Population in North Carolina

North Carolina experienced rapid growth in rural and urban areas in the 1990s.

The 2000 Census for North Carolina revealed that North Carolina had undergone dramatic growth in the 1990s. And unlike the 1980s when much of rural North Carolina grew slowly or not all, rural areas grew right along with their urban neighbors. During the 1980s, 19 counties in rural North Carolina, mostly in the east and northeast, lost population, but during the 1990s that number dropped to only three counties. Overall, rural counties grew by 18 percent and added over 600,000 new residents. In comparison, urban areas grew by 25 percent and added 800,000 people, but four of the five fastest growing counties were rural. The result was that the percentage of North Carolina's population living in rural areas fell modestly from 53 to 52 percent.

Source: US Bureau of the Census

Most parts of the state shared in population growth.

The Piedmont was the fastest growing part of the state for both rural and urban areas with growth rates of over 25 percent. Rural coastal and mountain areas grew rapidly as well. Within the seven regional partnerships, the mostly rural Eastern and Northeast partnerships grew significantly more slowly than the other five.

Source: US Bureau of the Census

Population growth was fueled by in-migration.

Population growth from 1990 to 2000 was dominated by migration. Net migration, the number of people who moved to North Carolina minus the number who left, accounted for 70 percent of the population increase, or more than 1 million new residents. All but eight counties had positive net migration and two of those, Cumberland and Onslow, were affected by changes at military facilities. In rural areas, migration accounted for over 70 percent of population growth, in contrast to the 1980s when it accounted for only 38 percent.

Urban-adjacent and high-amenity counties grew fastest.

Twenty-eight rural counties grew by more than 20 percent during the 1990s. An additional 35 counties grew more than 10 percent. This is in contrast to the 1980s when only 30 counties grew more than 10 percent. Of the 63 counties that grew at least 10 percent, 23 are coastal, 20 are in Piedmont and 20 are in the mountains. Many of the fastest growing rural counties, like Franklin, Johnston, Hoke and Union, are located adjacent to urban areas. Other fast growing counties like Brunswick, Dare and Henderson are "high-amenity" counties that draw tourists and retirees.

Source: US Bureau of the Census

In-migration of Hispanics is changing the face of North Carolina.

During the 1990s, North Carolina had the fastest growing population of Hispanics in the U.S., 394 percent, representing over 300,000 new residents. About half (45 percent) of the new Hispanic population settled in rural counties. Still, Hispanics represent only a small portion of the state's population, 4.7 percent, compared to the U.S. rate of 12.5 percent. Other ethnic groups, particularly Asians, also grew rapidly.

Source: US Bureau of the Census
 

Source: US Bureau of the Census

Native-born North Carolinians are a declining portion of the population.

The influx of new residents, both U.S. residents moving here from another state and foreign immigrants, is reducing the percentage of native born residents. From 1990 to 2000 the proportion of native born residents fell from 70 to 62 percent. Rural residents are significantly more likely to be native-born than urban residents - 70 percent versus 56 percent.

Source: US Bureau of the Census

Blacks continue to be the state's largest minority group.

Blacks make up 22 percent of the state's population, by far the largest minority in the state. The black population has remained at that proportion since 1970. Along the Coastal Plain, blacks account for 30 percent of the population, and in six counties in the east and northeast, over half the population.

Source: US Bureau of the Census

The proportion of older adults is growing in rural North Carolina.

The aging of baby boomers and the influx of retirees are changing the age distribution of rural North Carolina. From 1990 to 2000, the percent of residents 65 and older continued to grow as did the percent of older workers, 45 to 64. Rural areas have a higher percentage of older residents in all regions of the state, with the greatest concentration in the Mountain region. This trend is expected to continue through the current decade.

Source: US Bureau of the Census and State Data Center

Population growth slowed dramatically in 2000-2004.

The structural changes in the economy slowed the population growth experienced in the 1990s. Between 2000 and 2004, sixteen counties lost population. Thirteen of the counties that lost population are located in the Coastal Plain and all of the counties, except one, are rural. The fastest growing counties are clustered around Research Triangle Park and Charlotte. In addition, several rural counties with amenity areas on the coast also experienced high population growth.

Source: Population Division, US Census Bureau, 2004