Pender County, North Carolina
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Pender County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population is 41,082. Its county seat is Burgaw6.
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History
The county was formed in 1875 from New Hanover County. It was named for William Dorsey Pender of Edgecombe County, a Confederate general mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. It is in the southeastern section of the State and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen, Sampson, Duplin and Onslow counties. The present land area is 870.76 square miles and the 1990 population was 28,855. The county commissioners were ordered to hold their first meeting at Rocky Point. The act provided for the establishment of the town of Cowan as the county seat. In 1877 an act was passed repealing that section of the law relative to the town, and another law was enacted whereby the qualified voters were to vote on the question of moving the county seat to South Washington or any other place which the majority of the voters designated. Whatever place was selected, the town should be called Stanford. In 1879 Stanford was changed to Burgaw, which was by that law incorporated. It is the county seat.
Law and government
Pender County is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,416 km² (933 mi²). 2,255 km² (871 mi²) of it is land and 160 km² (62 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.64% water.
Townships
The county is divided into ten townships: Burgaw, Canetuck, Caswell, Columbia, Grady, Holly, Long Creek, Rocky Point, Topsail, and Union.
Adjacent Counties
- Duplin County, North Carolina - north
- Onslow County, North Carolina - northeast
- New Hanover County, North Carolina - south
- Brunswick County, North Carolina - south-southwest
- Columbus County, North Carolina - southwest
- Bladen County, North Carolina - west
- Sampson County, North Carolina - northwest
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 41,082 people, 16,054 households, and 11,719 families residing in the county. The population density is 18/km² (47/mi²). There are 20,798 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (24/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 72.74% White, 23.58% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 3.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 16,054 households out of which 29.40% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% are married couples living together, 11.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% are non-families. 22.90% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.50% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the county the population is spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $35,902, and the median income for a family is $41,633. Males have a median income of $31,424 versus $21,623 for females. The per capita income for the county is $17,882. 13.60% of the population and 9.50% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.60% of those under the age of 18 and 14.40% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
External links
- Pender County government official website (http://www.pender-county.com)
