Moore County, North Carolina

Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 99,727.

History

Archeological evidence indicates Siouan Native Americans inhabited the area eventually comprising Moore County from the early 500s until the 1600s. European settlers arrived in about 1739. In subsequent years, settlers of English, Ulster Scots, and German origin arrived by way of the Great Wagon Road and from the Cape Fear River valley, with most choosing to reside in the northern section of the eventual county. From the 1750s to the 1770s, the area received an influx of settlers from the Scottish Highlands, who mostly occupied the southeastern portions of the county and developed a naval stores industry with the area's longleaf pines. Many Loyalists were socially ostracized after the end of the war.

Geography

thumb|left|Pine trees in Moore County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.13%) is water. Moore County is bordered by Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Cumberland, Hoke, Scotland, Richmond, Montgomery, and Randolph counties. Additionally, the county lies within the Sandhills region, and Aberdeen, Big Governors, Big Juniper, Drowning, Herds, McLendons, Sugar, and Little Crane Creeks.

Longleaf pine is native to the region. It grows in the Sandhills Game Land, a state nature preserve which covers part of Moore County, and the Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, which resides wholly in the county. Fish present in the county include bass, sunfish, and Cape Fear shiner.

|align-fn=center

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

| align = right

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

Racial and ethnic composition

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

|+Moore 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)

|39,197

|47,260

|58,844

|68,487

|style='background: #ffffe6; |75,391

|77.61%

|80.08%

|78.70%

|77.61%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |75.60%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|10,578

|10,832

|11,527

|11,727

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,545

|20.94%

|18.36%

|15.42%

|13.29%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10.57%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|316

|303

|486

|689

|style='background: #ffffe6; |688

|0.63%

|0.51%

|0.65%

|0.78%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.69%

|Asian alone (NH)

|35

|145

|325

|736

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,237

|0.07%

|0.25%

|0.43%

|0.83%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.24%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|27

|25

|style='background: #ffffe6; |59

|0.04%

|0.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%

|Other race alone (NH)

|41

|39

|93

|style='background: #ffffe6; |351

|0.08%

|0.01%

|0.05%

|0.11%

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

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|540

|1,229

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,091

|0.72%

|1.39%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.10%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|338

|470

|2,981

|5,261

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,365

|0.67%

|0.80%

|3.99%

|5.96%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.39%

|Total

|50,505

|59,013

|74,769

|88,247

|style='background: #ffffe6; |99,727

|100.00%

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 99,727 people, 41,881 households, and 27,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile (41/km2), and there were 48,237 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile (19/km2).

The median age was 44.1 years, 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18, and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.5 males age 18 and over.

50.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 49.5% lived in rural areas.

Of the 41,881 households in the county, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.3% were married-couple households, 16.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. For the first time, the census classified the municipalities of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Taylortown, and Whispering Pines as constituting a contiguous urban area, due to the combined population of those areas exceeding 50,000 people. The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management projected in 2023 that the county's population will grow to be 146,972 in 2040 and 170,097 in 2050.

Law and government

Government

Carthage is the seat of Moore County. The commissioners appoint a county manager who leads the everyday function of county administration under the commissioners' direction. They also appoint their own clerk, a county attorney, and a tax administrator. In addition to the commissioners, county voters elect a register of deeds.

Moore County is a member of the Triangle J Council of Governments, a regional planning body. It is located in North Carolina's 9th congressional district, the North Carolina Senate's 21st district, and the North Carolina House of Representatives' 51st, 52nd, and 78th districts.

Judicial system

thumb|Moore County Courts Facility

Moore County lies within the bounds of North Carolina's 29th Prosecutorial District, the 19D Superior Court District, and the 19D District Court District. County voters elect a sheriff.

Politically, Moore County is dominated by the Republican Party. As of December 2022, the county hosts 15,812 registered Democrats, 31,387 Republicans, four members of the Green Party, 613 Libertarians, and 28,112 unaffiliated voters.

Economy

Moore County residents are on average wealthier than their statewide contemporaries. Moore's economy also relies heavily on tourism, largely driven by golfing events. In 2021, the county benefitted from $673 million in tourism spending, giving it the 10th largest tourism economy among North Carolina's counties. Some county residents work in both civilian and military capacities at the U.S. Army's Fort Bragg in neighboring Cumberland County. Some manufacturing also takes place in Moore. though many air travelers opt to fly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport before driving to Moore. A private airport, Gilliam–McConnell Airfield is maintained in Carthage. North–south rail lines are operated by CSX Transportation, with additional short-line rail service provided by the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway and the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad Company.

Major highways

SandHoke Early College, a program managed by Hoke County Schools, also uses the campus. According to the 2021 American Community Survey, an estimated 40.8 percent of county residents have attained a bachelor's degree or higher level of education.

Culture

Many Moore County residents helped develop the regional pottery craft centered in Jugtown, Randolph County. The county is host to the Moore County Agricultural Fair, the Carthage Buggy Festival, the Pet Parade and Bark-in-the-Park Festival, and the North Carolina Playwright Festival. Moore County, particularly the Pinehurst–Southern Pines area, host many golf courses and golfing tournaments. Equestrianism is popular in the county.

Communities

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

Incorporated communities

Aberdeen
Carthage (county seat)
Robbins
Seven Lakes

Unincorporated communities

Eagle Springs
Glendon
High Falls
Manly
West End

Notable people

Charles Brady (1951–2006), was raised here. He became a physician, career Navy officer, and NASA astronaut
John Edwards (born 1953), politician, US Senator and former presidential candidate was raised here
Jeff Hardy (born 1977) and Matt Hardy (born 1974), brothers, were raised here; they are professional wrestlers currently working in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as The Hardy Boyz
Mable Parker McLean (1922–2012), academic administrator
Shannon Moore (born 1979), was raised here; he is a wrestler currently working in the Independent Circuit
Shanann Watts (1984–2018), murdered with her two daughters by her husband Chris in Colorado in 2018

References

Works cited

External links

Moore County Chamber of Commerce
Moore County Historical Association
Moore County NC History
Go Sandhills History
NCGenWeb Moore County, genealogy resources for the county