Anson County is a county in North Carolina, United States, on the South Carolina border along the Pee Dee River. It had a population of 22,055 at the 2020 census and covers 537 square miles (1,391 km2), centred near 34°59′N 80°07′W.
Wadesboro is the county seat, and its postal code is 28170. The county has 6 incorporated towns and about 20 additional unincorporated communities, no county-township subdivisions, and lies in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Anson County
Anson County has six incorporated towns, led by the county seat Wadesboro, plus roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements scattered through its rural, agricultural landscape. In the table below, “Unincorp.” marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wadesboro | City · seat | 5,008 | 28170 |
| Polkton | Town | 2,250 | 28135 |
| Ansonville | Town | 440 | 28007 |
| Lilesville | Town | 395 | 28091 |
| Peachland | Town | 390 | 28133 |
| Morven | Town | 329 | 28119 |
| McFarlan | Town | 94 | 28102 |
| Burnsville | Unincorp. | — | 28170 |
| Pee Dee | Unincorp. | — | 28170 |
| Cairo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cason Old Field | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deep Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fountain Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gravelton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Griffins Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kikers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Littles Quarters | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Pine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lowrys | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mineral Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Sneedsboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinkston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Russellville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shoates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Wadesboro | Unincorp. | — | 28170 |
| Sugar Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Travis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wade Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
South Wadesboro and Burnsville sit close enough to Wadesboro’s town limits to be mistaken for neighborhoods of the county seat; both are unincorporated and mailed under the 28170 ZIP.
ZIP Codes
- 28170 — Wadesboro (also serves Burnsville, Pee Dee, South Wadesboro)
- 28135 — Polkton
- 28091 — Lilesville
- 28119 — Morven
- 28133 — Peachland
- 28007 — Ansonville (PO Box only)
- 28102 — McFarlan (PO Box only)
Smaller crossroads communities such as Cairo, Cedar Hill, Deep Creek, Lowrys and Sugar Town use the ZIP of their nearest post office town rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Anson County sits in the southern Piedmont, where the land rolls from low ridges in the north down toward the sandhills along the South Carolina line. The Pee Dee River forms most of the county’s eastern boundary, and Rocky River and Brown Creek drain the interior toward it. Of the county’s 537 square miles, 531 square miles are land and about 5.6 square miles are water.
Anson County borders Stanly County to the north, Union County to the west, Richmond County to the south, Montgomery County to the northeast, and Chesterfield County, South Carolina, across the state line to the southeast.
Demographics
Anson County had a population of 22,055 at the 2020 census, down from earlier decades as the county’s tobacco- and textile-based economy contracted. Wadesboro (5,008) and Polkton (2,250) are the two largest communities, together holding roughly a third of the county’s residents. Median household income in Anson County trails the North Carolina median of $70,804 by a wide margin, consistent with its long-running population decline. Population density is about 41 people per square mile, one of the lower figures among counties in the Charlotte region.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Anson County’s economy, with cotton, soybeans and poultry among the leading commodities, alongside a state prison complex (Anson Correctional Institution) and county-government employment based in Wadesboro. The county sits within commuting range of Charlotte and the Union County suburbs, and a growing share of residents work outside the county. Wadesboro’s downtown historic district, centered on the county courthouse, anchors most local retail and civic life.
History
Anson County was formed in 1750 from Bladen County and named for George Anson, 1st Baron Anson, a Royal Navy officer who circumnavigated the globe between 1740 and 1744 and later served as First Lord of the Admiralty. At its creation the county was vast, stretching to the edge of English settlement, and over the following decades it was carved down repeatedly as Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Richmond, Union and other counties were split from its original territory. Wadesboro was established as the county seat in 1783.
Getting There
US Highway 74 crosses the county east–west through Wadesboro, connecting to US 52 and US 74 corridors toward Charlotte. NC Highway 109 and NC 145 provide north–south access.
- Charlotte — 55 miles northwest
- Rockingham — 20 miles southeast
- Monroe — 30 miles west
- Albemarle — 25 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Anson County?
It is in south-central North Carolina, on the South Carolina border, about 55 miles southeast of Charlotte.
What is the population of Anson County?
Anson County had a population of 22,055 at the 2020 census.
How big is Anson County?
The county covers 537 square miles (1,391 km2), of which 531 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Anson County?
Wadesboro is the county seat.
How many towns are in Anson County?
Anson County has six incorporated towns — Wadesboro, Polkton, Ansonville, Lilesville, Peachland and Morven — plus McFarlan, and about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Anson County?
Anson County’s ZIP codes include 28170 (Wadesboro), 28135 (Polkton), 28091 (Lilesville), 28119 (Morven), 28133 (Peachland), 28007 (Ansonville) and 28102 (McFarlan).
What river runs through Anson County?
The Pee Dee River forms most of the county’s eastern boundary; Rocky River and Brown Creek drain the interior.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.