North Carolina

Chowan

13,708
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Chowan

Chowan, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,011. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 13,708.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,793 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Shelbourne's Point NC, Confederate Cavalry Raids — Chowan County NC 1862, Sinking of CSS Albemarle, and 27 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202013,708
201014,793
200014,526
199013,506
198012,558
197010,764
196011,729
195012,540
194011,572
193011,282
192010,649
191011,303
190010,258
18909,167
18807,900
18706,450
18606,842
18506,721
18406,690
18306,697
18206,464
18105,297
18005,132
17905,011
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Chowan

Military engagements that took place in Chowan, North Carolina.

Action at Shelbourne's Point NC
1862
Confederate Cavalry Raids — Chowan County NC 1862
1862
Sinking of CSS Albemarle
1864

Historic places in Chowan

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

Sandy Point
Edenton
Edenton Cotton Mill Historic District
Edenton
Hicks Field
Edenton
Speight House and Cotton Gin
Edenton
Edenton Historic District
Edenton
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
Edenton
Barker House
Edenton
Iredell, James, House
Edenton
Greenfield Plantation
Somer
Wessington House
Edenton
Albania
Edenton
Hayes Plantation
Edenton
Strawberry Hill
Edenton
Jones, Cullen and Elizabeth, House
Edenton
Edenton Station, United States Fish and Fisheries Commission
Edenton
Cupola House
Edenton
Athol
Edenton
Chowan County Courthouse
Edenton
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Chowan County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Chowan 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 Chowan

When does Chowan first appear in the US census?
Chowan, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,011.
What is the population of Chowan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chowan had a recorded population of 13,708.
When did Chowan's population peak?
Chowan's recorded population peaked at 14,793 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Chowan?
3 documented military engagements took place in Chowan, including Action at Shelbourne's Point NC, Confederate Cavalry Raids — Chowan County NC 1862, Sinking of CSS Albemarle.
How many historic places are in Chowan?
27 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chowan, North Carolina.
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