Largest Black population, US counties · 1990
US counties ranked by the number of residents who are Black or African American, from the 1990 American Community Survey (table B03002). Each list covers the full eligible universe; download the complete data as CSV. Cook County, Illinois leads at 1,302,746. 3,122 counties qualify in total. New York carries 4 of the top 25 entries. The median across all 3,122 is 405.
UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which county has the highest black population?
Cook County, Illinois ranks #1 with 1,302,746 (1990 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 counties by black population?
Cook County, Illinois, Los Angeles County, California, Wayne County, Michigan, Kings County, New York, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,122 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.
How is black population measured?
Number of residents who are Black or African American (derived from the ACS race table B03002). Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.