North Carolina

Harnett

133,568
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Harnett

Harnett, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 8,039. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 133,568.

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

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Averasboro, Averasboro — Taliaferro's Defense (March 16, 1865), Averasboro First Confederate Line (March 16, 1865), and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020133,568
2010114,678
200091,025
199067,822
198059,570
197049,667
196048,236
195047,605
194044,239
193037,911
192028,313
191022,174
190015,988
189013,700
188010,862
18708,895
18608,039
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Harnett

Military engagements that took place in Harnett, North Carolina.

Battle of Averasboro
1865
Averasboro — Taliaferro's Defense (March 16, 1865)
1865
Averasboro First Confederate Line (March 16, 1865)
1865
Averasboro — Second Confederate Line Fight
1865
Battle of Averasborough (North Carolina)
1865
Averasboro — Opening Skirmish (March 15, 1865)
1865

Historic places in Harnett

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

Summer Villa and the McKay-Salmon House
Lillington
Lebanon
Dunn
Summerville Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Lillington
Harnett County Training School
Dunn
Thorbiskope
Bunn Level
Ivy Burne
Linden
Howard, Kenneth L., House
Dunn
Averasboro Battlefield Historic District
Erwin
Dunn Commercial Historic District
Dunn
Johnson Farm
Kipling
Harrington-Dewar House
Holly Springs
Erwin Commercial Historic District
Erwin
Lee, Gen. William C., House
Dunn
McKay, John A., House and Manufacturing Company
Dunn
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 Harnett County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Harnett 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 Harnett

When does Harnett first appear in the US census?
Harnett, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 8,039.
What is the population of Harnett?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Harnett had a recorded population of 133,568.
Were any battles fought in Harnett?
6 documented military engagements took place in Harnett, including Battle of Averasboro, Averasboro — Taliaferro's Defense (March 16, 1865), Averasboro First Confederate Line (March 16, 1865).
How many historic places are in Harnett?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Harnett, North Carolina.
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