Northampton County
County
Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson
Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson
Flag of Northampton County
Flag
Official seal of Northampton County
Seal
Official logo of Northampton County
Logo
Motto(s): 
"Living is Easy"
"Rich Tradition"
Map of North Carolina highlighting Northampton 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: 36°25′18″N 77°23′54″W / 36.421774°N 77.398352°W / 36.421774; -77.398352
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1741
Named forJames Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton
SeatJackson
Largest communityGaston
Area
 • Total550.56 sq mi (1,425.9 km2)
 • Land536.70 sq mi (1,390.0 km2)
 • Water13.86 sq mi (35.9 km2)  2.52%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,471
 • Estimate 
(2022)
16,779
 • Density32.56/sq mi (12.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.northamptonnc.com

Northampton County (/ˌnɔːrˈθæmptən/) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,471.[1] Its county seat is Jackson.[2]

Northampton County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton. In 1759 parts of Northampton County, Bertie County, and Chowan County were combined to form Hertford County.

In 1959, the county went to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the use of a literacy test as a requirement to vote. In Lassiter v. Northampton County Board of Elections, the court held that, provided the tests were applied equally to all races and were not "merely a device to make racial discrimination easy," they were allowable.[3] Congress subsequently prohibited use of such tests under the National Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 550.56 square miles (1,425.9 km2), of which 536.70 square miles (1,390.0 km2) is land and 13.86 square miles (35.9 km2) (2.52%) is water.[4]

State and local protected areas

  • Lake Gaston Public Recreation Area (part)
  • Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Area (part)
  • Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part)[5]

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17909,992—
180012,35323.6%
181013,0825.9%
182013,2421.2%
183013,3911.1%
184013,369−0.2%
185013,335−0.3%
186013,3720.3%
187014,74910.3%
188020,03235.8%
189021,2426.0%
190021,150−0.4%
191022,3235.5%
192023,1843.9%
193027,16117.2%
194028,2994.2%
195028,4320.5%
196026,811−5.7%
197024,009−10.5%
198022,584−5.9%
199020,798−7.9%
200022,0866.2%
201022,0990.1%
202017,471−20.9%
2022 (est.)16,779[1]−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[1]

2020 census

Northampton County racial composition[11]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 6,835 39.12%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9,649 55.23%
Native American 43 0.25%
Asian 27 0.15%
Pacific Islander 4 0.02%
Other/Mixed 560 3.21%
Hispanic or Latino 353 2.02%

As of the 2020 census, there were 17,471 people, 8,547 households, and 5,610 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 22,099 people living in the county; 58.4% were Black or African American, 39.2% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.8% of some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[12] there were 22,086 people, 8,691 households, and 5,953 families living in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 10,455 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.43% Black or African American, 39.09% White, 0.32% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,691 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.50% were married couples living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,652, and the median income for a family was $34,648. Males had a median income of $27,970 versus $21,183 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,413. About 17.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.80% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Northampton County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. Northampton is a traditionally Democratic county, being one of only two counties in the state won by George McGovern during his 1972 landslide loss.[13] Apart from several contiguous counties in South Texas;[a] Northampton County is the only county in the United States to vote Democratic in every presidential election over the past century;[14] the last Democratic candidate to lose the county was William Jennings Bryan in 1896.[15] Apart from Hubert Humphrey and McGovern who received just over 51 percent, every Democratic nominee in the past century has received at least 60 percent of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Northampton County, North Carolina[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,989 39.46% 6,069 60.03% 52 0.51%
2016 3,582 36.37% 6,144 62.39% 122 1.24%
2012 3,483 32.38% 7,232 67.24% 41 0.38%
2008 3,671 34.57% 6,903 65.01% 44 0.41%
2004 3,176 36.21% 5,584 63.67% 10 0.11%
2000 2,667 32.52% 5,513 67.23% 20 0.24%
1996 1,881 25.08% 5,207 69.44% 411 5.48%
1992 1,845 23.16% 5,195 65.21% 927 11.64%
1988 2,415 34.34% 4,599 65.39% 19 0.27%
1984 3,198 38.39% 5,094 61.15% 38 0.46%
1980 1,847 26.92% 4,933 71.90% 81 1.18%
1976 1,238 19.41% 5,118 80.23% 23 0.36%
1972 2,997 47.71% 3,233 51.46% 52 0.83%
1968 860 10.86% 4,072 51.43% 2,986 37.71%
1964 1,187 19.04% 5,046 80.96% 0 0.00%
1960 678 12.48% 4,756 87.52% 0 0.00%
1956 747 14.97% 4,242 85.03% 0 0.00%
1952 583 11.86% 4,334 88.14% 0 0.00%
1948 179 4.59% 3,591 92.17% 126 3.23%
1944 172 4.72% 3,470 95.28% 0 0.00%
1940 105 2.67% 3,826 97.33% 0 0.00%
1936 109 2.80% 3,785 97.20% 0 0.00%
1932 147 4.33% 3,243 95.47% 7 0.21%
1928 456 20.93% 1,723 79.07% 0 0.00%
1924 144 7.90% 1,662 91.17% 17 0.93%
1920 165 6.68% 2,305 93.32% 0 0.00%
1916 45 2.88% 1,518 97.12% 0 0.00%
1912 57 3.29% 1,625 93.66% 53 3.05%

Northampton County is part of North Carolina's 1st congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+3 and has been represented by a Democratic Congressman since 1899. It is currently represented by Donald G. Davis. In the North Carolina House of Representatives, Northampton County lies within the 27th district, which also covers Halifax County and is represented by Democrat Michael H. Wray. In the North Carolina Senate, Northampton County lies within the 3rd district, represented by Democrat Ernestine Bazemore.

Education

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year. A school system is considered low-performing if a majority of its schools are. A school is considered low-performing if it receives a D or F, unless it has exceeded expectations. Each of the schools had "met expectations" except where specified otherwise.[17]

The department's appraisal of the schools was as follows:

  • Central Elementary: D
  • Willis Hare Elementary: F
  • Gaston STEM Leadership Academy: F
  • Conway Middle: D (exceeded expectations)
  • Northampton Early College: B (no expectations were set)
  • Northampton County High School: D (did not meet expectations)
  • Northampton Virtual Academy: N/A

Communities

Map of Northampton County with municipal and township labels

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Gaston
  • Jackson
  • Kirby
  • Occoneechee
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Rich Square
  • Roanoke
  • Seaboard
  • Wiccanee

See also

Notes

a South Texas counties voting Democrat at every election since before World War I comprise (going clockwise from the north) Webb, Duval, Jim Hogg, Brooks and Starr Counties

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts: Northampton County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Lassiter v. Northampton County Board of Elections, 360 U.S. 45 (1959). Findlaw.com; retrieved 2010-12-07.
  4. ↑ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ↑ David Leip’s Presidential Atlas (Maps for North Carolina by election)
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine, June 29, 2016
  15. ↑ "Presidential election of 1896 - Map by counties". geoelections.free.fr. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Taylor, Holly (September 13, 2022). "Local "report cards" show mixed results". The Roanoke-Chowan Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
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