Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,172, making it the fourth-least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Trenton. Jones County is part of the New Bern, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.
There are only three incorporated towns in Jones County, Pollocksville, Trenton, and Maysville. Two major highways in the county include: US 17 which runs south to Jacksonville, and north to New Bern and US 70 which runs west to Kinston, and east to Morehead City.
History
The county was formed in 1779 from the southwestern part of Craven County. It was named for Willie Jones, a planter, slaveholder, Revolutionary leader and president of the North Carolina Committee of Safety during the war. He opposed state ratification of the United States Constitution and refused to vote on it at the Hillsborough Convention.
The rural Low Country county was originally developed for plantations, which were dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans. The county's has heavily relied on agriculture (mostly tobacco) and lumber from its nearby forest.
In 2004, the county's population slightly rose above 10,000 in a census estimate but has since decreased to 9,172 in the 2020 census.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.49%) is water.
National protected areas
Catfish Lake South Wilderness (part) Croatan National Forest (part) Pond Pine Wilderness (part)
State and local protected areas
Croatan Game Land (part) Hofmann Forest (part)
Major water bodies
Beaverdam Creek
Catfish Lake
Trent River
Adjacent counties
Craven County – northeast
Carteret County – southeast
Onslow County – south
Duplin County – west
Lenoir County – northwest
Major highways
Major infrastructure
Marine Corps Outlying Field Oak Grove, small military base near Pollocksville
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 9,172 people, 4,045 households, and 2,644 families residing in the county.
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 10,381 people, 4,061 households, and 2,936 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,679 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 60.97% White, 35.87% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.70% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,061 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% 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 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,882, and the median income for a family was $35,180. Males had a median income of $28,662 versus $19,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,916. About 14.20% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.