North Carolina

Wake

1,129,410
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Wake

Wake, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 10,192. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,129,410.

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

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Morrisville NC — Last Cavalry Action (April 13, 1865), Confederate Evacuation of Raleigh NC, Morrisville Station Skirmish NC, and 226 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,129,410
2010900,993
2000627,846
1990423,380
1980301,327
1970228,453
1960169,082
1950136,450
1940109,544
193094,757
192075,155
191063,229
190054,626
189049,207
188047,939
187035,617
186028,627
185024,888
184021,118
183020,398
182020,102
181017,086
180013,437
179010,192
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Wake

Military engagements that took place in Wake, North Carolina.

Morrisville NC — Last Cavalry Action (April 13, 1865)
1865
Confederate Evacuation of Raleigh NC
1865
Morrisville Station Skirmish NC
1865
Occupation of Raleigh North Carolina
1865
Battle of Morrisville NC
1865

Historic places in Wake

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

Fuquay Springs Historic District
Fuquay--Varina
Madonna Acres Historic District
Raleigh
Masonic Temple Building
Raleigh
Latta, Rev. M.L., House
Raleigh
Page, Williamson, House
Morrisville
State Bank of North Carolina
Raleigh
Yates Mill
Raleigh
Carolina Power and Light Company Car Barn and Automobile Garage
Raleigh
Pine Street Creamery, (Former)
Raleigh
Raleigh, Sir Walter, Hotel
Raleigh
Free Church of the Good Shepherd
Raleigh
Mahler and Carolina Trust Buildings
Raleigh
Penny, Jesse, House and Outbuildings
Raleigh
Federal Building
Raleigh
South Brick House
Wake Forest
Rogers-Whitaker-Haywood House
Wake Crossroads
Henderson, Isabelle Bowen, House and Gardens
Raleigh
Hawkins-Hartness House
Raleigh
Wendell Commercial Historic District
Wendell
Fuquay Springs Teacherage
Fuquay--Varina
Capehart House
Raleigh
Hi-Mount Historic District
Raleigh
J. S. Dorton Arena
Raleigh
Peace College Main Building
Raleigh
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

New HanoverNorthamptonOnslowOrangePamlicoPasquotankPenderPerquimansPersonPittPolkRandolphRichmondRobesonRockinghamRowanRutherfordSampsonScotlandStanly
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Everything a full report reveals about Wake County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Wake 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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North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Wake

When does Wake first appear in the US census?
Wake, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 10,192.
What is the population of Wake?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wake had a recorded population of 1,129,410.
Were any battles fought in Wake?
5 documented military engagements took place in Wake, including Morrisville NC — Last Cavalry Action (April 13, 1865), Confederate Evacuation of Raleigh NC, Morrisville Station Skirmish NC.
How many historic places are in Wake?
226 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wake, North Carolina.
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