Situated on the east coast of the United States, North Carolina is the ninth-most-populated state, with an estimated 10,710,558 people at the start of 2023. North Carolina's population, which comprises 3.17% of the U.S. total, grew by approximately 12.32% from 2010 to 2023.
Though North Carolina's total area of 53,819 square miles (mi²) ranks as the 28th-largest in the U.S., its population density of 220 people per square mile is more than double the national average population of 96 people/mi². It makes the "Tar Heel State" the 15th-most-densely populated state in the nation.
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, with a population of 917,527. Raleigh, with a population of 486,796, is the second-largest city and also the state capital. North Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies. Although the state has historically been considered rural, the past three decades have seen an increase in urbanization, and most areas are now considered urban and suburban.
North Carolina, one of the original 13 colonies, entered the Union in November 1789. Due to secession, the state did not participate in the 1864 election. Like many other southern states, North Carolina voted almost exclusively Democratic from 1876 through 1964 and almost exclusively Republican beginning in 1968. The initial shift was largely in response to white conservative voter uneasiness with the civil rights legislation passed in the mid-1960s, which was effectively exploited by the Republicans' "southern strategy."
In 2008, Barack Obama reversed the trend of Republican dominance here (although just barely), defeating John McCain by about 14,000 votes out of 4.3 million cast (49.7% to 49.4%). In percentage terms, it was the 2nd closest race of the 2008 election (behind Missouri). In 2012, North Carolina was again the 2nd closest race (this time behind Florida) as the state flipped Republican. Mitt Romney beat Obama by about 2%. Donald Trump won the state by 3.6% over Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 1.3% over Joe Biden in 2020.
After the 2020 Census, the state gained an additional electoral vote. This surpasses Michigan (which lost one) and ties it with Georgia for the eighth-largest electoral prize in the country.
According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 100 counties, 552 cities, towns, and villages, and 313 special districts.
The median age of the North Carolina population is approximately 38.3. The state's ratio of females to males is about 51.4% females to 48.6% males.
In terms of religious preferences across the state, 77% of the population report affiliation with a Christian-based faith, 3% are affiliated with non-Christian-based faiths, and 20% are unaffiliated with any faith in particular.
North Carolina Demographics
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of North Carolina was:
White: 66.22%
Black or African American: 21.16%
Two or more races: 4.83%
Other race: 3.59%
Asian: 3.04%
Native American: 1.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.07%
Muslims are under 200,000 or 1.5 percent.
Comments