Bertie County, North Carolina

Bertie County ( ) is a county located in the northeast area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,934. The county was created in 1722 as Bertie Precinct and gained county status in 1739.

History

The county was formed as Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County lying west of the Chowan River. It was named for James Bertie, his brother Henry Bertie, or perhaps both, each having been one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

In 1729 parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct of Albemarle County were combined to form Tyrrell Precinct. With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became separate counties. As population of settlers increased, in 1741 parts of Bertie County were organized as Edgecombe County and Northampton County. Finally, in 1759 parts of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties were combined to form Hertford County. Bertie's boundaries have remained the same since then.

This mostly rural county depended on the agricultural economy well into the 20th century. In the colonial and antebellum eras, tobacco and cotton were the chief commodity crops, worked by Indian and African slaves. After the Civil War, agriculture continued to be important to the county. In the 21st century, developers have referred to it as being within the Inner Banks region, which is increasingly attracting retirees and buyers of second homes, because of its beaches and landscapes.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.61%) is water.

National protected area

Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge

State and local protected areas/sites

Bachelor Bay Game Land (part)
Bertie County Game Land

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

| align = right

thumb|2020 population density of Bertie County NC by census block

2020 census

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Bertie County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 1980

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|8,501

|7,782

|7,124

|7,393

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,298

|40.43%

|38.17%

|36.03%

|34.74%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |35.12%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|12,193

|12,512

|12,277

|13,252

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,674

|58.00%

|61.37%

|62.09%

|62.27%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |59.52%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|12

|44

|67

|88

|style='background: #ffffe6; |57

|0.06%

|0.22%

|0.34%

|0.41%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32%

|Asian alone (NH)

|21

|14

|20

|103

|style='background: #ffffe6; |63

|0.10%

|0.07%

|0.10%

|0.48%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.01%

|0.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |49

|0.01%

|0.02%

|0.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|85

|173

|style='background: #ffffe6; |463

|0.43%

|0.81%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.58%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|295

|32

|195

|267

|style='background: #ffffe6; |330

|1.40%

|0.16%

|0.99%

|1.25%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.84%

|Total

|21,024

|20,388

|19,773

|21,282

|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,934

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

As of the 2020 census, Bertie County had a population of 17,934, with 7,264 households and 4,531 families, and a population density of 24 people per square mile.

The median age was 47.1 years; 16.9% of residents were under 18 and 22.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.3 males age 18 and over.

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,264 households in the county, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.4% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 21,282 people living in the county. 62.5% were Black or African American, 35.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 19,773 people, 7,743 households, and 5,427 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 9,050 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 62.34% Black or African American, 36.30% White, 0.44% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, 0.48% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,743 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.00% were married couples living together, 20.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,177, and the median income for a family was $30,186. Males had a median income of $26,866 versus $18,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,096. About 19.30% of families and 26% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 28.30% of those age 65 or over.

Recent Population Trends and Estimates

The 2024 population estimate for Bertie County is 16,939. This is a decrease of approximately 5.5% since 2020. This decline is consistent with long-term trends showing decreasing population levels in the area for multiple decades.

Socioeconomic Indicators

Bertie County has shown persistent economic challenges over the past few decades. The estimated median household income across 2019-2023 is $45,931, which is below the state median. 19.8% of residents live below both the federal poverty line. Approximately 82% of adults 25 years or older have at least a high school diploma, while only 17.8% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. This is a significant drop from the 2010 Census, which had a population at 21,282.

Future Population Projections

Government and politics

Bertie County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments. The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer.

The 2024 presidential election marked the strongest showing for a Republican candidate in Bertie County since 1984, with Donald Trump winning nearly 42 percent of the county vote.

Education

Public schools in the county are managed by Bertie County Schools. Notable schools in Bertie county include Bertie High School, Lawrence Academy, and Bethel Assembly Christian Academy. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.

Communities

thumb|300px|Map of Bertie County with municipal and township labels

Towns

Askewville
Aulander
Colerain
Kelford
Lewiston Woodville
Powellsville
Roxobel
Windsor (county seat and largest community)

Townships

Colerain
Indian Woods
Merry Hill
Mitchells
Roxobel
Snakebite
Whites
Windsor
Woodville

Unincorporated communities

Ashland
Avoca
Baker Town
Buena Vista
Elm Grove
Gatlinsville
Grabtown
Greens Cross
Hexlena
Merry Hill
Midway
Perrytown
Pine Ridge
Quitsna
Republican
Rosemead
Sans Souci
Spring Branch
Todds Cross
Trap
Whites Cross
Woodard

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Bertie County.

† = county seat

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Rank

! Name

! Type

! Population (2020 census)