North Carolina

Wilson

78,784
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Wilson

Wilson, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 9,720. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 78,784.

Its recorded population peaked at 81,234 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Action at Swift Creek — Weldon Railroad, and 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202078,784
201081,234
200073,814
199066,061
198063,132
197057,486
196057,716
195054,506
194050,219
193044,914
192036,813
191028,269
190023,596
189018,644
188016,064
187012,258
18609,720
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Wilson

Military engagements that took place in Wilson, North Carolina.

Action at Swift Creek — Weldon Railroad
1862

Historic places in Wilson

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

Barnes, Gen. Joshua, House
Wilson
Cherry Hotel
Wilson
Old Wilson Historic District
Wilson
Woodard Family Rural Historic District
Wilson
Upper Town Creek Rural Historic District
Wilson
Broad-Kenan Streets Historic District
Wilson
Lucama Municipal Historic District
Lucama
Thompson, Alfred and Martha Jane, House and Williams Barn
New Hope
Applewhite, W. H., House
Stantonsburg
Branch Banking
Wilson
Langley, W. H., House
Elm City
Pender, Joseph John, House
Wilson
West Nash Street Historic District
Wilson
Wilson Central Business-Tobacco Warehouse Historic District
Wilson
Elm City Municipal Historic District
Elm City
Ward-Applewhite-Thompson House
Stantonsburg
Black Creek Rural Historic District
Black Creek
East Wilson Historic District
Wilson
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 Wilson County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Wilson 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 Wilson

When does Wilson first appear in the US census?
Wilson, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 9,720.
What is the population of Wilson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wilson had a recorded population of 78,784.
When did Wilson's population peak?
Wilson's recorded population peaked at 81,234 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Wilson?
1 documented military engagement took place in Wilson, including Action at Swift Creek — Weldon Railroad.
How many historic places are in Wilson?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wilson, North Carolina.
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