North Carolina

Wilkes

65,969
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Wilkes

Wilkes, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 8,143. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 65,969.

Its recorded population peaked at 69,340 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 5 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Stoneman's Raid — Wilkesboro NC, and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202065,969
201069,340
200065,632
199059,393
198058,657
197049,524
196045,269
195045,243
194043,003
193036,162
192032,644
191030,282
190026,872
189022,675
188019,181
187015,539
186014,749
185012,099
184012,577
183011,968
18209,967
18109,054
18007,247
17908,143
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Wilkes

Military engagements that took place in Wilkes, North Carolina.

Stoneman's Raid — Wilkesboro NC
1865

Historic places in Wilkes

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

Traphill Historic District
Traphill
Federal Building
Wilkesboro
Cleveland, Robert, Log House
Purlear
Holbrook Farm
Traphill
Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church
Wilkesboro
Downtown Main Street Historic District
North Wilkesboro
Finley, Thomas B., House
North Wilkesboro
Downtown Wilkesboro Historic District
Wilkesboro
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Cemetery
Wilkesboro
Finley, Thomas B., Law Office
Wilkesboro
Hemphill, J. L., House
Wilkesboro
Brown-Cowles House and Cowles Law Office
Wilkesboro
Claymont Hill
Ronda
Wilkes County Courthouse
Wilkesboro
Lincoln Heights School
Wilkesboro
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Everything a full report reveals about Wilkes County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Wilkes 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 Wilkes

When does Wilkes first appear in the US census?
Wilkes, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 8,143.
What is the population of Wilkes?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wilkes had a recorded population of 65,969.
When did Wilkes's population peak?
Wilkes's recorded population peaked at 69,340 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Wilkes?
1 documented military engagement took place in Wilkes, including Stoneman's Raid — Wilkesboro NC.
How many historic places are in Wilkes?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wilkes, North Carolina.
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