Jones County, North Carolina

Jones County, North Carolina
Seal
Location in the state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1779
Named for	Willie Jones
Seat	Trenton
Largest town	Maysville
Area
• Total	473 sq mi (1,225 km^2)
• Land	471 sq mi (1,220 km^2)
• Water	2.5 sq mi (6 km^2), 0.5%
Population
• (2010)	10,153
• Density	22/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.co.jones.nc.us

Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,153,^[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Trenton.^[2]

Jones County is part of the New Bern, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1779 from the southwestern part of Craven County. It was named for Willie Jones,^[3] a Revolutionary leader and president of the North Carolina Council of Safety; he was later the state's chief opponent of ratification of the United States Constitution He was also a plantation slave owner.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 473 square miles (1,230 km²), of which 471 square miles (1,220 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Craven County - northeast
• Carteret County - southeast
• Onslow County - south
• Duplin County - west
• Lenoir County - northwest

National protected area

• Croatan National Forest (part)

Major highways

• US 17
• US 70
• US 258
• NC 41
• NC 58

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	4,796		—
1800	4,339		−9.5%
1810	4,968		14.5%
1820	5,216		5.0%
1830	5,608		7.5%
1840	4,945		−11.8%
1850	5,038		1.9%
1860	5,730		13.7%
1870	5,002		−12.7%
1880	7,491		49.8%
1890	7,403		−1.2%
1900	8,226		11.1%
1910	8,721		6.0%
1920	9,912		13.7%
1930	10,428		5.2%
1940	10,926		4.8%
1950	11,004		0.7%
1960	11,005		0.0%
1970	9,779		−11.1%
1980	9,705		−0.8%
1990	9,414		−3.0%
2000	10,381		10.3%
2010	10,153		−2.2%
Est. 2014	10,076	[5]	−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 10,381 people, 4,061 households, and 2,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 4,679 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.97% White, 35.87% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.70% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,061 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% 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 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,882, and the median income for a family was $35,180. Males had a median income of $28,662 versus $19,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,916. About 14.20% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Jones County is a member of the regional Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. The Jones County Government relies entirely upon an all volunteer (non-paid) fire department force segregated by geographic location(s). The Law Enforcement structure consists of one paid Pollocksville Police Chief, one paid Maysville Police Chief, and an elected Sheriff with a small (less than 25 person force) to handle law enforcement, detention, and emergency communications. The county government relies heavily on volunteer deputization. Emergency ambulance services consist of one full-time medical unit dispatched from the town of Trenton and relies heavily on other volunteer EMS personnel geographically scattered around the county to assist with a medical emergency. Additional EMS transportation vehicles are subsidized by EMS services provided by adjacent counties or private enterprises. There is no animal control unit. The County Detention Facility is a 21 bed (3 female) facility located in the basement of the county courthouse and the detention staff double up as the communications/911 emergency communications staff. Prisoner Meals are provided by contract through licensed restaurants.

Recreation

Jones County lies 8 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean but the only waterfront areas in the county are along the Trent and White Oak rivers. Part of the Great Dover Swamp also lies within the county lines. Many enjoy boating and fishing activities as well as camping at the 17 Family Campground along Highway 17 north in Maysville. The Croatan National Forest offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing and the wide open spaces of fields and forests are a haven for outdoors men.

Communities

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

Towns

• Maysville
• Pollocksville
• Trenton (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Comfort
• Oak Grove

Townships

The county is divided into seven townships, which are both numbered and named:

• 1 (White Oak)
• 2 (Pollocksville)
• 3 (Trenton)
• 4 (Cypress Creek)
• 5 (Tuckahoe)
• 6 (Chinquapin)
• 7 (Beaver Creek)

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jones County, North Carolina

External links

• Jones County government official website
• NCGenWeb Jones County - free genealogy resources for the county

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. 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. p. 170.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

Coordinates: 35°01′N 77°22′W / 35.01°N 77.37°W