North Carolina

Sampson

59,036
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Sampson

Sampson, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,065. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 59,036.

Its recorded population peaked at 63,431 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 50 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202059,036
201063,431
200060,161
199047,297
198049,687
197044,954
196048,013
195049,780
194047,440
193040,082
192036,002
191029,982
190026,380
189025,096
188022,894
187016,436
186016,624
185014,585
184012,157
183011,634
18208,908
18106,620
18006,719
17906,065
Source

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

Historic places in Sampson

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

Pugh, Francis, House
Clinton
Boykin, Gen. Thomas, House
Clinton
Johnson, Samuel, House and Cemetery
Ingold
McPhail, Jonas, House and McPhail, Annie, Store
Rosin
Oates, Livingston, Farm
Clinton
Thirteen Oaks
Newton Grove
Wilson, John E., House
Dunn
Kornegay, Marshall, House and Cemetery
Suttontown
Kerr, James, House
Kerr
Herring, Robert, House
Clinton
Herring, Troy, House
Roseboro
Graves-Stewart House
Clinton
Owen Family House and Cemetery
McDaniels
Seavey, Dr. John B., House and Cemetery
Harrells
Clear Run
Clear Run
Williams, Isaac, House (Boundary Increase)
Newton Grove
Hollingsworth-Hines Farm
Turkey
Johnson Building
Clinton
Clinton Commercial Historic District
Clinton
Killett, Marcheston, Farm
Clinton
Bullard, Thomas, House
Autryville
Williams, Isaac, House
Newton Grove
Delta Farm
Ivanhoe
Highsmith, Lewis, Farm
Harrells
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Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Sampson County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Sampson 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 Sampson

When does Sampson first appear in the US census?
Sampson, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,065.
What is the population of Sampson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sampson had a recorded population of 59,036.
When did Sampson's population peak?
Sampson's recorded population peaked at 63,431 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Sampson?
50 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sampson, North Carolina.
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