Richlands is a town in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Richlands had a population of 2,287. It is included in the Jacksonville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Incorporated on March 29, 1880, it was the first town in Onslow County to have its own library and museum (home of the Onslow County Museum). Richlands was also the first town in Onslow County to have a female mayor, Annette Hargett.
Richlands is located 12 miles northwest of Jacksonville.
History
A post office called Richlands has been in operation since 1806. The town was so named on account of its rich soil.
The Avirett-Stephens Plantation, Richlands Historic District, Taylor Farm, and Venters Farm Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Richlands racial composition
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)
| 1,430
| 62.53%
|-
!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
| 384
| 16.79%
|-
!scope="row"| Native American
| 16
| 0.7%
|-
!scope="row"| Asian
| 31
| 1.36%
|-
!scope="row"| Pacific Islander
| 4
| 0.17%
|-
!scope="row"| Other/Mixed
| 191
| 8.35%
|-
!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino
| 231
| 10.1%
|}
As of the 2020 census, Richlands had a population of 2,287. There were 772 households and 525 families residing in the town. The median age was 30.5 years. 33.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.0 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
Of households in Richlands, 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 51.3% were married-couple households, 15.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Notable people
- Jeremy Hall – Army soldier, filed lawsuit against the DoD for religious discrimination
- Tyler Matthews – NASCAR driver
- Charlie Sanders – Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee; 1970s NFL All-Decade Team
- John Williams Shackelford – 19th-century U.S. Congressman
- Mario Williams – Number one overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft by the Houston Texans