Davie growth rate slower than state, nation: percentage of Hispanics increases

Published 11:28 am Friday, August 13, 2021

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Davie County is growing, but at a slower pace than North Carolina and the nation.

Recently released Census data shows 42,712 people lived in Davie County in 2020, compared to 41,240 in 2010, an increase of 4 percent.

North Carolina’s population grew by 9.5 percent, 78 percent of which was in Metro areas. The national average of population growth was 7.4 percent.

Davie County continued with national trends with a higher percentage of minority populations.

While the percentages of the Hispanic population in Davie County increased from 2010 to 2020, the percentages of those identifying as White or Black decreased.

The Hispanic population grew from 2,496 to 3,375. The White population decreased to 34,809 from 35,527. The Black population decreased from 2,552 to 2,413.

While Cooleemee experienced a decrease in population, Mocksville and Bermuda Run saw increases.

The 2020 Census shows 940 people living in Cooleemee, a 2.1 percent decrease from 2010. Among those 2020 residents: 8.5% were Hispanic, 73.1% White and 8.9% Black.

In Bermuda Run, the population increased 80.9 percent, to 3,120. Of those in 2020: 3.5% Hispanic, 87.4% White, and 3.8% Black.

Mocksville’s population increased more than 16 percent from 2010 to 2020, reaching 5,900 residents. Of those in 2020: 15% Hispanic, 64.2% White and 14.1% Black.

Of Davie’s neighboring counties, only Yadkin reported a decrease in population of 3.1%. Increases were noted for the following counties: Iredell, 17.1%; Forsyth, 9.1%; Davidson, 3.7%; and Rowan, 6.1%.

Davie is the 60th most populated of North Carolina’s 100 counties, with 162 people per square mile. Compare that with the highest concentration of people in neighboring counties – Forsyth at 938.1 per square mile; and the lowest concentration – Yadkin at 111.1 per square mile.

North Carolina’s most populated county is Wake, also home to the state’s second largest city, Raleigh, and the state’s seventh largest city, Cary. Mecklenburg was the second most populated county, followed by Guilford, Forsyth and Cumberland.

Tyrell is the least populated in the state, with 3,245 residents, followed by Hyde, Graham, Jones and Camden.

Johnston County experienced the fastest growth in the state, at 27.9 percent, followed by Brunswich, Cabarrus, Wake and Durham.

The largest losses in population were by Robeson County with 17,634 fewer residents, and Duplin, Edgecomb, Columbus and Halifax.