North Carolina

Onslow

204,576
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Onslow

Onslow, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,387. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 204,576.

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

On the ground today, 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020204,576
2010177,772
2000150,355
1990149,838
1980112,784
1970103,126
196082,706
195042,047
194017,939
193015,289
192014,703
191014,125
190011,940
189010,303
18809,829
18707,569
18608,856
18508,283
18407,527
18307,814
18207,016
18106,669
18005,623
17905,387
Source

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

Historic places in Onslow

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

Yopps Meeting House
Sneads Ferry
Avirett-Stephens Plantation
Richlands
Catherine Lake Historic District
Catherine Lake
Taylor Farm
Richlands
Southwest Historic District
Waltons Store
Venters Farm Historic District
Richlands
Palo Alto Plantation
Palopato
Bank of Onslow and Jacksonville Masonic Temple
Jacksonville
Pelletier House and Wantland Spring
Jacksonville
Mill Avenue Historic District
Jacksonville
Swansboro Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Swansboro
Richlands Historic District
Richlands
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 Onslow County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Onslow 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 Onslow

When does Onslow first appear in the US census?
Onslow, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,387.
What is the population of Onslow?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Onslow had a recorded population of 204,576.
How many historic places are in Onslow?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Onslow, North Carolina.
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