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Pender County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Pender County
U.S. county
Pender County Courthouse in Burgaw, North Carolina
Pender County Courthouse in Burgaw, North Carolina
Map of North Carolina highlighting Pender 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.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded 1875
Named for William Dorsey Pender
Seat Burgaw
Largest community Hampstead
Area
 • Total 933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land 870 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water 63 sq mi (160 km2)  6.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
 62,815
 • Density 72.2/sq mi (27.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 7th

Pender County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,203. Its county seat is Burgaw. Pender County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1875 from New Hanover County. It was named for William Dorsey Pender of Edgecombe County, a Confederate general mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is in the southeastern section of the State and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, Sampson, Duplin and Onslow counties. The present land area is 870.76 square miles (2,255.3 km2) and the 1990 population was 28,855. The county commissioners were ordered to hold their first meeting at Rocky Point. The act provided for the establishment of the town of Cowan as the county seat. In 1877 an act was passed repealing that section of the law relative to the town, and another law was enacted whereby the qualified voters were to vote on the question of moving the county seat to South Washington or any other place which the majority of the voters designated. Whatever place was selected, the town should be called Stanford. In 1879 Stanford was changed to Burgaw, which was by that law incorporated. It is the county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 870 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 63 square miles (160 km2) (6.8%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by land area.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Major highways

  • I-40
  • US 17
  • US 117
  • US 421
  • NC 11
  • NC 50
  • NC 53
  • NC 133
  • NC 210

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880 12,468 —
1890 12,514 0.4%
1900 13,381 6.9%
1910 15,471 15.6%
1920 14,788 −4.4%
1930 15,686 6.1%
1940 17,710 12.9%
1950 18,423 4.0%
1960 18,508 0.5%
1970 18,149 −1.9%
1980 22,215 22.4%
1990 28,855 29.9%
2000 41,082 42.4%
2010 52,217 27.1%
2020 60,203 15.3%
2021 (est.) 62,815 20.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Pender County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 44,418 73.78%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 7,544 12.53%
Native American 195 0.32%
Asian 319 0.53%
Pacific Islander 23 0.04%
Other/Mixed 2,722 4.52%
Hispanic or Latino 4,982 8.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 60,203 people, 21,740 households, and 14,676 families residing in the county.

Communities

Map of Pender County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Pender County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

  • Burgaw
  • Canetuck
  • Caswell
  • Columbia
  • Grady
  • Holly
  • Long Creek
  • Rocky Point
  • Topsail
  • Union

Education

The county is served by Pender County Schools.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Pender para niños

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