Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,948. Its county seat is Wadesboro.
History
The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral, who circumnavigated the globe from 1740 to 1744, and later became First Lord of the Admiralty. Anson purchased land in the state.
Like its parent county Bladen being occupied by Native American tribes(Waccamaw people), Anson County was originally occupied by Catawba Siouan tribe as a vast territory with indefinite northern and western boundaries. Reductions in its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. Finally, in 1842 the western part of Anson County was combined with the southeastern part of Mecklenburg County to become Union County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.
National protected area
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Adjacent counties
Stanly County—north
Montgomery County—northeast
Richmond County—east
Chesterfield County, South Carolina—south
Union County—west
Major highways
Law and government
Anson County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.
As of the 2000 Census, Anson County is located entirely in North Carolina's 9th congressional district, which is currently represented by Republican Dan Bishop.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,055 people, 9,521 households, and 5,809 families residing in the county.
2010 census
In the 2010 Census, there were 26,948 people. The racial makeup of the county was 48.58% African American, 47.15% White American, 1.07% Asian, 0.61% Native American, 1.25% multiracial and 1.32% of other race. People of Hispanic and Latino origin account for 3.02% of the population.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,275 people, 9,204 households, and 6,663 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (18/km2). There were 10,221 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 51.64% Black or African American, 48.53% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,204 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,849, and the median income for a family was $35,870. Males had a median income of $27,297 versus $20,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,853. About 15.50% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.
Education
There are 11 schools in the Anson County Schools system that serve the students of the county.
South Piedmont Community College has a campus on Highway 74 near Polkton that serves Anson County residents.
Communities
File:Comté_d'Anson.png|right|thumb|450px|Clickable map of Anson County, North Carolina With Municipal labels ([http://u.osmfr.org/m/388935/ interactive map])
rect 449 247 552 282 Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
poly 415 181 440 172 452 204 424 213 Ansonville
poly 603 423 629 421 628 447 602 451 Lilesville
poly 616 696 641 698 639 722 613 720 McFarlan
poly 581 610 607 607 607 634 578 636 Morven
poly 192 379 218 379 218 406 192 405 Peachland
poly 282 344 282 383 315 385 318 420 334 415 337 389 320 375 317 344 Polkton
poly 394 408 455 410 500 410 511 431 536 436 535 475 510 492 456 471 455 428 391 419 Wadesboro
desc bottom-left
Towns
Ansonville
Lilesville
McFarlan
Morven
Peachland
Polkton
Wadesboro (county seat)
Townships
Ansonville
Burnsville
Gulledge
Lanesboro
Lilesville
Morven
Wadesboro
White Store
Unincorporated communities
Burnsville
Pee Dee
Ghost town
Sneedsboro
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Anson County.
† county seat
Notable people
Stephone Anthony (born 1992), linebacker with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League
Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881–1960), soil conservation specialist
John Culpepper (1761–1841), born near Wadesboro, United States Congressman from North Carolina, long-tenured Baptist minister.
Blind Boy Fuller (1907–1941), American blues guitarist and vocalist.
James Holland (1754–1823), born in Anson County, United States Congressman from North Carolina.
Juanita Moody (1924–-2015), born in Morven, NC, gifted cryptographer whose intelligence gathering contributed greatly during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Leonidas Lafayette Polk (1837–1892), first North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
Sylvester Ritter (1952–1998), born in Anson County, professional wrestler also known as The Junkyard Dog.
In popular culture
Steven Spielberg filmed The Color Purple mostly in Lilesville, and a large white farmhouse (the Huntley house, which is located in Lilesville, NC and is an old farmhouse located few miles off Highway 74) was used extensively as the main exterior location in that film.
