Wilson County is a county in North Carolina, United States, on the Coastal Plain roughly halfway between Raleigh and Greenville. It had a population of 78,784 at the 2020 census and covers 373 square miles (966 km2), of which 368 square miles (952 km2) are land and 6 square miles (14 km2) are water, centred near 35°42′N 77°55′W.
Wilson is the county seat, and its postal code is 27893. The county has one city and seven towns, plus a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities and rural subdivisions. Wilson County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wilson County
Wilson County contains one incorporated city — Wilson, the county seat — and seven incorporated towns: Black Creek, Elm City, Kenly, Lucama, Saratoga, Sharpsburg, and Stantonsburg. Kenly straddles the Johnston County line and Sharpsburg straddles the Nash County line, so only the Wilson County portion of each is counted here. Everything else below is an unincorporated community, crossroads, or named subdivision (labelled “Unincorp.”) — real places on the map, but without their own municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | City · seat | — | 27893 |
| Black Creek | Town | — | 27813 |
| Elm City | Town | — | 27822 |
| Kenly | Town | — | — |
| Lucama | Town | — | 27851 |
| Saratoga | Town | — | 27873 |
| Sharpsburg | Town | — | — |
| Stantonsburg | Town | — | 27883 |
| Sims | Unincorp. | — | 27880 |
| Aycock Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bel-Air Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Belle Meade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boswellville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Branshermill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Breckenridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brentwood Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bridgersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| British Woods | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brookside Manor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buckhorn Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cavalier Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cavalier Terrace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cliftonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cobbs Crossroad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colonial Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Connor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Contentnea Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Country Club Colony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crestview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deerfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dew Field | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dixie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Drivers Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunn Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eastwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edgewood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elizabeth Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evansdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farmington Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farrior Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fillmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Finch Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forrest Road Homes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glenwood Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hawra | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holdens Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hominy Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Imperial Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jennings Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kirbys Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lamm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lamms Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lincoln Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Merrimont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millbrook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Montclair | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moores Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newton Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Northside | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Crest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakforest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Penders Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Haven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Tree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pineview Acres | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pinewood Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ponderosa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quail Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quail Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ramblewood MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Maple MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosebud | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandy Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scotts | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seven Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherwood Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stilleys Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stoneybrook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stotts Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sun | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thorpshire Farm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Town Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valleydale Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Washington Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waterford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westmoreland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Fox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitfield Homes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wiggins Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilbanks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilco Manor MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wildwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilkerson Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Windemere MHs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
Kenly and Sharpsburg both use post offices tied to the neighbouring county they straddle, so no Wilson County-specific ZIP is listed for either above — see the ZIP Codes section for what actually covers those addresses.
ZIP Codes
- 27893 — Wilson (also serves the city’s east and south sides; 27894 and 27895 are Wilson-area PO-box-only codes)
- 27822 — Elm City
- 27851 — Lucama
- 27813 — Black Creek
- 27873 — Saratoga
- 27883 — Stantonsburg
- 27880 — Sims (also serves nearby rural crossroads on the county’s east side)
Most of the unincorporated crossroads and subdivisions listed above are served by the nearest town’s ZIP code above rather than one of their own.
Geography
Wilson County lies on the inner Coastal Plain, a flat to gently rolling landscape of farmland and pine woods drained by Contentnea Creek and its tributaries, which cross the county from northwest to southeast on their way to the Neuse River. The land sits at a modest elevation, mostly under 200 feet, and has none of the swamp or sound-side terrain found closer to the coast.
Wilson County borders Nash County to the northwest, Edgecombe County to the northeast, Pitt County to the east, Greene County to the southeast, Wayne County to the south, and Johnston County to the west.
Demographics
Wilson County had 78,784 residents at the 2020 census, a population density of about 214 people per square mile. Wilson, the county seat, is home to well under half that total but is by a wide margin the largest place in the county; Elm City and Lucama are the next-largest incorporated towns, each far smaller. The county’s median household income runs below the North Carolina median of $70,804, reflecting its mix of agricultural and manufacturing employment.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Wilson County’s economy — tobacco, sweet potatoes, and soybeans are the leading field crops, and the city of Wilson was historically marketed as one of the world’s largest bright-leaf tobacco markets. Manufacturing, food processing, and distribution have grown alongside farming, aided by the county’s position on I-95. Barton College, a private four-year college, is based in Wilson. Downtown Wilson’s Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, home to dozens of the late folk artist’s giant wind-powered sculptures, anchors the county’s best-known annual event, the Whirligig Festival held each November.
History
The North Carolina General Assembly formed Wilson County on February 13, 1855, from parts of Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, and Wayne counties. It was named for Louis D. Wilson, a local militia colonel who died while serving in the Mexican-American War. The county seat, also named Wilson, grew rapidly after the railroad arrived in the 1850s and became a major tobacco auction center through the 20th century, a role that shaped much of its downtown architecture and its warehouse district.
Getting There
Interstate 95 runs the length of the county, joined by I-587 and I-795 spurs and US routes 117, 264, and 301. Amtrak Thruway bus service connects Wilson to the rail network.
- Raleigh — about 45 miles west
- Greenville — about 35 miles east
- Rocky Mount — about 15 miles north
- Goldsboro — about 25 miles south
The nearest major commercial airport is Raleigh-Durham International (RDU), roughly 45 miles west of the city of Wilson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wilson County, North Carolina?
It sits on the state’s inner Coastal Plain, between Raleigh and Greenville, bordered by Nash, Edgecombe, Pitt, Greene, Wayne, and Johnston counties.
What is the population of Wilson County?
78,784 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Wilson County?
373 square miles (966 km2), of which about 6 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Wilson County?
Wilson is the county seat and by far the largest city in the county.
How many towns are in Wilson County?
One city (Wilson) and seven towns: Black Creek, Elm City, Kenly, Lucama, Saratoga, Sharpsburg, and Stantonsburg, plus numerous unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wilson County?
Mainly 27893 (Wilson), 27822 (Elm City), 27851 (Lucama), 27813 (Black Creek), 27873 (Saratoga), 27883 (Stantonsburg), and 27880 (Sims).
What is Wilson, North Carolina known for?
Its history as a bright-leaf tobacco market and, today, the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in its downtown arts district.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Carolina.