North Carolina

Macon

37,014
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Macon

Macon, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 5,333. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 37,014.

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 Coweeta Creek Conflict – North Carolina, Cherokee War – Battle of Etchoe Pass Second Action 1761, Battle of Etchoe (Grant Expedition), and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202037,014
201033,922
200029,811
199023,499
198020,178
197015,788
196014,935
195016,174
194015,880
193013,672
192012,887
191012,191
190012,104
189010,102
18808,064
18706,615
18606,004
18506,389
18404,869
18305,333
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Macon

Military engagements that took place in Macon, North Carolina.

Coweeta Creek Conflict – North Carolina
1400
Cherokee War – Battle of Etchoe Pass Second Action 1761
1761
Battle of Etchoe (Grant Expedition)
1761
Grant's Cherokee Expedition / Battle of Etchoe Pass
1761
Cherokee War – Grant's Expedition Burning Middle Towns 1761
1761
Battle of Coweecho River
1776

Historic places in Macon

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

Church of the Incarnation
Highlands
Wilson Log House
Highlands
Cowee Mound and Village Site
Wests Mill
Glen Choga Lodge
Aquone
Pendergrass Building
Franklin
Salem Methodist Church
Franklin
Satulah Mountain Historic District
Highlands
Brabson, Dr. Alexander C., House
Otto
Bryson, Albert Swain, House
Franklin
Franklin Terrace Hotel
Franklin
Cabin Ben
Highlands
Harbison, Thomas Grant, House
Highlands
Highlands Inn
Highlands
Playmore-Bowery Road Historic District
Highlands
Highlands North Historic District
Highlands
Baldwin-Coker Cottage
Highlands
Cowee-West's Mill Historic District
Franklin
Siler, Jesse R., House
Franklin
Nequasee
Franklin
Edwards Hotel
Highlands
First Presbyterian Church
Highlands
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

BeaufortBertieBladenBrunswickBuncombeBurkeCabarrusCaldwellCamdenCarteretCaswellCatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayClevelandColumbusCravenCumberland
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Everything a full report reveals about Macon County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Macon 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 Macon

When does Macon first appear in the US census?
Macon, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 5,333.
What is the population of Macon?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Macon had a recorded population of 37,014.
Were any battles fought in Macon?
6 documented military engagements took place in Macon, including Coweeta Creek Conflict – North Carolina, Cherokee War – Battle of Etchoe Pass Second Action 1761, Battle of Etchoe (Grant Expedition).
How many historic places are in Macon?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Macon, North Carolina.
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