SCOTLAND County, NC

Scotland County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,174. Its county seat is Laurinburg.

Scotland County comprises the Laurinburg, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Fayetteville-Lumberton-Laurinburg, NC Combined Statistical Area.

The county was founded in 1899 from the southeastern part of Richmond County, which was divided to reduced the travel time for residents to the county seat of Rockingham. The county name documents the strong historic and cultural influence from the early settlers from Scotland.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 34,174 people, 12,922 households, and 8,593 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,998 people, 13,399 households, and 9,674 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile (44/km²). There were 14,693 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.49% White, 37.32% Black or African American, 8.88% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 1.18% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2005 49.4% of Scotland County's population was non-Hispanic whites.

In 2000 there were 13,399 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.10% were married couples living together, 20.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,010, and the median income for a family was $39,178. Males had a median income of $31,212 versus $23,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,693. About 17.40% of families and 20.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.80% of those under age 18 and 17.20% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Scotland County is a member of the regional Lumber River Council of Governments.

As of the redistricting by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2016, Scotland County is located entirely in North Carolina's 9th congressional district. It is represented in the 116th United States Congress by Dan Bishop (R).

The county has only voted for 3 Republican candidates since 1900: Richard Nixon in 1972, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and Donald Trump in 2020. It was the only county in North Carolina to flip from Democratic to Republican between 2016 and 2020.

Tourism

Primary tourism draws include:

The county is often referred to as the "Soul of the Carolinas" – as it maintains its historical and personal touch in one of the fastest growing states

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Townships