Brunswick County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693. Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it the fastest-growing county in the state, and ninth fastest in the nation. With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.
Brunswick County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. From 2013 to 2023, the county was part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. During that time, Brunswick County and Wilmington area leaders disputed the change, including many government leaders like Senator Richard Burr. Ultimately, their efforts were a success because the county was added back into the MSA after a 2023 realignment. Wilmington disputes move
Much of the economy of the county is built around tourism, with beach communities lying along the south-facing beaches past Cape Fear such as Bald Head Island (the southernmost point of North Carolina) and Oak Island being popular destinations. Calabash, on the border of South Carolina, is renowned for its fried seafood, with "Calabash-style" restaurants dotting the region. The proximity to Cinespace Wilmington in nearby Wilmington has made Brunswick County a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows.
History 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, which itself was named for George I, the King of England and Duke of Brunswick.
Following the destruction of Brunswick Town during the American Revolutionary War, the southern portion of the county increased in population, with the town of Smithville being incorporated in 1805. Three years later it was designated the county seat. During the antebellum era, Brunswick experienced some growth. The slave labor force increased to serve plantations in their production of naval stores, corn, cotton, and rice; by 1860 over 44 percent of the county's population were slaves. During the American Civil War, forces of the Confederate State of America erected Fort Anderson near the ruins of Brunswick Town to defend against federal attacks on the Cape Fear River and the Port of Wilmington. Brunswick County did not experience much growth in the latter half of the 19th century. Smithville was renamed Southport in 1887. Beginning in the 1930s, development along the county's beaches occurred, and between 1955 and 1975, six communities on the county's barrier islands were incorporated.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (19.00%) 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.
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.
State and local protected area/sites Bald Head Island Conservancy Bald Head Island Natural Area Bald Head Woods Maritime Forest Preserve Bird Island Reserve Brunswick County Botanical Garden Brunswick Nature Park Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site Columbus County Game Land (part) Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve Fort Caswell Historic District Green Swamp Game Land Green Swamp Preserve (part) Juniper Creek Game Land (part) Museum of Coastal Carolina Myrtle Head Savanna North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport (Fort Johnston also located on property) Oak Island Lighthouse Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum Orton Creek Preserve South of Onslow County Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area (part) Zekes Island Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve (part) Zeke's Island Reserve (part)
Major water bodies Alligator Creek Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean) Brunswick River Cape Fear River Elizabeth River Frying Pan Shoals Intracoastal Waterway Lockwood Folly River Little River Long Bay North Lake Northeast Cape Fear River Onslow Bay Orton Pond Patricia Lake Saucepan Creek Shallotte River Town Creek Waccamaw River
Major islands Bald Head Island Bird Island Eagles Island Oak Island
Major beaches Caswell Beach Holden Beach Long Beach Ocean Isle Beach Sunset Beach Yaupon Beach
Adjacent counties Pender County – north New Hanover County – east Columbus County – west-northwest Horry County, South Carolina – west
Major highways
(Bolivia) (Shallotte)
Major infrastructure Bald Head Island Ferry, private ferry that serves Bald Head Island Cape Fear Regional Jetport, near Oak Island Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, military terminal near Southport Odell Williamson Municipal Airport Southport–Fort Fisher Ferry (to New Hanover County)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 136,693 people, 61,496 households, and 42,359 families residing in the county. The population density was .
The median age was 56.5 years. 14.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 34.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.7 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 82.2% White, 8.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.4% of the population.
63.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.4% lived in rural areas.
There were 61,496 households in the county, of which 18.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.9% were married-couple households, 14.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 88,330 housing units, of which 30.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.9% were owner-occupied and 18.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.9%.
Racial and ethnic composition +Brunswick County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)27,11741,12059,35486,818110,71675.79%80.65%81.15%80.81%81.00%Black or African American alone (NH)8,1619,17210,45912,12011,39222.81%17.99%14.30%11.28%8.33%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1132344736527430.32%0.46%0.65%0.61%0.54%Asian alone (NH)60751925608900.17%0.15%0.26%0.52%0.65%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census163375xx0.02%0.03%0.05%Other race alone (NH)178681283660.05%0.02%0.09%0.12%0.27%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census6211,5715,091xx0.85%1.46%3.72%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3093761,9605,5497,4200.86%0.74%2.68%5.17%5.43%Total35,77750,98573,143107,431136,693 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2022 American Community Survey (ACS)
There are 60,915 households accounted for in the 2022 ACS, with an average of 2.28 persons per household. The county's a median gross rent is $1,187 in the 2022 ACS. The 2022 ACS reports a median household income of $71,193, with 83.7% of households are owner occupied. 8.5% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line (down from previous ACS surveys). The city boasts a 48.8% employment rate, with 32.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.5% holding a high school diploma.
The top nine reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (15.1%), Irish (13.1%), German (11.5%), Italian (5.3%), Polish (2.3%), Scottish (2.3%), French (except Basque) (2.2%), Subsaharan African (0.7%), and Norwegian (0.6%).
The median age in the county was 57.6 years.
Between the period from 2020 to 2023, Brunswick County had the highest estimated growth in population among North Carolina's counties at 15.8 percent. Much of the recent growth has been driven by the in-migration of retirees, and as of 2023 the county has the highest median age in North Carolina.
2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 107,433 people, 46,298 households, and 32,220 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 77,482 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 83.0% White, 11.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other races and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.2% of the population.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 73,143 people, 30,438 households, and 22,037 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 51,431 housing units at an average density of . 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. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.68% of the population.
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. Government and politics Brunswick County is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments.