Brunswick County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,431. Its county seat is Bolivia.
Brunswick County is included in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formerly part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wilmington area leaders disputed the change, but unsuccessfully.
History
NC's Brunswick Islands Lighthouses - The NC Brunswick Islands contain both the oldest and newest lighthouses in the state. Built in 1817, Old Baldy Lighthouse on Bald Head Island is the oldest in the state. On the neighboring...
The county was formed in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named for the colonial port of Brunswick Town (now in ruins) which itself was named for Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg; at the time held by the British kings of the House of Hanover.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,050 square miles (2,700Â km2), of which 847 square miles (2,190Â km2) is land and 203 square miles (530Â km2) (19%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. The Brunswick River and the Cape Fear River provide access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Brunswick Nuclear Generating Station is to the north of Southport.
Beaches
- Caswell Beach
- Holden Beach
- Ocean Isle Beach
- Sunset Beach
- Long Beach
- Yaupon Beach
Islands
- Bald Head Island
- Bird Island
- Oak Island
- Oak Island'
Adjacent counties
- Pender County - northeast
- New Hanover County - east
- Horry County, South Carolina - southwest
- Columbus County - northwest
Major highways
Hydrogeology
The principal ground-water-supply sources for Brunswick County are the surficial aquifer for domestic supplies and the Castle Hayne aquifer for municipal supplies.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,143 people, 30,438 households, and 22,037 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 51,431 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.30% White, 14.38% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 2.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 30,438 households out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county, the population was spread out with 21.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 29.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,888, and the median income for a family was $42,037. Males had a median income of $30,138 versus $22,066 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,857. About 9.50% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
Brunswick County is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments. Brunswick county is in the inner coastal plain.
Communities
Cities
- Boiling Spring Lakes
- Northwest
- Southport
Towns
Villages
- Bald Head Island
Townships
- Lockwood Folly
- Northwest
- Shallotte
- Smithville Township
- Town Creek
- Waccamaw
Unincorporated communities
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Brunswick County, North Carolina
- Cape Fear Museum
References
External links
- Geographic data related to Brunswick County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
- Official website
