Harnett County, North Carolina

Harnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 114,678.[1] Its county seat is Lillington,[2] and its largest city is Dunn.

Harnett County
U.S. county
Harnett County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°22′N 78°52′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1855
Named forCornelius Harnett
SeatLillington
Largest cityDunn
Area
 • Total601 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land595 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  1.1%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
135,976
 • Density212.8/sq mi (82.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.harnett.org

Harnett County comprises the Dunn, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the greater Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill, NC Combined Statistical Area, which had a 2018 estimated population of 2,037,430.

History

Harnett County was formed in 1855 from land given by Cumberland County. It was named for American Revolutionary war soldier Cornelius Harnett,[3] who was also a delegate to the Continental Congress. The first settlers came to the region in the mid-1720s, and were followed by Highland Scots immigrants. The Scots settled in the foothills, where land was more affordable, rather than in the rich alluvial soil area of the coastal plain. After the defeat by the British of Bonny Prince Charles at Culloden, Scots immigrants came up the Cape Fear River in ever increasing numbers and settled in western Harnett County. British immigrants had settled primarily along the banks of the Cape Fear River in the coastal area, generally from Erwin to Wilmington.

During the American Revolutionary War, many of the Scots were Loyalists. In their defeat in Scotland, they had been forced to take ironclad vows that prohibited taking up arms against the British. Some Rebels considered them traitors to the cause of Independence. Public executions of suspected spies occurred. One site near Lillington was the scene of a mass execution of "Scots Traitors."

Though Harnett County was not a site of warfare during the Civil War, one of the last battles took place near Averasborough which was once the third most populated town in North Carolina but is no longer in existence. During the Carolinas Campaign the Left Wing of General William Sherman's army under the command of Maj. General Henry W. Slocum defeated the army of General William Hardee in the Battle of Averasborough and proceeded eastward. A centennial celebration of the event was held in 1965 at the site of the battlefield.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 595 square miles (1,540 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (1.1%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18608,039—
18708,89510.6%
188010,86222.1%
189013,70026.1%
190015,98816.7%
191022,17438.7%
192028,31327.7%
193037,91133.9%
194044,23916.7%
195047,6057.6%
196048,2361.3%
197049,6673.0%
198059,57019.9%
199067,82213.9%
200091,02534.2%
2010114,67826.0%
Est. 2019135,976[5]18.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 91,025 people, 33,800 households, and 24,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 153 people per square mile (59/km²). There were 38,605 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile (25/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.13% White, 22.50% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. 5.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 33,800 households out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,105, and the median income for a family was $41,176. Males had a median income of $30,265 versus $22,283 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,775. About 11.30% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Map of Harnett County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

City

Towns

Townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics, law and government

Harnett is a typical "Solid South" county in its political history. Apart from the 1928 election when it defected to Herbert Hoover because of opposition to the Catholicism of Al Smith,[13] Harnett voted rock-solid Democratic until the 1960s when opposition to increasing liberalism on racial policies turned the electorate toward the segregationist candidacy of George Wallace. Since then apart from when carried twice by native Southerner Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1980, Harnett has been a solidly Republican county.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 60.0% 27,614 36.3% 16,737 3.7% 1,714
2012 58.9% 25,565 39.9% 17,331 1.2% 519
2008 57.9% 23,579 41.2% 16,785 0.8% 341
2004 64.2% 20,922 35.5% 11,563 0.3% 86
2000 61.1% 14,762 37.9% 9,155 1.0% 250
1996 53.3% 11,596 40.3% 8,767 6.3% 1,376
1992 46.6% 9,751 40.5% 8,473 12.9% 2,708
1988 57.3% 9,749 42.6% 7,259 0.1% 21
1984 61.1% 11,198 38.8% 7,106 0.1% 19
1980 44.7% 7,284 54.0% 8,791 1.4% 220
1976 39.6% 5,935 60.0% 8,992 0.4% 58
1972 74.6% 10,259 24.4% 3,347 1.0% 138
1968 33.0% 5,184 25.5% 4,007 41.5% 6,531
1964 44.0% 5,883 56.0% 7,477
1960 40.2% 5,301 59.8% 7,892
1956 35.0% 3,998 65.0% 7,421
1952 36.2% 4,306 63.8% 7,595
1948 22.3% 1,985 74.1% 6,608 3.6% 323
1944 32.7% 3,191 67.3% 6,579
1940 25.7% 2,280 74.3% 6,602
1936 22.0% 2,264 78.0% 8,018
1932 29.0% 2,617 70.4% 6,346 0.5% 49
1928 57.2% 4,740 42.9% 3,554
1924 46.7% 2,895 53.1% 3,296 0.2% 11
1920 45.8% 3,311 54.2% 3,919
1916 44.5% 1,603 55.3% 1,992 0.2% 8
1912 5.8% 148 53.4% 1,364 40.8% 1,041

Harnett County is a member of the regional Mid-Carolina Council of Governments.

Education

Harnett County is home to Campbell University and to 27[15] other different schools: 4 primary schools, 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school.[16]

  • Primary: Anderson Creek, Gentry, Harnett, North Harnett
  • Elementary: Angier, Benhaven, Boone Trail, Buies Creek, Coats, Erwin, Highland, Johnsonville, LaFayette, Lillington-Shawtown, Overhills, South Harnett, Wayne Avenue
  • Middle: Coats-Erwin, Dunn, Harnett Central, Overhills, Western Harnett, Highland
  • High: Harnett Central, Overhills, Triton, Western Harnett
  • Alternative: STAR Academy (grades 6–12)
  • University: Campbell University

The county is served by the Harnett County Library System, based in Lillington with branches at Angier, Coats, Dunn, Erwin, Anderson Creek Primary School, and Boone Trail Community Center and Library.[17]

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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 150.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. "GNIS Anderson Creek CDP". GNIS.
  12. "GNIS Spout Springs CDP". GNIS.
  13. Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 213, 215 ISBN 1400852293
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-06-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. Alternative school#United States
  17. "Harnett County Public Library". Harnett County, North Carolina. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

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