Onslow County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Onslow County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
| Coordinates:34°46′N77°30′W / 34.76°N 77.50°W /34.76; -77.50 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1734 |
| Named after | Arthur Onslow |
| Seat | Jacksonville |
| Largest community | Jacksonville |
| Area | |
• Total | 905.20 sq mi (2,344.5 km2) |
| • Land | 762.08 sq mi (1,973.8 km2) |
| • Water | 143.12 sq mi (370.7 km2) 15.81% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 204,576 |
• Estimate (2024) | 212,954 |
| • Density | 268.44/sq mi (103.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Onslow County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 204,576.[1] Its county seat isJacksonville.[2] The county was created in 1734 as Onslow Precinct and gained county status in 1739.[3] Onslow County comprises the Jacksonville, NCMetropolitan Statistical Area. The southern border of the county is the coast of theAtlantic Ocean.
European, mainlyEnglish, settlers arrived here in 1713 in what was originally part of the colonial precincts ofCarteret andNew Hanover. Onslow County was formed in 1734 and was named forArthur Onslow, the longest servingspeaker of the House of Commons. After a lethal 1752 hurricane, the county courthouse was relocated from Town Point to Wantland's Ferry; this settlement was eventually incorporated in 1842 and named Jacksonville after PresidentAndrew Jackson. Through much of the first half of the 20th century, the county was largely rural, with an economy based on agrarian and maritime communities.
During World War II, Onslow County was dramatically changed in the early 1940s with the establishment of theUnited States ArmyCamp Davis near Holly Ridge (now defunct),[citation needed] and the creation ofCamp Lejeune in 1941. About 2,400 residents were displaced to allow for the acquisition.[4] This increased county population and generated related growth in housing and businesses.
Onslow County's flat, gently rolling terrain covers 767 square miles (1,990 km2) and is located in the southeastern coastal plain of North Carolina, about 120 miles (190 km) east ofRaleigh and 50 miles (80 km) north ofWilmington. The city of Jacksonville is thecounty seat, and the areas surrounding the city constitute the major population centers and growth areas in the county. The county is home to more than 200,000 people and includes the incorporated towns ofHolly Ridge,Richlands,Swansboro,North Topsail Beach, part ofSurf City and unincorporatedSneads Ferry. The U.S. Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, comprises roughly 156,000 acres (630 km2); more than 43,000 marines and sailors are stationed there.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 905.20 square miles (2,344.5 km2), of which 762.08 square miles (1,973.8 km2) are land and 143.12 square miles (370.7 km2) (15.81%) are covered by water.[5] It is bordered byJones County,Carteret County,Pender County, andDuplin County.[6]
The New River and its vicinity is sometimes inhabited bybald eagles, dolphins, andcownose rays.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 5,387 | — | |
| 1800 | 5,623 | 4.4% | |
| 1810 | 6,669 | 18.6% | |
| 1820 | 7,016 | 5.2% | |
| 1830 | 7,814 | 11.4% | |
| 1840 | 7,527 | −3.7% | |
| 1850 | 8,283 | 10.0% | |
| 1860 | 8,856 | 6.9% | |
| 1870 | 7,569 | −14.5% | |
| 1880 | 9,829 | 29.9% | |
| 1890 | 10,303 | 4.8% | |
| 1900 | 11,940 | 15.9% | |
| 1910 | 14,125 | 18.3% | |
| 1920 | 14,703 | 4.1% | |
| 1930 | 15,289 | 4.0% | |
| 1940 | 17,939 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 42,047 | 134.4% | |
| 1960 | 82,706 | 96.7% | |
| 1970 | 103,126 | 24.7% | |
| 1980 | 112,784 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 149,838 | 32.9% | |
| 2000 | 150,355 | 0.3% | |
| 2010 | 177,772 | 18.2% | |
| 2020 | 204,576 | 15.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 212,954 | [16] | 4.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19] 1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[22] | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 104,600 | 122,558 | 129,499 | 69.57% | 68.94% | 63.30% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 27,162 | 26,577 | 26,939 | 18.07% | 14.95% | 13.17% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 971 | 1,013 | 1,019 | 0.65% | 0.57% | 0.50% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,454 | 3,163 | 4,508 | 1.63% | 1.78% | 2.20% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 259 | 438 | 777 | 0.17% | 0.25% | 0.38% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 355 | 290 | 1,148 | 0.24% | 0.16% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 3,658 | 5,837 | 13,045 | 2.43% | 3.28% | 6.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,896 | 17,896 | 27,641 | 7.25% | 10.07% | 13.51% |
| Total | 150,355 | 177,772 | 204,576 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 204,576 people, 69,576 households, and 46,202 families residing in the county.[25][1]
The median age was 28.3 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 117.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 122.2 males age 18 or over.[25]
The racial makeup of the county was 67.0%White, 13.7%Black or African American, 0.7%American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%Asian, 0.4%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 5.0% from some other race, and 10.9% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 13.5% of the population.[26]
About 63.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.3% lived in rural areas.[27]
There were 69,576 households in the county, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.2% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]
There were 84,180 housing units, of which 17.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.8% were owner-occupied and 40.2% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.[25]
At the2000 census,[28] 150,355 people, 48,122 households, and 36,572 families resided in the county. Thepopulation density was 196 people per square mile (76 people/km2). The 55,726 housing units averaged 73 units per square mile (28 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 72.06% White, 18.48% African American, 0.74% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 3.62% from other races, and 3.22% from two or more races. About 7.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 48,122 households, 42.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were not families. About 18.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was distributed as 26.20% under the age of 18, 23.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 14.40% from 45 to 64, and 6.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,756, and for a family was $36,692. Males had a median income of $22,061 versus $20,094 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,853. About 10.80% of families and 12.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.70% of those under age 18 and 14.70% of those age 65 or over.
Onslow is a typicalSolid South county in its voting patterns. Except for the 1928 election, when anti-Catholic sentiment allowedHerbert Hoover to carry the county overAl Smith, it was solidly Democratic until 1968, during theFDR years by margins of as much as 13 to one in 1936. However, the 1960s onwards had Onslow turn toGeorge Wallace in 1968 and then overwhelmingly toRichard Nixon overGeorge McGovern in 1972. Since then, Onslow has become a strongly Republican county; the last Democrat to carry it wasJimmy Carter in 1976, and Carter in 1980 remains the last of his party to top 40%.Kamala Harris received only 31 percent of the county vote in2024.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 537 | 33.11% | 1,085 | 66.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 504 | 28.06% | 1,292 | 71.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 453 | 27.79% | 1,177 | 72.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1892 | 379 | 19.42% | 1,137 | 58.25% | 436 | 22.34% |
| 1896 | 589 | 27.42% | 1,559 | 72.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | 618 | 31.86% | 1,322 | 68.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 451 | 33.78% | 828 | 62.02% | 56 | 4.19% |
| 1908 | 710 | 44.94% | 870 | 55.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 66 | 4.35% | 901 | 59.39% | 550 | 36.26% |
| 1916 | 785 | 39.53% | 1,197 | 60.27% | 4 | 0.20% |
| 1920 | 853 | 35.39% | 1,557 | 64.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 423 | 26.84% | 1,122 | 71.19% | 31 | 1.97% |
| 1928 | 1,253 | 53.89% | 1,072 | 46.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 253 | 8.79% | 2,615 | 90.89% | 9 | 0.31% |
| 1936 | 235 | 7.85% | 2,758 | 92.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 271 | 10.21% | 2,383 | 89.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 433 | 13.77% | 2,711 | 86.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 316 | 8.32% | 3,318 | 87.34% | 165 | 4.34% |
| 1952 | 1,261 | 22.78% | 4,275 | 77.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,626 | 25.74% | 4,692 | 74.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,812 | 33.57% | 5,564 | 66.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,771 | 38.77% | 5,955 | 61.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,444 | 28.08% | 3,281 | 26.75% | 5,542 | 45.18% |
| 1972 | 10,343 | 80.05% | 2,424 | 18.76% | 154 | 1.19% |
| 1976 | 5,953 | 42.61% | 7,954 | 56.94% | 63 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 8,861 | 52.95% | 7,371 | 44.04% | 504 | 3.01% |
| 1984 | 13,928 | 70.75% | 5,713 | 29.02% | 46 | 0.23% |
| 1988 | 12,253 | 62.87% | 7,162 | 36.75% | 73 | 0.37% |
| 1992 | 11,842 | 48.70% | 8,045 | 33.08% | 4,431 | 18.22% |
| 1996 | 13,396 | 55.70% | 8,685 | 36.11% | 1,968 | 8.18% |
| 2000 | 19,657 | 65.06% | 10,269 | 33.99% | 289 | 0.96% |
| 2004 | 25,890 | 69.45% | 11,250 | 30.18% | 137 | 0.37% |
| 2008 | 30,278 | 60.31% | 19,499 | 38.84% | 426 | 0.85% |
| 2012 | 32,243 | 62.69% | 18,490 | 35.95% | 702 | 1.36% |
| 2016 | 37,122 | 64.97% | 17,514 | 30.65% | 2,499 | 4.37% |
| 2020 | 46,078 | 63.79% | 24,266 | 33.59% | 1,891 | 2.62% |
| 2024 | 54,960 | 67.29% | 25,684 | 31.44% | 1,037 | 1.27% |
Onslow County is a member of the regionalEastern Carolina Council of Governments.
The structure of local government in Onslow County was changed in 2016 to have seven commissioners in 2018board of commissioners, all electedat-large for four-year terms. In contrast to electing members from districts, this structure means that candidates are elected by the majority population in the county, which gives a more accurate view of the entire electorate. On November 8, 2016, citizens voted in favor to alter the number of commissioners from five commissioners with concurrent terms to seven with staggered terms. In 2018, citizens elected two more county commissioners in the general election on November 6, 2018, to four-year terms. The citizens of the county will elect five commissioners in 2020, but the four candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the general election of 2020 will receive a four-year term and the candidate who receives the fifth-highest number of votes in the general election of 2020 to a two-year term. Thereafter, all county commissioners would be elected to serve four-year terms. The board establishes policies and ordinances implemented by thecounty manager and his staff. Commissioners are Jack Bright (chair), Royce Bennett (vice chair), Paul Buchanan, Robin Knapp, Mark Price, Tim Foster, and William Shanahan.
In theNorth Carolina Senate, Onslow County is located in the6th Senate district, which is represented byRepublicanMichael Lazzara. In theNorth Carolina House of Representatives, Onslow County is split into three House districts with the14th and15th house districts completely in Onslow County and the16th House district in part of Onslow County and all of neighboring Pender County. The 14th district is represented by RepublicanGeorge Cleveland, the 15th district is represented by RepublicanPhil Shepard, and the 16th district is represented by RepublicanCarson Smith.[31]
The main law enforcement agency for Onslow County is the County Sheriff's Department. The elected sheriff is Chris Thomas.[32]
Onslow County Schools serves the county, except forCamp Lejeune andMarine Corps Air Station New River, which are served byDepartment of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.[33]
Camp Lejeune and Hofmann Forest are classified as unorganized territories instead of townships.[34][35]
Geographic data related toOnslow County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Onslow County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofOnslow County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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