Wilson, North Carolina

Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson Municipal Building
Wilson Municipal Building
Flag of Wilson, North Carolina
Official seal of Wilson, North Carolina
Official logo of Wilson, North Carolina
Location of Wilson in Wilson County, North Carolina
Location of Wilson in Wilson County, North Carolina
Wilson is located in North Carolina
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson is located in the United States
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson (the United States)
Wilson is located in North America
Wilson
Wilson
Wilson (North America)
Coordinates: 35°43′53″N 77°55′43″W / 35.73139°N 77.92861°W / 35.73139; -77.92861
Country United States
State North Carolina
CountyWilson
Townships
  • Black Creek
  • Old Fields
  • Stantonsburg
  • Taylors
  • Toisnot
  • Wilson
IncorporatedJanuary 29, 1849 (1849-01-29Tmdy)
Named forCol. Louis D. Wilson
Government
 • TypeCouncil–Manager
 • CouncilWilson City Council
 • ManagerGrant Goings [citation needed]
Area
 • Total32.12 sq mi (83.18 km2)
 • Land31.24 sq mi (80.92 km2)
 • Water0.87 sq mi (2.26 km2)
Elevation108 ft (33 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total47,851
 • Density1,531.53/sq mi (591.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern Time Zone (USA/Canada))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (-4)
Zip Codes
27822, 27880, 27893, 27894, 27895, 27896
Area code252
FIPS code37-74540[3]
GNIS feature ID2405758[2]
Interstate Highways
U.S. Highways
Websitewilsonnc.org

Wilson is a city in and the county seat of Wilson County, North Carolina, United States. It is the 23rd most populous city in North Carolina.[4] Located approximately 40 mi (64 km) east of the capital city of Raleigh, it is served by the interchange of Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 264. Wilson had an estimated population of 49,459 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA, with a total population of 297,726 as of 2018.[5][6]

In the early 21st century, Wilson was ranked as 18th in size among North Carolina's 500-plus municipalities. From 1990 to 2010, the city population increased by more than 40 percent, primarily due to construction of new subdivisions that attracted many new residents. This has been accompanied by new retail and shopping construction, primarily in the northwestern parts of the city. Wilson is a diverse community; in 2012, the US Census estimated that 48% of the population identified as African American, and 43% as Whites; the remaining 9% includes Latinos and Asians, such as Vietnamese, Chinese and Indians. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated in 2012 that nearly 5,000 county residents (7.5 percent) were foreign-born. Of those, nearly 3,000 people, or 62 percent, had entered the U.S. since 2000.[5]

Once a center of tobacco cultivation, the city was widely known as "The World’s Greatest Tobacco Market" in the 19th century. In the 21st century, Wilson enjoys a diverse economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, commercial, and service businesses.

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wilson, North Carolina
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Wilson (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". census.gov. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 - United States -- Combined Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2019.