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Pitt County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 35°35′N 77°22′W / 35.59°N 77.37°W / 35.59; -77.37
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Pitt County
County
Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville
Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville
Flag of Pitt County
Flag
Official seal of Pitt County
Seal
Official logo of Pitt County
Logo
Map of North Carolina highlighting Pitt County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°35′N 77°22′W / 35.59°N 77.37°W / 35.59; -77.37
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1760
Named forWilliam Pitt the Elder
SeatGreenville
Largest communityGreenville
Area
 • Total
655.55 sq mi (1,697.9 km2)
 • Land652.37 sq mi (1,689.6 km2)
 • Water3.18 sq mi (8.2 km2)  0.49%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
170,243
 • Estimate 
(2023)
175,119
 • Density260.96/sq mi (100.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts1st, 3rd
Websitewww.pittcountync.gov

Pitt County is a county located in the Inner Banks region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 170,243,[1] making it the 14th-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Greenville.[2]

Pitt County comprises the Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a component of the wider Greenville–Washington, NC CSA.

History

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The county was formed in 1760 from Beaufort County, though the legislative act that created it did not become effective until January 1, 1761. It was named for William Pitt the Elder, who was then Secretary of State for the Southern Department and Leader of the House of Commons. William Pitt was an English statesman and orator, born in London, England. He studied at Oxford University and in 1731 joined the army. Pitt led the young "Patriot" Whigs and in 1756 became secretary of state, where he was a pro-freedom speaker in British Colonial government. He served as Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1766–68.

The county saw a substantial population influx between the 1980 and 2010 censuses with a double-digit percentage increase seen in all four census counts.[3][4][5]

Geography

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Map
Interactive map of Pitt County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total area of Pitt County is 655.55 square miles (1,697.9 km2), of which 652.37 square miles (1,689.6 km2) is land and 3.18 square miles (8.2 km2) (0.49%) is water.[6]

State and local protected sites

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Major water bodies

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Major infrastructure

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17908,270—
18009,0849.8%
18109,1690.9%
182010,0019.1%
183012,09320.9%
184011,806−2.4%
185013,39713.5%
186016,08020.0%
187017,2767.4%
188021,79426.2%
189025,51917.1%
190030,88921.0%
191036,34017.6%
192045,56925.4%
193054,46619.5%
194061,24412.4%
195063,7894.2%
196069,9429.6%
197073,9005.7%
198090,14622.0%
1990107,92419.7%
2000133,79824.0%
2010168,14825.7%
2020170,2431.2%
2023 (est.)175,119[1]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[3]
1990–2000[4] 2010[5] 2020[1]

2020 census

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Pitt County racial composition[9]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 86,837 51.01%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 59,813 35.13%
Native American 494 0.29%
Asian 3,056 1.8%
Pacific Islander 94 0.06%
Other/Mixed 6,981 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino 12,968 7.62%

As of the 2020 census, there were 170,243 people, 70,926 households, and 41,427 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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At the 2000 census,[10] there were 133,798 people, 52,539 households, and 32,258 families residing in the county. The population density was 205 people per square mile (79 people/km2). There were 58,408 housing units at an average density of 90 units per square mile (35 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 33.65% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 3.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 52,539 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.40% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.60% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 17.50% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,868, and the median income for a family was $43,971. Males had a median income of $31,962 versus $25,290 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,243. About 13.50% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census of 2010, there were 168,148 people residing in Pitt County, a 25.7% increase since 2000. Females made up 52.8% of the population. Caucasians make up 58.9% of the population, followed by African-Americans at 34.1%, Asian persons at 1.6%, American Indian or Alaskan at 0.3%, Hispanic at 5.5%, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander at 0.1%. From the period of 2005 to 2009, the number of foreign-born people living in the county was at 4%.

The high school graduation rate in the county among citizens over the age of twenty-five from 2005 to 2009 was steady at 85%, while the percentage of those aged twenty-five and up with a bachelor's degree in the county was only 28.7% in the county during the same period of time.

In 2009, the median household income in Pitt County was $36,339, over $7,000 less than the North Carolina number and about 25.5% of Pitt County residents were at or below the poverty level. The per capita money income, in terms of 2009 dollars, in the past twelve months from 2005 to 2009 in Pitt County was $21,622, about $3,000 less than the North Carolina average.

Government and politics

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In the early twentieth century Pitt was a typical Democratic "Solid South" county, where there were large numbers of disenfranchised blacks and the small white electorate voted overwhelming majorities for the Democratic Party. Pitt voted for the Democratic Party in every election from at least 1876 until American Independent candidate George Wallace gained a plurality in 1968. Apart from Richard Nixon's overwhelming victory over George McGovern in 1972, Pitt has since been a closely contested swing county, with no major party candidate post-McGovern falling under forty percent. After 1976, when Jimmy Carter carried it, and aside from a victory in 1992 by Bill Clinton, Pitt County tended to vote for Republicans until 2008. Since 2008 it has voted for the Democratic Party.

United States presidential election results for Pitt County, North Carolina[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 40,403 46.37% 45,595 52.33% 1,132 1.30%
2020 38,982 44.51% 47,252 53.96% 1,339 1.53%
2016 35,691 44.32% 41,824 51.94% 3,012 3.74%
2012 36,214 45.92% 41,843 53.06% 799 1.01%
2008 33,927 45.31% 40,501 54.08% 456 0.61%
2004 28,590 53.30% 24,924 46.46% 129 0.24%
2000 23,192 53.84% 19,685 45.70% 198 0.46%
1996 18,227 47.95% 17,555 46.18% 2,229 5.86%
1992 16,609 41.63% 17,959 45.02% 5,327 13.35%
1988 18,245 55.08% 14,777 44.61% 105 0.32%
1984 18,983 58.36% 13,481 41.45% 62 0.19%
1980 12,816 48.60% 12,590 47.74% 965 3.66%
1976 9,532 44.78% 11,636 54.66% 120 0.56%
1972 14,406 70.41% 5,858 28.63% 195 0.95%
1968 5,745 25.41% 7,696 34.04% 9,167 40.55%
1964 5,149 31.27% 11,317 68.73% 0 0.00%
1960 3,458 21.63% 12,526 78.37% 0 0.00%
1956 2,515 17.48% 11,873 82.52% 0 0.00%
1952 2,203 16.35% 11,271 83.65% 0 0.00%
1948 602 6.32% 8,519 89.47% 401 4.21%
1944 495 5.47% 8,556 94.53% 0 0.00%
1940 369 3.54% 10,067 96.46% 0 0.00%
1936 325 3.29% 9,539 96.71% 0 0.00%
1932 255 3.19% 7,724 96.55% 21 0.26%
1928 1,395 23.09% 4,646 76.91% 0 0.00%
1924 512 13.60% 3,197 84.91% 56 1.49%
1920 864 17.08% 4,196 82.92% 0 0.00%
1916 719 20.21% 2,839 79.79% 0 0.00%
1912 347 11.24% 2,303 74.63% 436 14.13%
1908 890 26.87% 2,419 73.04% 3 0.09%
1904 429 15.46% 2,329 83.93% 17 0.61%
1900 2,156 39.52% 3,264 59.82% 36 0.66%
1896 2,390 42.82% 3,181 56.99% 11 0.20%
1892 1,221 25.99% 2,052 43.68% 1,425 30.33%
1888 2,358 47.21% 2,569 51.43% 68 1.36%
1884 2,283 48.46% 2,428 51.54% 0 0.00%
1880 1,815 44.37% 2,200 53.78% 76 1.86%

Pitt County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

Pitt County is represented by Kandie Smith in the 5th district of the North Carolina Senate, as well as Gloristine Brown in the 8th district and Timothy Reeder in the 9th district of the North Carolina House of Representatives.[12]

Education

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Private

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Private schools in Pitt County include:[13]

  • Brookhaven SDA School
  • Calvary Christian Academy
  • Children's Montessori School
  • Christ Covenant School
  • Community Christian Academy
  • Faith Christian Academy
  • Greenville Christian Academy
  • Greenville Montessori School
  • John Paul II Catholic HS
  • The Oakwood School
  • Roseleaf Academy
  • Saint Peter Catholic School
  • Trinity Christian School

Public

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Public schools in Pitt County are managed by Pitt County Schools.[14]

Elementary schools

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  • Ayden Elementary School
  • Belvoir Elementary School
  • Creekside Elementary School
  • Eastern Elementary School
  • Elmhurst Elementary School
  • Falkland Elementary School
  • H. B. Sugg School (K–2)
  • Lake Forest Elementary School
  • Northwest Elementary School
  • Ridgewood Elementary School
  • Sam D. Bundy School (3–5)
  • South Greenville Elementary School
  • W. H. Robinson Elementary School
  • Wahl-Coates Elementary School
  • Wintergreen Intermediate School (3–5)
  • Wintergreen Primary School (K–2)

K–8 schools

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  • Bethel School
  • Chicod School
  • G. R. Whitfield School
  • Grifton School
  • Pactolus School
  • Stokes School

Middle schools

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  • A. G. Cox Middle School
  • Ayden Middle School
  • C. M. Eppes Middle School
  • E. B. Aycock Middle School
  • Farmville Middle School
  • Hope Middle School
  • Wellcome Middle School

High schools

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Alternative schools

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  • Pitt County Schools Early College High School

Post-secondary schools

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Communities

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Map of Pitt County with municipal and township labels

Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Pitt County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Pitt County Representation". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Private Schools". Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Pitt County Schools". Retrieved December 12, 2016.

Further reading

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  • "Pitt County", Branson's North Carolina Business Directory...1867-68, Raleigh, NC: Branson & Jones, p. 91 – via hathitrust.org
  • "Pitt County", Branson's North Carolina Business Directory, 1896, Raleigh, NC: Levi Branson, p. 496 – via archive.org
  • "Pitt County", North Carolina Year Book and Business Directory, 1916, Raleigh, N.C.: News and Observer Publishing Company – via hathitrust.org
  • Kahrl, Andrew W., "The 'Negro Park' Question: Land, Labor, and Leisure in Pitt County, North Carolina, 1920–1930," Journal of Southern History (Feb. 2013) 79#1 pp 113–42.
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