Edgecombe County, North Carolina

Edgecombe County (/ˈɛdʒkəm/ EJ-kum or /ˈɛdʒkoʊm/ EJ-kohm)^[1][2] is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,900.^[3] Its county seat is Tarboro.^[4]

Edgecombe County
County
Edgecombe County Courthouse
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35.92°N 77.60°W / 35.92; -77.60
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1741
Named after	Richard Edgcumbe
Seat	Tarboro
Largest community	Rocky Mount
Area
• Total	506.87 sq mi (1,312.8 km2)
• Land	505.44 sq mi (1,309.1 km2)
• Water	1.43 sq mi (3.7 km2)  0.28%
Population  (2020)
• Total	48,900
• Estimate  (2023)	48,832
• Density	96.75/sq mi (37.36/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.edgecombecountync.gov

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

History

This area eventually comprising Edgecombe County was historically home to the Tuscarora, a Native American people. The first European settlers arrived in the Tar River region in the mid-1730s.^[5] On May 16, 1732, Royal Governor of the Province of North Carolina George Burrington, in response to a petition and with the consent of his council, authorized for the representation of an Edgecombe Precinct in the North Carolina General Assembly, named in honor of British politician Richard Edgcumbe. This decision was vetoed by the assembly and subsequently debated for several years. In 1741, the assembly acceded to the creation of the precinct. The reason for why the eventual county's name is spelled differently than the honoree's name or when this discrepancy came into practice is unknown.^[6]

In 1746 part of Edgecombe County became Granville County.^[7] In 1758 a portion, including the county seat of Enfield, became Halifax County,^[5][8] wile another portion in the south became part of Dobbs County.^[7] In 1777 yet another part became Nash County.^{[citation needed]}

In 1763 the county seat was designated at the town of Tarboro.^[5] The first U.S. Census in 1790 recorded a total population of 10,255.^[9] In 1840 the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad—later renamed the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad—was completed with a line through the county, which spurred the development of the communities of Rocky Mount, Battleboro, and Sharpsburg.^[10][9] By 1850, the county produced significant amounts of cotton and recorded a population 17,189.^[9] In 1855, parts of Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, and Wayne counties were combined to form Wilson County.^[11]

At the onset of the American Civil War, secessionist sentiment predominated in Edgecombe. From its population six companies were raised for service with the Confederate States Army.^[12] In 1863, federal forces conducted a raid on Rocky Mount, destroying railroad infrastructure and several industrial sites. Another federal incursion in December 1864 led to significant damage to property in the county east of Tarboro.^[13] In the aftermath of the war, the economy of eastern North Carolina was adversely affected. In the Reconstruction era, freedmen gained political power and, as a result, three blacks were elected to the North Carolina General Assembly between 1868 and 1872 and blacks held significant influence in local government.^[10] In 1871, after significant political controversy, all parts of Edgecombe County west of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad were annexed to Nash^[14][10] leading to the bifurcation of the Edgecombe communities of Battleboro and Sharpsburg between the two counties.^[10] In 1883, the county was reduced to its present dimensions when part of it was annexed to Wilson.^[6][15]

From the Reconstruction era until the Great Depression in the 1930s, the county experienced demographic increases and the development of industry.^[9]

Geography

Interactive map of Edgecombe County

According to the U.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.^[16]

State and local protected areas

• Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (part)^[17]
• Tar River Game Land^[18]

Major water bodies

• Cokey Swamp
• Deep Creek
• Fishing Creek
• Swift Creek
• Tar River
• Town Creek

Adjacent counties

• Halifax County – north
• Martin County – east
• Pitt County – south-southeast
• Wilson County – southwest
• Nash County – west

Major highways

• 
  Future I-87
• US 13
• US 64
• 
  US 64 Alt. (Princeville)
• 
  US 64 Alt. (Rocky Mount)
• US 258
• US 301
• NC 11
• NC 33
• NC 42
• NC 43
• 
  NC 43 Bus.
• NC 97
• NC 111
• NC 122
• NC 124
• NC 142

Major infrastructure

• Carolina Connector Intermodal Terminal, owned by CSX Transportation^[19]
• Rocky Mount Station

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	10,265		—
1800	10,421		1.5%
1810	12,423		19.2%
1820	13,276		6.9%
1830	14,935		12.5%
1840	15,708		5.2%
1850	17,189		9.4%
1860	17,376		1.1%
1870	22,970		32.2%
1880	26,181		14.0%
1890	24,113		−7.9%
1900	26,591		10.3%
1910	32,010		20.4%
1920	37,995		18.7%
1930	47,894		26.1%
1940	49,162		2.6%
1950	51,634		5.0%
1960	54,226		5.0%
1970	52,341		−3.5%
1980	55,988		7.0%
1990	56,558		1.0%
2000	55,606		−1.7%
2010	56,552		1.7%
2020	48,900		−13.5%
2023 (est.)	48,832	[3]	−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[20] 1790–1960[21] 1900–1990[22] 1990–2000[23] 2010[24] 2020[3]

2020 census

Edgecombe County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[25]	Pop 2010[26]	Pop 2020[27]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	21,838	21,360	17,340	39.27%	37.77%	35.46%
Black or African American alone (NH)	31,790	32,318	27,299	57.17%	57.15%	55.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	92	128	128	0.17%	0.23%	0.26%
Asian alone (NH)	62	113	112	0.11%	0.20%	0.23%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	7	9	0.00%	0.01%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	18	45	138	0.03%	0.08%	0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	251	477	1,168	0.45%	0.84%	2.39%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,554	2,104	2,706	2.79%	3.72%	5.53%
Total	55,606	56,552	48,900	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 48,900 people, 21,151 households, and 14,408 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 56,552 people living in the county. 57.4% were Black 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% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[28] there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families living in the county. The population density was 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% Black or African American, 40.06% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 2.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,392 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.20% were married couples living 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. The per capita income for the county was $14,435. About 16.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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

The North Carolina Department of Corrections previously operated the Fountain Correctional Center for Women in an unincorporated area in the county, near Rocky Mount.^[29] It closed in December 2014.^[30]

United States presidential election results for Edgecombe County, North Carolina^[31]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,355	38.26%	14,900	60.95%	193	0.79%
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%

Economy

Edgecombe County's unemployment has been declining from a peak of 17.1 percent in February 2010. In June 2024 the county had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent.^[32]

Education

Edgecombe County Public Schools has 14 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to thirteenth grade. These are separated into four high schools, four middle schools, five elementary schools, and one K–8 school.^[33] It was formed in 1993 from the merger of the old Edgecombe County Schools and Tarboro City Schools systems.^[34]

The county is home to Edgecombe Community College with campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount.^[35]

Communities

Map of Edgecombe County with municipal and township labels

City

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

Towns

• Conetoe
• Leggett
• Macclesfield
• Pinetops
• Princeville
• Sharpsburg
• Speed
• Tarboro (county seat)
• Whitakers

Townships

The county is divided into fourteen townships, 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

• Crisp
• Mercer

Notable people

• Duncan Lamont Clinch (1787–1849) – born at Ard-Lamont in Edgecombe County, American Army officer in the First and Second Seminole Wars^[36]
• Dorsey Pender (1834–1863) – born at Pender's Crossroads in Edgecombe County, Major General in the Confederate Army.
• Josiah Pender (1819-1864) – cousin to Dorsey Pender, who captured Fort Macon from Union soldiers in 1861.
• Hugh Shelton (born 1942) – four-star General and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by President Clinton.

See also

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
• Edgecombe County serial killer
• Halifax District Brigade#Edgecombe County Regiment