RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Largest by population, North Carolina counties · 1990

The most populous North Carolina counties as of the 1990 population estimates. This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDFastest growing Fastest shrinking Most population gained Most population lost Most densely populated Most sparsely populated

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS –

01Mecklenburg County, NCNC511,433–

02Wake County, NCNC423,380–

03Guilford County, NCNC347,420–

04Cumberland County, NCNC274,566–

05Forsyth County, NCNC265,878–

06Durham County, NCNC181,835–

07Gaston County, NCNC175,093–

08Buncombe County, NCNC174,821–

09Onslow County, NCNC149,838–

10Davidson County, NCNC126,677–

11New Hanover County, NCNC120,284–

12Catawba County, NCNC118,412–

13Rowan County, NCNC110,605–

14Alamance County, NCNC108,213–

15Pitt County, NCNC107,924–

16Randolph County, NCNC106,546–

17Robeson County, NCNC105,179–

18Wayne County, NCNC104,666–

19Cabarrus County, NCNC98,935–

20Orange County, NCNC93,851–

21Iredell County, NCNC92,931–

22Rockingham County, NCNC86,064–

23Cleveland County, NCNC84,714–

24Union County, NCNC84,211–

25Craven County, NCNC81,613–

26Johnston County, NCNC81,306–

27Nash County, NCNC76,677–

28Burke County, NCNC75,744–

29Caldwell County, NCNC70,709–

30Henderson County, NCNC69,285–

31Harnett County, NCNC67,822–

32Wilson County, NCNC66,061–

33Surry County, NCNC61,704–

34Wilkes County, NCNC59,393–

35Moore County, NCNC59,013–

36Lenoir County, NCNC57,274–

37Rutherford County, NCNC56,918–

38Edgecombe County, NCNC56,558–

39Halifax County, NCNC55,516–

40Carteret County, NCNC52,556–

41Stanly County, NCNC51,765–

42Brunswick County, NCNC50,985–

43Lincoln County, NCNC50,319–

44Columbus County, NCNC49,587–

45Sampson County, NCNC47,297–

46Haywood County, NCNC46,942–

47Richmond County, NCNC44,518–

48Beaufort County, NCNC42,283–

49Lee County, NCNC41,374–

50Duplin County, NCNC39,995–

51Vance County, NCNC38,892–

52Chatham County, NCNC38,759–

53Granville County, NCNC38,345–

54Stokes County, NCNC37,223–

55Watauga County, NCNC36,952–

56Franklin County, NCNC36,414–

57McDowell County, NCNC35,681–

58Scotland County, NCNC33,754–

59Pasquotank County, NCNC31,298–

60Yadkin County, NCNC30,488–

61Person County, NCNC30,180–

62Pender County, NCNC28,855–

63Bladen County, NCNC28,663–

64Davie County, NCNC27,859–

65Alexander County, NCNC27,544–

66Jackson County, NCNC26,846–

67Transylvania County, NCNC25,520–

68Martin County, NCNC25,078–

69Macon County, NCNC23,499–

70Anson County, NCNC23,474–

71Montgomery County, NCNC23,346–

72Hoke County, NCNC22,856–

73Dare County, NCNC22,746–

74Hertford County, NCNC22,523–

75Ashe County, NCNC22,209–

76Northampton County, NCNC20,798–

77Caswell County, NCNC20,693–

78Bertie County, NCNC20,388–

79Cherokee County, NCNC20,170–

80Warren County, NCNC17,265–

81Madison County, NCNC16,953–

82Yancey County, NCNC15,419–

83Greene County, NCNC15,384–

84Avery County, NCNC14,867–

85Mitchell County, NCNC14,433–

86Polk County, NCNC14,416–

87Washington County, NCNC13,997–

88Currituck County, NCNC13,736–

89Chowan County, NCNC13,506–

90Pamlico County, NCNC11,372–

91Swain County, NCNC11,268–

92Perquimans County, NCNC10,447–

93Alleghany County, NCNC9,590–

94Jones County, NCNC9,414–

95Gates County, NCNC9,305–

96Graham County, NCNC7,196–

97Clay County, NCNC7,155–

98Camden County, NCNC5,904–

99Hyde County, NCNC5,411–

100Tyrrell County, NCNC3,856–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS