Harnett County, North Carolina

{{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 = Harnett County | state = North Carolina | founded = 1855 | named for = Cornelius Harnett | seat wl = Lillington | largest city wl = Anderson Creek | city type = community | area_total_sq_mi = 601.22 | area_land_sq_mi = 594.93 | area_water_sq_mi = 6.29 | area percentage = 1.05 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 133568 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 150137 {{Increase}} | population_density_sq_mi = 224.51 | coordinates = {{coord|35.37|-78.87|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}} | web = www.harnett.org | ex image = Harnett County Courthouse (cropped).jpg | ex image cap = Harnett County Courthouse | district = 13th | time zone = Eastern | seal = Harnett County seal.png | flag = Harnett County Flag.gif | logo = Harnett County Logo.jpg }}

'''Harnett County''' ({{IPAc-en|'|h|ɑr|n|ɪ|t}} {{respell|HAR|nit}})<ref name="North Carolina Collection">[https://library.unc.edu/wilson/ncc/talk-like-a-tar-heel/ Talk Like a Tarheel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622041633/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html |date=June 22, 2013 }}, from the North Carolina Collection website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved August 16, 2023.</ref> is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 133,568.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Lillington;<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}}</ref> its largest community is Anderson Creek.<ref name="AndersonCreek2020">{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2020 |title=QuickFacts: Anderson Creek CDP, North Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/andersoncreekcdpnorthcarolina |access-date=October 14, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> Harnett County is part of the Anderson Creek, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.<ref name="2023OMB">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=United States Office of Management and Budget}}</ref>

==History== Harnett County was formed in 1855 from land given by Cumberland County. It was named for American Revolutionary war soldier Cornelius Harnett,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n149 150]}}</ref> who was also a delegate to the Continental Congress. The first settlers came to the region in the mid-1720s, and were followed by Highland Scots immigrants. The Scots settled in the foothills, where land was more affordable, rather than in the rich alluvial soil area of the coastal plain. After the defeat by the British of Bonny Prince Charles at Culloden, Scots immigrants came up the Cape Fear River in ever increasing numbers and settled in western Harnett County. British immigrants had settled primarily along the banks of the Cape Fear River in the coastal area, generally from Erwin to Wilmington.

During the American Revolutionary War, many of the Scots were Loyalists. In their defeat in Scotland, they had been forced to take ironclad vows that prohibited taking up arms against the British.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harnett County |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/harnett |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=NCpedia}}</ref> Some Rebels considered them traitors to the cause of Independence. Public executions of suspected spies occurred. One site near Lillington was the scene of a mass execution of "Scots traitors".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harnett County North Carolina History |url=https://www.harnett.org/history-of-harnett-county.asp |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Harnett County, North Carolina |language=en}}</ref>

Though Harnett County was not a site of warfare during the Civil War, one of the last battles took place near Averasborough, which was once the third-most populated town in North Carolina, but is no longer in existence. During the Carolinas campaign, the Left Wing of General William Sherman's army under the command of Major General Henry W. Slocum defeated the army of General William Hardee in the Battle of Averasborough and proceeded eastward. A centennial celebration of the event was held in 1965 at the site of the battlefield.

==Geography== {{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q497861|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Harnett County}} According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|601.22|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|594.93|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.29|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>

===State and local protected areas/sites=== * Anderson Creek County Park<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harnett Country-Parks and Recreation-Anderson Creek County Park |url=https://www.harnett.org/parkrec/anderson-creek-park.asp |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=Harnett County, North Carolina |language=en}}</ref> * Averasboro Battlefield and Museum * Harris Game Land (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands">{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref> * Raven Rock State Park * Rhodes Pond Game Land (part)<ref name="NCWRC Game Lands"/>

===Major water bodies=== * Black River<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black River Near Dunn, NC |url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/02106681/ |access-date=April 30, 2023 |website=waterdata.usgs.gov |language=en}}</ref> * Buies Creek * Cape Fear River * Cedar Creek * East Buies Creek * Little River * Mingo Swamp * Neills Creek * Thorntons Creek * Upper Little River * West Buies Creek

===Adjacent counties=== * Wake County – north * Johnston County – northeast * Sampson County – southeast * Cumberland County – south * Moore County – west-southwest * Lee County – west-northwest * Chatham County – northwest

===Major highways=== {{div col|colwidth=18em}} * {{Jct|state=NC|I|95}} * {{Jct|I-Future|685|state=NC}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|301}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|401}} * {{Jct|state=NC|US|421}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|24}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|27}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|42}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|55}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|82}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|87}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|210}} * {{Jct|state=NC|NC|217}} {{div col end}}

===Major infrastructure=== * Fort Bragg (Linden Oaks) * Harnett Regional Jetport

==Demographics== thumb|2020 population density of Harnett 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;" |+'''Harnett County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{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.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !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 – Harnett County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US37085&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) – Harnett County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37085&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) – Harnett County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US37085&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |44,537 |50,553 |62,708 |73,707 |style='background: #ffffe6; |77,876 |74.76% |74.54% |68.89% |64.27% |style='background: #ffffe6; |58.30% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |13,611 |15,221 |20,371 |23,591 |style='background: #ffffe6; |26,769 |22.85% |22.44% |22.38% |20.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |20.04% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |488 |591 |752 |991 |style='background: #ffffe6; |978 |0.82% |0.87% |0.83% |0.86% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.73% |- |Asian alone (NH) |152 |280 |573 |983 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,408 |0.26% |0.41% |0.63% |0.86% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.05% |- |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> |48 |126 |style='background: #ffffe6; |242 |x |x |0.05% |0.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18% |- |Other race alone (NH) |113 |18 |118 |202 |style='background: #ffffe6; |707 |0.19% |0.03% |0.13% |0.18% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53% |- |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> |1,119 |2,719 |style='background: #ffffe6; |6,689 |x |x |1.23% |2.37% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.01% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |669 |1,159 |5,336 |12,359 |style='background: #ffffe6; |18,899 |1.12% |1.71% |5.86% |10.78% |style='background: #ffffe6; |14.15% |- |'''Total''' |'''59,570''' |'''67,822''' |'''91,025''' |'''114,678''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''133,568 ''' |'''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 133,568, making it the 23rd most populous county in North Carolina; Anderson Creek was recorded as the largest community.<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%3A085&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name= johnson1>{{cite news| last = Johnson| first = Kristen| title = Hoke, Harnett counties experienced major population growth since 2010, Census results show| newspaper = The Fayetteville Observer| date = August 16, 2021| url = https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2021/08/16/census-hoke-harnett-county-saw-population-growth-us-census-north-carolina-data/8107329002/| access-date = April 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925160325/https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2021/08/16/census-hoke-harnett-county-saw-population-growth-us-census-north-carolina-data/8107329002/|archive-date=September 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name="AndersonCreek2020"/>

The median age was 35.0 years; 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The racial makeup of the county was 61.3% White, 20.5% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.1% from some other race, and 8.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.1% 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%3A085&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

35.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.2% 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%3A085&in=state%3A37|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 26, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 48,083 households in the county, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.2% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 52,876 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.8% were owner-occupied and 33.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===Demographic change=== {| role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" | Historical population |- | {{US Census population |1860= 8039 |1870= 8895 |1880= 10862 |1890= 13700 |1900= 15988 |1910= 22174 |1920= 28313 |1930= 37911 |1940= 44239 |1950= 47605 |1960= 48236 |1970= 49667 |1980= 59570 |1990= 67822 |2000= 91025 |2010= 114678 |2020= 133568 |estyear=2025 |estimate=150137 |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 18, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} |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 17, 2015}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 17, 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 17, 2015}}</ref> 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 17, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37085.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607000019/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37085.html}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/harnettcountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Harnett County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }} |}

Between 2010 and 2020, the population in Harnett County grew by 18,890 people, or 18.6 percent, though the largest city of Dunn (at the time) shrank by 4.8 percent during the same interval. Proportionately, the white population decreased by 6.7 percent, while the Hispanic/Latino population grew by 3.3 percent and the Asian population grew by 0.2 percent. The black and Native American populations remained about the same.<ref name= johnson1/>

==Government and politics== Harnett is a typical "Solid South" county in its political history. Apart from the 1928 election when it defected to Herbert Hoover because of opposition to the Catholicism of Al Smith,<ref>Phillips, Kevin P.; ''The Emerging Republican Majority'', p. 213, 215 {{ISBN|1400852293}}</ref> Harnett voted rock-solid Democratic until the 1960s when opposition to increasing liberalism on racial policies turned the electorate toward the segregationist candidacy of George Wallace. Since then apart from when carried twice by native Southerner Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1980, Harnett has been a solidly Republican county.

{{PresHead|place=Harnett County, North Carolina|source=<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 15, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1880|Democratic|704|1,028|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1884|Democratic|744|1,254|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,100|1,498|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|650|1,222|641|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,042|1,676|28|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,199|1,342|1|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|723|1,169|31|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,047|1,501|5|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|148|1,364|1,041|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,603|1,992|8|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,311|3,919|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,895|3,296|11|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,740|3,554|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,617|6,346|49|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,264|8,018|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,280|6,602|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,191|6,579|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,985|6,608|323|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|4,306|7,595|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,998|7,421|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,301|7,892|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,883|7,477|0|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1968|American Independent|5,184|4,007|6,531|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,259|3,347|138|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,935|8,992|58|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|7,284|8,791|220|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,198|7,106|19|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|9,749|7,259|21|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,751|8,473|2,708|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,596|8,767|1,376|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|14,762|9,155|250|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|20,922|11,563|86|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|23,579|16,785|341|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|25,565|17,331|519|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|27,614|16,737|1,714|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|35,177|22,093|1,023|North Carolina}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|39,440|23,472|845|North Carolina}} {{PresFoot}}

Harnett County is a member of the regional Mid-Carolina Council of Governments.

==Education== Harnett County is home to Campbell University and to 27 pre-college schools: 4 primary schools, 13 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 2 alternative schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=School Profiles |url=http://www.harnett.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=49035&linkid=nav-menu-container-1-138401 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622020434/http://www.harnett.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=49035&linkid=nav-menu-container-1-138401 |archive-date=June 22, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2013 |website=Harnett County Schools}}</ref><ref>Alternative school#United States</ref>

Harnett County Schools is the local public school district.

Schools in the county include: * Primary: Anderson Creek, Gentry, Harnett, North Harnett * Elementary: Angier, Benhaven, Boone Trail, Buies Creek, Coats, Erwin, Highland, Johnsonville, LaFayette, Lillington-Shawtown, Overhills, South Harnett, Wayne Avenue * Middle: Coats-Erwin, Dunn, Harnett Central, Highland, Overhills, Western Harnett * High: Harnett Central, Overhills, Triton, Western Harnett * Alternative: STAR Academy (grades 6–12), Harnett County Early College (grades 9-13)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harnett County Early College |url=https://harnett.k12.nc.us/o/hcec |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> * University: Campbell University

The Linden Oaks housing development, of Fort Bragg, has some Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, including Gary Ivan Gordon Elementary School,<ref name=GordonESabout>{{cite web|url=https://www.dodea.edu/GordonES/about.cfm|title=Gordon ES: About Our School|publisher=Department of Defense Education Activity|accessdate=July 5, 2022}}</ref> Randall David Shughart Elementary School,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dodea.edu/ShughartES/about.cfm|title=Shughart ES: About Our School|publisher=Department of Defense Education Activity|accessdate=July 5, 2022}}</ref> and Shugart Middle School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dodea.edu/AlbrittonMS/about.cfm|title=Albritton MS: About Our School|publisher=Department of Defense Education Activity|accessdate=July 5, 2022|quote=With the addition of Shughart Middle School in the Linden Oaks community,[...]}}</ref> High school students living in Linden Oaks are assigned to Harnett County Schools' Overhills High School.<ref name=Countylist>{{cite web|url=https://bragg.armymwr.com/application/files/9215/0479/6883/brgg-slo-findingaschool-localschooldistricts.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814041755/https://bragg.armymwr.com/application/files/9215/0479/6883/brgg-slo-findingaschool-localschooldistricts.pdf |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Finding A School Local School Districts|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|accessdate=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

The county is served by the Harnett County Library System, based in Lillington with branches at Angier, Coats, Dunn, Erwin, Anderson Creek Primary School, and Boone Trail Community Center and Library.<ref name="HCPL">{{cite web|title=Harnett County Public Library|url=http://harnett.libguides.com/c.php?g=571520&p=3940656|publisher=Harnett County, North Carolina|access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>

==Communities== thumb|300px|Map of Harnett County with municipal and township labels

===City=== * Dunn<ref name= johnson1/>

===Towns=== * Angier (most) * Coats * Erwin * Lillington (county seat) * Fuquay-Varina (part)<ref name= johnson1/>

===Census-designated places=== * Anderson Creek (largest community)<ref>{{cite web |title=GNIS Anderson Creek CDP |url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:2805281,Anderson%20Creek%20Census%20Designated%20Place |website=GNIS}}</ref><ref name="AndersonCreek2020"/> * Buies Creek * Bunnlevel * Mamers * Spout Springs<ref>{{cite web |title=GNIS Spout Springs CDP |url=https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:2805284,Spout%20Springs%20Census%20Designated%20Place |website=GNIS}}</ref>

===Townships=== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * Anderson Creek * Averasboro * Barbecue * Black River * Buckhorn * Duke * Grove * Hectors Creek * Johnsonville * Lillington * Neills Creek * Stewarts Creek * Upper Little River {{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * Barbecue * Barclaysville * Cape Fear * Chalybeate Springs * Christian Light * Cokesbury * Duncan * Flat Branch * Flatwoods * Johnsonville * Kipling * Luart * Olivia * Overhills * Pineview * Rawls * Ryes * Seminole * Shawtown * Turlington * Raven Rock * Norrington * Mount Pisgah {{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{osmrelation|2528707}} * {{Official website|https://www.harnett.org/}} * [http://www.mydailyrecord.com The Daily Record], newspaper headquartered in the county

{{Geographic Location | Centre = Harnett County, North Carolina | North = Wake County | Northeast = | East = Johnston County | Southeast = Sampson County | South = Cumberland County | Southwest = Moore County | West = Lee County | Northwest = Chatham County }} {{Harnett County, North Carolina}} {{Triangle, NC}} {{North Carolina}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Harnett County, North Carolina Category:Research Triangle Category:1855 establishments in North Carolina