Bertie County, North Carolina

Bertie County, North Carolina
County
Bertie County Courthouse in Windsor
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Interactive map of Bertie County, North Carolina
Coordinates: 36°04′N 76°58′W / 36.06°N 76.96°W / 36.06; -76.96
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1739
Named afterJames Bertie and/or Henry Bertie
SeatWindsor
Largest communityWindsor
Area
 • Total
741.31 sq mi (1,920.0 km2)
 • Land699.18 sq mi (1,810.9 km2)
 • Water42.13 sq mi (109.1 km2)  5.61%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
17,934
 • Estimate 
(2024)
16,939
 • Density25.65/sq mi (9.90/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.bertie.nc.us

Bertie County (/ˈbɜːrˈtiː/ BUR-TEE)[1][2] is a county located in the northeast area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,934.[3] Its county seat is Windsor.[4] The county was created in 1722 as Bertie Precinct and gained county status in 1739.[5]

History

The county was formed as Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County lying west of the Chowan River. It was named for James Bertie, his brother Henry Bertie, or perhaps both, each having been one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

In 1729 parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct of Albemarle County were combined to form Tyrrell Precinct. With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became separate counties. As population of settlers increased, in 1741 parts of Bertie County were organized as Edgecombe County and Northampton County. Finally, in 1759 parts of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties were combined to form Hertford County. Bertie's boundaries have remained the same since then.

This mostly rural county depended on the agricultural economy well into the 20th century. In the colonial and antebellum eras, tobacco and cotton were the chief commodity crops, worked by Indian and African slaves. After the Civil War, agriculture continued to be important to the county. In the 21st century, developers have referred to it as being within the Inner Banks region, which is increasingly attracting retirees and buyers of second homes, because of its beaches and landscapes.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 741.31 square miles (1,920.0 km2), of which 699.18 square miles (1,810.9 km2) is land and 42.13 square miles (109.1 km2) (5.61%) is water.[6]

National protected area

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179012,462—
180011,249−9.7%
181011,218−0.3%
182010,805−3.7%
183012,26213.5%
184012,175−0.7%
185012,8515.6%
186014,31011.4%
187012,950−9.5%
188016,39926.6%
189019,17616.9%
190020,5387.1%
191023,03912.2%
192023,9934.1%
193025,8447.7%
194026,2011.4%
195026,4390.9%
196024,350−7.9%
197020,528−15.7%
198021,0242.4%
199020,388−3.0%
200019,773−3.0%
201021,2827.6%
202017,934−15.7%
2024 (est.)16,939[8] −5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[3]

2020 census

Bertie County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[14] Pop 1990[15] Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[17] Pop 2020[18] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,501 7,782 7,124 7,393 6,298 40.43% 38.17% 36.03% 34.74% 35.12%
Black or African American alone (NH) 12,193 12,512 12,277 13,252 10,674 58.00% 61.37% 62.09% 62.27% 59.52%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 12 44 67 88 57 0.06% 0.22% 0.34% 0.41% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 21 14 20 103 63 0.10% 0.07% 0.10% 0.48% 0.35%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [19] x [20] 1 0 0 x x 0.01% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 2 4 4 6 49 0.01% 0.02% 0.02% 0.03% 0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [21] x [22] 85 173 463 x x 0.43% 0.81% 2.58%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 295 32 195 267 330 1.40% 0.16% 0.99% 1.25% 1.84%
Total 21,024 20,388 19,773 21,282 17,934 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, Bertie County had a population of 17,934, with 7,264 households and 4,531 families, and a population density of 24 people per square mile.[23][3] The same census also recorded Bertie County as having the highest proportion of black residents among all counties in the state.[24]

The median age was 47.1 years; 16.9% of residents were under 18 and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.3 males age 18 and over.[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 35.3% White, 59.8% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[25]

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[26]

There were 7,264 households in the county, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.4% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

There were 8,936 housing units, of which 18.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.4% were owner-occupied and 28.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%.[23]

Income information was not available for the county in 2020. However, in 2019, the median income for women in the county was $22,443, and $27,992 for men.[27]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 21,282 people living in the county. 62.5% were Black or African American, 35.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[28] there were 19,773 people, 7,743 households, and 5,427 families living in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 9,050 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.34% Black or African American, 36.30% White, 0.44% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, 0.48% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,743 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.00% were married couples living together, 20.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,177, and the median income for a family was $30,186. Males had a median income of $26,866 versus $18,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,096. About 19.30% of families and 26% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 28.30% of those age 65 or over.

The 2024 population estimate for Bertie County is 16,939.[29] This is a decrease of approximately 5.5% since 2020. This decline is consistent with long-term trends showing decreasing population levels in the area for multiple decades.

Socioeconomic Indicators

Bertie County has shown persistent economic challenges over the past few decades. The estimated median household income across 2019-2023 is $45,931, which is below the state median.[30] 19.8% of residents live below both the federal poverty line.[31] Approximately 82% of adults 25 years or older have at least a high school diploma, while only 17.8% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.[29] These indicators may suggest socioeconomic limitations that restrict upward mobility for residents within the area.

Migration Patterns and Population Decline

Bertie County has experienced significant population decline over the past 15 years. The estimated 2025 population for Bertie County is 16,543.[32] This is a significant drop from the 2010 Census, which had a population at 21,282.[29] This is an approximately 22.3% decrease in population over 15 years. Additionally, data from 2019-2023 shows that approximately 10.1% of people in Bertie County moved within the past year.[30]

The 2020 Census shows that the racial composition of Bertie County remains heavily skewed towards the Black/African American population. With 59.5% of the population identifying as Black/African American, they compose a majority of the 17,934 residents in 2020. The county remains as one of the most predominantly black counties in North Carolina, which may shape social and economic dynamics across the county.[33]

Future Population Projections

Government and politics

Bertie County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments. The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer.

The 2024 presidential election marked the strongest showing for a Republican candidate in Bertie County since 1984, with Donald Trump winning nearly 42 percent of the county vote.

United States presidential election results for Bertie County, North Carolina[34]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 43 2.57% 1,571 93.79% 61 3.64%
1916 116 7.36% 1,461 92.64% 0 0.00%
1920 212 10.33% 1,840 89.67% 0 0.00%
1924 159 8.16% 1,785 91.59% 5 0.26%
1928 374 15.75% 2,000 84.25% 0 0.00%
1932 65 2.02% 3,154 97.83% 5 0.16%
1936 115 2.92% 3,828 97.08% 0 0.00%
1940 98 2.90% 3,287 97.10% 0 0.00%
1944 124 3.80% 3,142 96.20% 0 0.00%
1948 85 2.68% 3,034 95.71% 51 1.61%
1952 384 9.74% 3,557 90.26% 0 0.00%
1956 469 12.21% 3,373 87.79% 0 0.00%
1960 577 13.55% 3,682 86.45% 0 0.00%
1964 931 21.84% 3,332 78.16% 0 0.00%
1968 811 11.38% 3,207 45.00% 3,108 43.61%
1972 2,874 60.54% 1,819 38.32% 54 1.14%
1976 1,332 24.35% 4,117 75.27% 21 0.38%
1980 1,695 30.10% 3,863 68.59% 74 1.31%
1984 2,879 41.91% 3,953 57.54% 38 0.55%
1988 2,145 36.24% 3,762 63.56% 12 0.20%
1992 1,756 26.04% 4,382 64.99% 605 8.97%
1996 1,745 27.83% 4,202 67.01% 324 5.17%
2000 2,488 34.67% 4,660 64.94% 28 0.39%
2004 3,057 38.06% 4,938 61.48% 37 0.46%
2008 3,376 34.58% 6,365 65.20% 22 0.23%
2012 3,387 33.46% 6,695 66.14% 41 0.41%
2016 3,456 36.97% 5,778 61.82% 113 1.21%
2020 3,817 38.89% 5,939 60.51% 59 0.60%
2024 3,840 41.80% 5,279 57.47% 67 0.73%

Education

Public schools in the county are managed by Bertie County Schools. Notable schools in Bertie county include Bertie High School, Lawrence Academy, and Bethel Assembly Christian Academy.[35][36][37] The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.[38]

Communities

Towns

Townships

  • Colerain
  • Indian Woods
  • Merry Hill
  • Mitchells
  • Roxobel
  • Snakebite
  • Whites
  • Windsor
  • Woodville

Unincorporated communities

  • Ashland
  • Avoca
  • Baker Town
  • Buena Vista
  • Elm Grove
  • Gatlinsville
  • Grabtown
  • Greens Cross
  • Hexlena
  • Merry Hill
  • Midway
  • Perrytown
  • Pine Ridge
  • Quitsna
  • Republican
  • Rosemead
  • Sans Souci
  • Spring Branch
  • Todds Cross
  • Trap
  • Whites Cross
  • Woodard

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Bertie County.[39]

† = county seat

Rank Name Type Population
(2020 census)
1 † Windsor Town 3,582
2 Aulander Town 763
3 Lewiston Woodville Town 426
4 Colerain Town 217
5 Kelford Town 203
6 Powellsville Town 189
7 Askewville Town 184
8 Roxobel Town 179

See also

References

  1. ^ "NC Pronunciation Guide". WRAL. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Talk Like a Tarheel Archived June 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, from the North Carolina Collection website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Bertie County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "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 March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - North Carolina - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 14-25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2025 – via WayBack Machine.
  15. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - North Carolina: Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 15-64. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2025 – via WayBack Machine.
  16. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bertie County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bertie County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bertie County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  20. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  21. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  22. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  23. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  24. ^ Melrose, Justyn (June 28, 2023). "What is the racial breakdown of North Carolina's 100 counties?". Fox 8. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  25. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  26. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  28. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  29. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts". www.census.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Census profile: Bertie County, NC". Census Reporter. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  31. ^ “Appendix D 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines Effective as of January 2025.” NC DHHS, policies.ncdhhs.gov/wp-content/uploads/RAxD-1.pdf.
  32. ^ "County Population Estimates". demography.osbm.nc.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  33. ^ "Ranking of North Carolina Counties By Percentage of Population that are Black or African American Alone in 2020". www.beautifydata.com. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  34. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  35. ^ "Bertie High School / Homepage". www.bertie.k12.nc.us. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  36. ^ "Lawrence Academy – Excellence in education since 1968". www.lawrenceacademy.org. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  37. ^ "Askewville Assembly - BACA". askewvilleassembly.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  38. ^ Taylor, Holly (September 13, 2022). "Local "report cards" show mixed results". The Roanoke-Chowan Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  39. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bertie County, North Carolina.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.