Anson County, North Carolina

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Anson County
U.S. county
Anson County Courthouse in Wadesboro
Anson County Courthouse in Wadesboro
Map of North Carolina highlighting Anson 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: 34°58′N 80°06′W / 34.97°N 80.10°W / 34.97; -80.10Coordinates: 34°58′N 80°06′W / 34.97°N 80.10°W / 34.97; -80.10
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1750
Named forGeorge Anson, Baron Anson
SeatWadesboro
Largest townWadesboro
Area
 • Total537 sq mi (1,390 km2)
 • Land531 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Water5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  1.1%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
24,097
 • Density45.38/sq mi (17.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.co.anson.nc.us

Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,948.[1] Its county seat is Wadesboro.[2]

History[]

The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral, who circumnavigated the globe from 1740 to 1744, and later became First Lord of the Admiralty. Anson purchased land in the state.[3]

Like its parent county Bladen being occupied by Native American tribes(Waccamaw people), Anson County was originally occupied by Catawba Siouan tribe as a vast territory with indefinite northern and western boundaries. Reductions in its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. Finally, in 1842 the western part of Anson County was combined with the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County to become Union County.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 537 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 531 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (1.1%) is water.[5]

National protected area[]

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

Law and government[]

Anson County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.[6]

As of the 2000 Census, Anson County is located entirely in North Carolina's 9th congressional district, which is currently represented by Republican Dan Bishop.

Presidential election results

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
17905,133—
18008,14658.7%
18108,8318.4%
182012,53441.9%
183014,09512.5%
184015,0777.0%
185013,489−10.5%
186013,6641.3%
187012,428−9.0%
188017,99444.8%
189020,02711.3%
190021,8709.2%
191025,46516.4%
192028,33411.3%
193029,3493.6%
194028,443−3.1%
195026,781−5.8%
196024,962−6.8%
197023,488−5.9%
198025,6499.2%
199023,474−8.5%
200025,2757.7%
201026,9486.6%
2020 (est.)24,097[8]−10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2014[1]

In the 2010 Census, there were 26,948 people. The racial makeup of the county was 48.58% African American, 47.15% White American, 1.07% Asian, 0.61% Native American, 1.25% multiracial and 1.32% of other race. People of Hispanic and Latino origin account for 3.02% of the population.[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 25,275 people, 9,204 households, and 6,663 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (18/km2). There were 10,221 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 51.64% Black or African American, 48.53% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,204 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,849, and the median income for a family was $35,870. Males had a median income of $27,297 versus $20,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,853. About 15.50% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

There are 11 schools in the Anson County Schools system that serve the students of the county.[15]

South Piedmont Community College has a campus on Highway 74 near Polkton that serves Anson County residents.

Communities[]

Pee Dee National Wildlife RefugeAnsonvilleLilesvilleMcFarlanMorvenPeachlandPolktonWadesboro
Clickable map of Anson County, North Carolina With Municipal labels (interactive map)

Towns[]

Townships[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Ghost town[]

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Anson County.[16]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Wadesboro Town 5,813
2 Polkton Town 3,375
3 Ansonville Town 631
4 Lilesville Town 536
5 Morven Town 511
6 Peachland Town 437
7 McFarlan Town 117

Notable people[]

  • Stephone Anthony (born 1992), linebacker with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League
  • Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881–1960), soil conservation specialist
  • John Culpepper (1761–1841), born near Wadesboro, United States Congressman from North Carolina, long-tenured Baptist minister.
  • Blind Boy Fuller (1907–1941), American blues guitarist and vocalist.
  • James Holland (1754–1823), born in Anson County, United States Congressman from North Carolina.[17]
  • Juanita Moody (1924–-2015), born in Morven, NC, gifted cryptographer whose intelligence gathering contributed greatly during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  • Leonidas Lafayette Polk (1837–1892), first North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
  • Sylvester Ritter (1952–1998), born in Anson County, professional wrestler also known as The Junkyard Dog.

In popular culture[]

Steven Spielberg filmed The Color Purple mostly in Lilesville, and a large white farmhouse (the Huntley house, which is located in Lilesville, NC and is an old farmhouse located few miles off Highway 74) was used extensively as the main exterior location in that film.

See also[]

  • Anson County Regiment militia in the American Revolution
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Gannett (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names (PDF). Washington DC: United States Geological Survey. p. 26.
  4. ^ Medley, Mary Louise (1976). Anson County Historical Association (ed.). History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750-1976. Heritage Printer, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina. ISBN 9780806347554. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Centralina Council of Governments". Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  8. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  13. ^ "2010 Census Population of Anson County, NC". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Anson County Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  16. ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  17. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

External links[]

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