North Carolina

Rowan

146,875
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Rowan

Rowan, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 15,828. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 146,875.

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

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury NC, Wilson's Raid — Salisbury NC (April 12, 1865), Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury Prison Camp Raid, and 74 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020146,875
2010138,428
2000130,340
1990110,605
198099,186
197090,035
196082,817
195075,410
194069,206
193056,665
192044,062
191037,521
190031,066
189024,123
188019,965
187016,810
186014,589
185013,870
184012,109
183020,786
182026,009
181021,543
180020,060
179015,828
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Rowan

Military engagements that took place in Rowan, North Carolina.

Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury NC
1865
Wilson's Raid — Salisbury NC (April 12, 1865)
1865
Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury Prison Camp Raid
1865

Historic places in Rowan

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

Hambley-Wallace House
Salisbury
Southern Railway Spencer Shops
Spencer
Chambers, Maxwell, House
Salisbury
Knox Farm Historic District
Cleveland
Livingstone College Historic District
Salisbury
Steele, John, House
Salisbury
Kerr Mill
Mill Bridge
Stigerwalt, John, House
Bostian Heights
McCanless, Napoleon Bonaparte, House
Salisbury
Bost, Henry Connor, House
South River
McNeely-Strachan House
Salisbury
Grubb-Sigmon-Weisiger House
Salisbury
Ellis Street Graded School Historic District
Salisbury
East Spencer Graded School
East Spencer
Long, Alexander, House
Spencer
Brooklyn-South Square Historic District
Salisbury
Mount Vernon
Woodleaf
Fulton Heights Historic District
Salisbury
Salisbury Historic District (Boundary Increase III)
Salisbury
Salisbury National Cemetery
Salisbury
Zion Lutheran Church
Rockwell
Boyden High School
Salisbury
Wiley, Calvin H., School
Salisbury
Community Building
Salisbury
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 Rowan County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Rowan 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 Rowan

When does Rowan first appear in the US census?
Rowan, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 15,828.
What is the population of Rowan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Rowan had a recorded population of 146,875.
Were any battles fought in Rowan?
3 documented military engagements took place in Rowan, including Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury NC, Wilson's Raid — Salisbury NC (April 12, 1865), Stoneman's Raid — Salisbury Prison Camp Raid.
How many historic places are in Rowan?
74 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Rowan, North Carolina.
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