{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Anson County | state = North Carolina | ex image = Anson County Courthouse, facade 01.jpg | ex image cap = Anson County Courthouse and Confederate Monument in Wadesboro | founded = 1750 | named for = George Anson, Baron Anson | seat wl = Wadesboro | largest city wl = Wadesboro | city type = community | area_total_sq_mi = 537.10 | area_land_sq_mi = 531.46 | area_water_sq_mi = 5.64 | area percentage = 1.05 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 22055 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 21758 {{decrease}} | population_density_sq_mi = 41.50 | coordinates = {{coord|34.98|-80.11|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}} | web = www.co.anson.nc.us | district = 8th | time zone = Eastern | seal = Anson County Seal.jpg | motto = "Anson County - A great place to call home" | flag = Flag of Anson County, NC.png | mapframe = yes }}
'''Anson County''' is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,055.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Wadesboro.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>
==History== The area eventually comprising Anson County was originally occupied by Native Americans of the Catawba and Waxhaw tribes.<ref name = michael>{{cite web| url = https://ui.charlotte.edu/county/anson-county-introduction/| title = Anson County: An Introduction| last = Michael| first = Jeff| publisher = UNC Charlotte Urban Institute| access-date = January 21, 2025}}</ref>
The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Baron Anson, a British admiral who circumnavigated the world.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=8}} Anson purchased land in the state.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0258/report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415120728/http://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0258/report.pdf |archive-date=April 15, 2015 |url-status=live|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names|last=Gannett|publisher=United States Geological Survey|year=1905|location=Washington DC|pages=26}}</ref> The county seat was designated at New Town in 1783. Four years later it was renamed Wadesboro.{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=5}}
Reductions to its extent began in 1753, when the northern part of it became Rowan County. In 1762 the western part of Anson County became Mecklenburg County. In 1779 the northern part of what remained of Anson County became Montgomery County, and the part east of the Pee Dee River became Richmond County. In 1842, western Anson County merged with southeastern Mecklenburg County to become Union County.<ref name='History'>{{cite book|title=History of Anson County, North Carolina, 1750-1976|author=Medley, Mary Louise|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYnet6iZEk0C&q=Anson+County+Regiment|year=1976|editor=Anson County Historical Association|publisher=Heritage Printer, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina|isbn=9780806347554|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref>
==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|537.10|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|531.46|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.64|sqmi}} (1.05%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is bordered by the North Carolina counties of Stanly, Montgomery, Richmond, and Union, and the South Carolina county of Chesterfield.{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}}
===National protected area=== * Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge (part)
===State and local protected areas/sites=== * Arrowhead Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arrowhead Lake NC Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots |url=https://www.fishidy.com/map/us/north-carolina/arrowhead-lake |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=www.fishidy.com}}</ref> * Gaddy Covered Bridge<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Gaddy Covered Bridge {{!}} Natural Atlas |url=https://naturalatlas.com/covered-bridges/gaddy-2307180 |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=naturalatlas.com |language=en}}</ref> * Pee Dee River Game Land (part)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> * Wadesboro Downtown Historic District
===Major water bodies=== {{See also|Category:Rivers of Anson County, North Carolina}} * Blewett Falls Lake * Brown Creek * Goulds Fork * Great Pee Dee River * Lanes Creek * Rocky River * Thoroughfare Creek<ref name=":0" />
===Major highways=== * {{Jct|state=NC|US|52}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|74}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US-Byp|74}} (future bypass of Wadesboro) * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|109}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|145}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|218}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|742}}
===Major infrastructure=== * Anson County Airport
==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1790 = 5133 | 1800 = 8146 | 1810 = 8831 | 1820 = 12534 | 1830 = 14095 | 1840 = 15077 | 1850 = 13489 | 1860 = 13664 | 1870 = 12428 | 1880 = 17994 | 1890 = 20027 | 1900 = 21870 | 1910 = 25465 | 1920 = 28334 | 1930 = 29349 | 1940 = 28443 | 1950 = 26781 | 1960 = 24962 | 1970 = 23488 | 1980 = 25649 | 1990 = 23474 | 2000 = 25275 | 2010 = 26948 | 2020 = 22055 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 21758 | estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> {{decrease}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 11, 2015 }}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 11, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 11, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 11, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37007.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234730/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37007.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ansoncountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Anson County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }} thumb|2020 population density of Anson County NC by census block<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles |url=https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php?year=2025&layergroup=Blocks+(2020) |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>
===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Anson County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small> !Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - North Carolina - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ncABC-02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=14-25|via= WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228195108/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_ncABC-02.pdf| archive-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - North Carolina: Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-35.pdf|access-date=|page=15-64|via= WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320045449/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-35.pdf| archive-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Anson County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US37007&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Anson County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37007&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Anson County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37007&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |13,555 |12,232 |12,429 |12,344 |style='background: #ffffe6; |10,593 |52.85% |52.11% |49.18% |45.81% |style='background: #ffffe6; |48.03% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |11,741 |11,078 |12,245 |13,038 |style='background: #ffffe6; |9,838 |45.78% |47.19% |48.45% |48.38% |style='background: #ffffe6; |44.61% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |60 |69 |110 |148 |style='background: #ffffe6; |89 |0.23% |0.29% |0.44% |0.55% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40% |- |Asian alone (NH) |16 |27 |143 |281 |style='background: #ffffe6; |221 |0.06% |0.12% |0.57% |1.04% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.00% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |6 |4 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4 |x |x |0.02% |0.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02% |- |Other race alone (NH) |5 |1 |18 |27 |style='background: #ffffe6; |38 |0.02% |0.00% |0.07% |0.10% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |113 |294 |style='background: #ffffe6; |607 |x |x |0.45% |1.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.75% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |272 |67 |211 |812 |style='background: #ffffe6; |665 |1.06% |0.29% |0.83% |3.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.02% |- |'''Total''' |'''25,649''' |'''23,474''' |'''25,275''' |'''26,948''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''22,055 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}
===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 22,055 and 5,809 families; the median age was 44.5 years, with 19.1% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A007&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
There were 8,554 households in the county, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.5% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 9,834 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.8% were owner-occupied and 31.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
22.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.8% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A007&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
The racial makeup of the county was 48.5% White, 44.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A007&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 25, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
Anson is a majority minority county.<ref name= worf/>{{sfn|McCorkle|Salzberg|2022|pp=9–11}} Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Anson's population declined by 18.2 percent.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/census-data-shows-fastest-growing-shrinking-counties-in-nc/| title = Census data shows fastest growing, shrinking counties in NC| last = Retana| first = Judith| date = May 25, 2023| website = CBS 17| publisher = Nexstar Media Group| access-date = November 3, 2023}}</ref>
===2010 census=== At the 2010 census, there were 26,948 people. The racial makeup of the county was 48.58% African American, 47.15% White American, 1.07% Asian, 0.61% Native American, 1.25% multiracial and 1.32% of other race. People of Hispanic and Latino origin account for 3.02% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://censusviewer.com/county/NC/Anson/2010|title = 2010 Census Population of Anson County, NC|access-date = January 28, 2021}}{{dead link|date=November 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
===2000 census=== At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 25,275 people, 9,204 households, and 6,663 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|48|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 10,221 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 51.64% Black or African American, 48.53% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,204 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 19.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,849, and the median income for a family was $35,870. Males had a median income of $27,297 versus $20,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,853. About 15.50% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over. ==Government and politics== Anson County is governed by a board of commissioners, which has seven members elected by district.<ref>{{cite news| last = Monica| first = Lauren| title = At-large district voting spurs Anson commissioner meeting into a frenzy| newspaper = Richmond County Daily Journal| date = September 22, 2023| url = https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/184759/at-large-district-voting-spurs-anson-commissioner-meeting-into-a-frenzy| access-date = November 3, 2023}}</ref> The board of commissioners appoints a county manager, who oversees county administration and implements the board's policies.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.co.anson.nc.us/156/County-Manager| title = County Manager| publisher = Anson County Government| access-date = October 29, 2023}}</ref>
Anson County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://centralina.org/what-is-ccog/our-region/|title=Centralina Council of Governments|access-date=August 10, 2019|archive-date=April 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410131624/https://centralina.org/what-is-ccog/our-region/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Anson County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|125|1,487|118|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|301|2,046|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|433|3,175|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|225|2,372|25|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1928|Democratic|726|2,947|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|223|4,252|5|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|381|4,629|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|371|4,552|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|510|3,582|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|447|2,692|572|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,843|4,143|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,640|3,598|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,597|4,120|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,721|4,144|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,474|2,969|3,571|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,551|2,188|94|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,608|4,796|18|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,968|4,973|146|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1984|Democratic|3,719|5,015|26|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,782|4,831|20|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,334|5,269|936|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,193|4,890|530|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,161|4,792|32|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|3,796|5,413|16|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,207|6,456|70|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,166|7,019|71|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|4,506|5,859|180|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|5,321|5,789|84|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,525|5,253|97|North Carolina}} {{PresFoot}}
Like several neighboring rural counties, Anson County has historically favored Democratic nominees in most presidential elections. Since 2012, Republicans have had more success in the region, though Anson County voted more Democratic than its neighbors.<ref name= worf/> The county has been depopulating, and the African American share of its population has been decreasing.
In 2016, the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, won the county by 13 percentage points. In 2020 the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, won by four.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/news/these-key-counties-are-telling-story-america-s-shifting-political-n1282551| title = These key counties are telling the story of America's shifting political landscape| date = October 28, 2021| publisher = NBC News| access-date = November 3, 2023}}</ref>{{sfn|McCorkle|Salzberg|2022|pp=9–10}} The county favored a Republican candidate for a federal office in 2022<ref name= worf>{{cite web| url = https://www.wfae.org/politics/2022-12-20/anson-countys-flip-to-red-highlights-a-shift-in-rural-nc-counties| title = Anson County’s flip to red highlights a shift in rural NC counties| last1 = Worf| first1 = Lisa| last2 = Harrison| first2 = Steve| date = December 20, 2022| website = WFAE 90.7| publisher = WFAE| access-date = October 29, 2023}}</ref> and Donald Trump won the county in 2024, the first Republican presidential nominee to do so since Richard Nixon in 1972.<ref>{{cite news | title = Harris Gets Troubling Sign from Trump’s Performance in North Carolina| newspaper = The New Republic| date = November 5, 2024| url = https://newrepublic.com/post/188040/donald-trump-kamala-harris-north-carolina-county| access-date = November 23, 2024}}</ref>
==Economy== Anson's economy was historically rooted in agriculture. It remains weaker than those of other counties in the region.<ref name = michael/>
==Education== There are 11 schools in the Anson County Schools system that serve the students of the county.{{NCES District ID|3700180|district_name=Anson County Schools|do_not_render=yes|access_date=December 4, 2012}}
The county is served by South Piedmont Community College, which has a campus near Polkton.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://spcc.edu/history-of-the-college/| title = History of the College| publisher = South Piedmont Community College| access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ednc.org/south-piedmont-community-college-manufacturing-apprenticeship-makes-big-impact-for-its-students-company/| title = South Piedmont Community College manufacturing apprenticeship makes big impact for its students, company| last = McClellan| first = Hannah| date = December 7, 2022| website = EducationNC | access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref>
==Communities== <imagemap> File:Comté d'Anson.png|right|thumb|450px|Clickable map of Anson County
rect 449 247 552 282 Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge poly 415 181 440 172 452 204 424 213 Ansonville poly 603 423 629 421 628 447 602 451 Lilesville poly 616 696 641 698 639 722 613 720 McFarlan poly 581 610 607 607 607 634 578 636 Morven poly 192 379 218 379 218 406 192 405 Peachland poly 282 344 282 383 315 385 318 420 334 415 337 389 320 375 317 344 Polkton poly 394 408 455 410 500 410 511 431 536 436 535 475 510 492 456 471 455 428 391 419 Wadesboro
desc bottom-left </imagemap>
===Towns=== * Ansonville{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Lilesville{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * McFarlan{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Morven{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Peachland{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Polkton{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Wadesboro{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} (county seat and largest community)
===Unincorporated communities=== * Burnsville{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}} * Pee Dee{{sfn|Anson County Vision 2040|2021|p=7}}
===Townships=== * Ansonville{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Burnsville{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Gulledge{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Lanesboro{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Lilesville{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Morven{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * Wadesboro{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}} * White Store{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=11}}
===Ghost town=== * Sneedsboro
===Population ranking=== The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Anson County.<ref name="PopEstCities">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711040810/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division}}</ref>
'''†''' = ''county seat''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Rank ! Name ! Type ! Population<br/>(2020 census) |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 1 |'''†''' '''Wadesboro''' | Town | 5,008 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 2 |'''Polkton''' | Town | 2,250 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 3 |'''Ansonville''' | Town | 440 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 4 |'''Lilesville''' | Town | 395 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 5 |'''Peachland''' | Town | 390 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 6 |'''Morven''' | Town | 329 |- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;" | 7 |'''McFarlan''' | Town | 94 |}
==Notable people== * Stephone Anthony (born 1992), NFL player * Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881–1960), soil conservation specialist * John Culpepper (1761–1841), U.S. representative and Baptist minister * Blind Boy Fuller (1907–1941), blues guitarist and vocalist * James Holland (1754–1823), U.S. representative<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref> * David Lutz (born 1959), NFL player * Juanita Moody (1924–2015), cryptographer whose intelligence gathering contributed greatly during the Cuban Missile Crisis * Leonidas Lafayette Polk (1837–1892), first North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture * Sylvester Ritter (1952–1998), professional wrestler also known as "The Junkyard Dog" or "JYD"
==See also== * List of counties in North Carolina * National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina * Anson County Regiment, militia in the American Revolution
==References== {{reflist}}
==Works cited== * {{cite book| last = Corbitt| first = David Leroy| title = The formation of the North Carolina counties, 1663-1943| publisher = North Carolina Division of Archives and History | edition = reprint| date = 2000| location = Raleigh| url = https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/the-formation-of-the-north-carolina-counties-1663-1943/3692099?item=4798800| oclc= 46398241}} * {{Citation| last1 = McCorkle| first1 = Mac| last2 = Salzberg| first2 = Rachel| title = The Democrats' Countrypolitan Problem in North Carolina: Progressive Challenge and Opportunity | publisher = Duke University Polis: Center for Politics| date = January 2022| url = https://sites.duke.edu/polis/files/2022/02/Official-Countrypolitan-Final-Paper-2.9.22.pdf}} * {{cite book| last = Powell| first = William S.| title = The North Carolina Gazetteer: A Dictionary of Tar Heel Places| publisher = The University of North Carolina Press| date = 1976| location = Chapel Hill| isbn = 978-0-8078-1247-1}} * {{citation| title = Vision 2040 : Anson County, North Carolina| publisher = Anson County Board of Commissioners| date = April 2021| url = https://www.co.anson.nc.us/DocumentCenter/View/575/Anson-County-Vision-2040_FINAL-April-2021-PDF| ref= {{harvid|Anson County Vision 2040|2021}}}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{osmrelation|2528672}} * {{official website|http://www.co.anson.nc.us}}
{{Geographic Location |Centre = Anson County, North Carolina |North = Stanly County |Northeast = |East = Richmond County |Southeast = Marlboro County, South Carolina |South = Chesterfield County, South Carolina |Southwest = |West = Union County |Northwest = }} {{Anson County, North Carolina}} {{Charlotte/Metrolina}} {{North_Carolina}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Anson County, North Carolina Category:1750 establishments in North Carolina Category:Populated places established in 1750 Category:Majority-minority counties in North Carolina