Pitt County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 35°35′N 77°23′W / 35.59°N 77.38°W / 35.59; -77.38
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pitt County
County
Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville
Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville
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°23′W / 35.59°N 77.38°W / 35.59; -77.38
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1760
Named forWilliam Pitt the Elder
SeatGreenville
Largest communityGreenville
Area
 • Total655.55 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)
 • Total170,243
 • 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 in the U.S. state of North Carolina. In 2020, 170,243 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Greenville.[2]

Pitt County includes the Greenville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As one of the fastest growing centers in the state, the county has seen a population boom since 1990.

History[change | change source]

The county was made in 1760 from Beaufort County. It was named for William Pitt the Elder. 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.

Geography[change | change source]

2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) (0.4%) is water.[3]

Bordering counties[change | change source]

Demographics[change | change source]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010–2020[1]

At the census[8] of 2000, there were 133,798 people, 52,539 households, and 32,258 families living in the county. The population density was 205 people per square mile (79/km²). There were 58,408 housing units at an average density of 90 per square mile (35/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.

At 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 2005-2009 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 2005-2009 in Pitt County was $21,622, about $3,000 less than the North Carolina average.

Communities[change | change source]

Map of Pitt County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Cities[change | change source]

Towns[change | change source]

Census-designated places[change | change source]

Unincorporated communities[change | change source]

Townships[change | change source]

  • Arthur
  • Ayden
  • Belvoir
  • Bethel
  • Black Jack
  • Carolina (Stokes)
  • Chicod
  • Falkland
  • Farmville
  • Fountain
  • Greenville
  • Grifton
  • Grimesland
  • Pactolus
  • Simpson
  • Swift Creek
  • Winterville

Politics, law and government[change | change source]

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 40%.

United States presidential election results for Pitt County, North Carolina[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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 Dr. Greg Murphy, Kandie Smith, and Chris Humphrey in the North Carolina House of Representatives and Donald G. Davis in the North Carolina Senate.

Education[change | change source]

Private[change | change source]

Private schools in Pitt County include:[10]

  • 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[change | change source]

Public schools in Pitt County are managed by Pitt County Schools.[11]

Elementary schools[change | change source]

  • 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[change | change source]

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

Middle schools[change | change source]

  • 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[change | change source]

Alternative schools[change | change source]

Post-secondary schools[change | change source]

Transportation[change | change source]

Airport[change | change source]

American Airlines (Piedmont Airlines) serves the Pitt-Greenville Airport daily with connecting flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Pitt County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ National Association of Counties. "NACo County Explorer". Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ "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 2010-03-27. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Private Schools". Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "Pitt County Schools". Retrieved 12 December 2016.

Further reading[change | change source]

  • 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.

Other websites[change | change source]

Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pitt_County,_North_Carolina&oldid=9459413"