latino.
There were 21,308 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The 2003 median income for a household in the county was $27,659, and the median income for a family was a little more than $33,800. Males had a median income of $28,494 versus $19,867 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,415. About 17.60% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.00% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Cities:- WhitevilleWhiteville, North CarolinaWhiteville is a city in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2000 census. It is the only city of Columbus County and is the county seat....
Towns:
- BoardmanBoardman, North CarolinaBoardman is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 202 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Boardman is located at ....
- BoltonBolton, North CarolinaBolton is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 494 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bolton is located at ....
- BrunswickBrunswick, North CarolinaBrunswick is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brunswick is located at ....
- Cerro GordoCerro Gordo, North CarolinaCerro Gordo is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 244 at the 2000 census. According to local legend, the town received its name from a local dignitary, who, upon seeing a fight break out at the dedication of the first railroad depot, exclaimed, "This...
- ChadbournChadbourn, North CarolinaChadbourn is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chadbourn is located at ....
- Fair BluffFair Bluff, North CarolinaFair Bluff is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fair Bluff is located at , along the banks of the Lumber River...
- Lake WaccamawLake Waccamaw, North CarolinaLake Waccamaw is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,411 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Waccamaw is located at ....
- SandyfieldSandyfield, North CarolinaSandyfield is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 340 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sandyfield is located at ....
- Tabor CityTabor City, North CarolinaTabor City is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States.It was named after Mount Tabor Baptist Church , which itself is named after the biblical Mount Tabor. Originally named Mt...
Unincorporated areas
- Cherry GroveCherry Grove, Columbus County, North CarolinaCherry Grove is an unincorporated community in southern Columbus County, North Carolina, south of Cerro Gordo, and northwest of Tabor City, on North Carolina Highway 904, at an elevation of 102 feet ....
- DelcoDelco, North CarolinaDelco is an unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. It lies at an elevation of 49 feet . Delco is also the home of Acme Delco Middle School, Home of the Trojans....
- Evergreen, Ransom Township
- Evergreen, Tatums Township
- HallsboroHallsboro, North CarolinaHallsboro is an unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States.-Crime rates:Because there are no specific crime rates for the town of Hallsboro, the data was taken from Columbus County.Crime Number Total 3,076...
- NakinaNakina, North CarolinaNakina is an unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. It lies on North Carolina Highway 905 north of Pireway, at an elevation of 43 feet ....
- OlyphicOlyphic, North CarolinaOlyphic, North Carolina, is an unincorporated area in Columbus County, North Carolina, south of Pireway. It lies on North Carolina Highway 905, north of the South Carolina Border. Its elevation above sea level is reported as 39 feet or 12 meters.-References:...
- PirewayPireway, North CarolinaPireway is an unincorporated community in Columbus County, North Carolina, at the intersection of North Carolina Highways 904 and 905. It lies at an elevation of 39 feet ....
- RiegelwoodRiegelwood, North CarolinaRiegelwood is an unincorporated town in Columbus County, North Carolina. It is noted as a site of paper mills for the lumber industry.-Severe Weather Event in 2006:...
- SellerstownSellerstown, North CarolinaSellerstown is an unincorporated area in Columbus County, North Carolina, from Whiteville. As of 2011 Sellerstown has 50 residents.As of 2011, Sellerstown many residents refer to the Bible as "The Book." As of the same year, residents also refer to The Devil in Pew Number Seven, a memoir by...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbus County, North Carolina