North Carolina

Brunswick

136,693
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Brunswick

Brunswick, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 3,071. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 136,693.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Confederate Ironclad CSS North Carolina — Cape Fear, Confederate Torpedo Defense — Cape Fear River, Fort Anderson Naval Bombardment, and 16 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020136,693
2010107,431
200073,143
199050,985
198035,777
197024,223
196020,278
195019,238
194017,125
193015,818
192014,876
191014,432
190012,657
189010,900
18809,389
18707,754
18608,406
18507,272
18405,265
18306,516
18205,480
18104,778
18004,110
17903,071
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Brunswick

Military engagements that took place in Brunswick, North Carolina.

Confederate Ironclad CSS North Carolina — Cape Fear
1863
Confederate Torpedo Defense — Cape Fear River
1864
Fort Anderson Naval Bombardment
1865
Engagement at Town Creek (NC)
1865
Bombardment of Fort Caswell
1865
Battle of Hoke's Line – Wilmington Approach
1865
Battle of Fort Caswell — Cape Fear surrender
1865
Attack on Fort Caswell — Blockade Runner Base North Carolina
1865
Battle of Fort Anderson
1865
Battle of Town Creek NC (February 19-20, 1865)
1865
Action at Town Creek NC
1865
Battle of Fort Anderson (NC)
1865
Battle of Town Creek NC
1865
Cape Fear River Operations
1865
Fort Anderson — Cape Fear River bombardment
1865
Battle of Fort Anderson NC
1865
Engagement at Fort Anderson Cape Fear River
1865

Historic places in Brunswick

National Register of Historic Places listings in Brunswick, North Carolina.

Oak Island Lighthouse
Caswell Beach
T. B. McCLINTIC
Shallotte Point
Fort Johnston
Southport
Bald Head Creek Boathouse
Smith Island
Bald Head Island Lighthouse
Southport
Orton Plantation
Winnabow
Fort Caswell Historic District
Caswell Beach
Brunswick County Courthouse
Southport
Cape Fear Lighthouse Complex
Kure Beach
St. Philip's Church Ruins
Orton
Southport Historic District
Southport
Oak Island Life Saving Station
Caswell Beach
Brunswick Town Historic District
Southport
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

HertfordHokeHydeIredellJacksonJohnstonJonesLeeLenoirLincolnMaconMadisonMartinMcDowellMecklenburgMitchellMontgomeryMooreNashNew Hanover
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Everything a full report reveals about Brunswick County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Brunswick County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Brunswick

When does Brunswick first appear in the US census?
Brunswick, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 3,071.
What is the population of Brunswick?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Brunswick had a recorded population of 136,693.
Were any battles fought in Brunswick?
17 documented military engagements took place in Brunswick, including Confederate Ironclad CSS North Carolina — Cape Fear, Confederate Torpedo Defense — Cape Fear River, Fort Anderson Naval Bombardment.
How many historic places are in Brunswick?
16 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Brunswick, North Carolina.
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