The 10 North Carolina Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2025


The most African American cities in North Carolina are Kinston and Rocky Mount for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About RoadSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

Most African American cities in North Carolina research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to analyze North Carolina’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in North Carolina based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in North Carolina is Kinston based on the most recent Census data.

  • Kinston is 65.77% Black.

  • The least African American city in North Carolina is Carolina Beach.

  • Carolina Beach is 0.0% Black.

  • North Carolina is 20.3% Black.

  • North Carolina is the 8th blackest state in the United States.

Cities With Highest Black Population In North Carolina Map

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in North Carolina is 2,147,308 – at 20.3% of the total population of North Carolina.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted North Carolina? Which cities and towns in North Carolina have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in North Carolina with the largest African American population in 2025:

What’s the blackest city in North Carolina? The city with the largest Black population in North Carolina for 2025 is Kinston. See if Kinston ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in North Carolina or the most diverse places in North Carolina.

The 10 Blackest Cities In North Carolina For 2025

1. Kinston

Kinston, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Tradewinds | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 19,576
% African American: 65.77%
# Of African American Residents: 12,876
Percent Change Since 2010: -12.37%
More on Kinston: Data

2. Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount, NC

Source: Wikipedia User koly | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 54,175
% African American: 62.72%
# Of African American Residents: 33,981
Percent Change Since 2010: -0.59%
More on Rocky Mount: Data

3. Nashville

Nashville, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,672
% African American: 62.09%
# Of African American Residents: 3,522
Percent Change Since 2010: 57.09%
More on Nashville: Data

4. Henderson

Henderson, NC

Source: Wikipedia User KimWrenn | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 14,922
% African American: 61.7%
# Of African American Residents: 9,207
Percent Change Since 2010: 0.69%
More on Henderson: Data

5. Oxford

Oxford, NC

Source: Wikipedia User John Taylor | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,897
% African American: 54.87%
# Of African American Residents: 4,882
Percent Change Since 2010: 3.92%
More on Oxford: Data

6. Goldsboro

Goldsboro, NC

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 33,448
% African American: 53.12%
# Of African American Residents: 17,769
Percent Change Since 2010: -11.15%
More on Goldsboro: Data

7. Tarboro

Tarboro, NC

Source: Flickr User RegulusAlpha | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 10,705
% African American: 51.68%
# Of African American Residents: 5,532
Percent Change Since 2010: 10.4%
More on Tarboro: Data

8. Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Ajsanjua at English Wikipedia | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 18,740
% African American: 49.0%
# Of African American Residents: 9,182
Percent Change Since 2010: -11.62%
More on Elizabeth City: Data

9. Wilson

Wilson, NC

Source: Wikipedia User MattShaw9365 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 47,740
% African American: 48.91%
# Of African American Residents: 23,350
Percent Change Since 2010: 3.34%
More on Wilson: Data

10. Williamston

Williamston, NC

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 5,157
% African American: 48.03%
# Of African American Residents: 2,477
Percent Change Since 2010: -23.15%
More on Williamston: Data

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In North Carolina With The Largest Black Population For 2025

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across North Carolina.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2019-2023 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in North Carolina. That left us with 124 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 65.8% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Kinston took the distinction of being the most Black, while Carolina Beach was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in North Carolina with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in North Carolina ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across North Carolina

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across North Carolina according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

The blackest cities in North Carolina are Kinston, Rocky Mount, Nashville, Henderson, Oxford, Goldsboro, Tarboro, Elizabeth City, Wilson, and Williamston.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in North Carolina:

  1. Carolina Beach
  2. Oak Island
  3. Pinehurst

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

African American Population By City In North Carolina

Rank City Population African American Population % African American
1 Kinston 19,576 12,876 65.77%
2 Rocky Mount 54,175 33,981 62.72%
3 Nashville 5,672 3,522 62.09%
4 Henderson 14,922 9,207 61.7%
5 Oxford 8,897 4,882 54.87%
6 Goldsboro 33,448 17,769 53.12%
7 Tarboro 10,705 5,532 51.68%
8 Elizabeth City 18,740 9,182 49.0%
9 Wilson 47,740 23,350 48.91%
10 Williamston 5,157 2,477 48.03%
11 Laurinburg 15,079 7,238 48.0%
12 Knightdale 19,532 9,025 46.21%
13 Washington 9,754 4,225 43.32%
14 Selma 6,611 2,801 42.37%
15 Hamlet 6,000 2,502 41.7%
16 Greensboro 298,564 124,136 41.58%
17 Fayetteville 209,692 86,071 41.05%
18 Clinton 8,336 3,394 40.71%
19 Greenville 88,540 35,684 40.3%
20 Lumberton 19,220 7,279 37.87%
21 Rockingham 9,094 3,313 36.43%
22 Winterville 10,624 3,866 36.39%
23 Roanoke Rapids 15,024 5,458 36.33%
24 Spring Lake 11,613 4,142 35.67%
25 Salisbury 35,730 12,592 35.24%
26 Roxboro 8,144 2,857 35.08%
27 Dunn 8,512 2,944 34.59%
28 Durham 288,465 98,568 34.17%
29 Charlotte 886,283 298,920 33.73%
30 Hope Mills 17,823 6,005 33.69%
31 Shelby 21,868 7,068 32.32%
32 High Point 115,263 37,118 32.2%
33 Winston-Salem 250,887 79,667 31.75%
34 Gastonia 81,632 24,963 30.58%
35 Reidsville 14,547 4,440 30.52%
36 Burlington 58,599 17,452 29.78%
37 New Bern 31,563 9,046 28.66%
38 Eden 15,353 4,359 28.39%
39 Butner 7,996 2,266 28.34%
40 Raleigh 470,763 126,934 26.96%
41 Clayton 28,043 7,559 26.96%
42 Statesville 29,161 7,772 26.65%
43 Smithfield 11,798 3,100 26.28%
44 Lexington 19,691 5,123 26.02%
45 Garner 32,543 8,419 25.87%
46 Mebane 18,899 4,834 25.58%
47 Wendell 11,585 2,952 25.48%
48 Forest City 7,368 1,843 25.01%
49 Graham 17,537 4,117 23.48%
50 Kannapolis 56,470 13,059 23.13%
51 Kings Mountain 11,472 2,630 22.93%
52 Sanford 30,833 6,994 22.68%
53 Gibsonville 9,289 2,100 22.61%
54 Albemarle 16,527 3,686 22.3%
55 Concord 106,518 23,069 21.66%
56 Monroe 35,596 7,648 21.49%
57 Aberdeen 8,969 1,891 21.08%
58 Lincolnton 11,503 2,331 20.26%
59 Wake Forest 51,199 10,104 19.73%
60 Havelock 16,471 2,975 18.06%
61 Pineville 10,780 1,910 17.72%
62 Kernersville 27,439 4,680 17.06%
63 Thomasville 27,261 4,599 16.87%
64 Siler City 7,905 1,318 16.67%
65 Jacksonville 73,507 11,436 15.56%
66 Mount Holly 17,928 2,746 15.32%
67 Fuquay-Varina 37,749 5,742 15.21%
68 Mint Hill 26,954 4,015 14.9%
69 Wilmington 118,578 17,561 14.81%
70 Asheboro 27,353 3,856 14.1%
71 Huntersville 62,458 8,415 13.47%
72 Hickory 43,747 5,813 13.29%
73 Morganton 17,541 2,323 13.24%
74 Matthews 29,959 3,962 13.22%
75 Harrisburg 19,203 2,537 13.21%
76 Morrisville 30,471 3,982 13.07%
77 Carrboro 21,170 2,706 12.78%
78 Lenoir 18,282 2,279 12.47%
79 Marion 7,594 894 11.77%
80 Southern Pines 16,052 1,878 11.7%
81 Lewisville 13,655 1,553 11.37%
82 Newton 13,223 1,499 11.34%
83 Bessemer City 5,508 605 10.98%
84 Chapel Hill 59,889 6,468 10.8%
85 Mooresville 51,447 5,500 10.69%
86 Indian Trail 41,146 4,231 10.28%
87 Brevard 7,795 795 10.2%
88 Davidson 14,852 1,468 9.88%
89 Asheville 94,369 9,111 9.65%
90 Leland 26,307 2,461 9.35%
91 Hillsborough 9,656 880 9.11%
92 Archdale 11,992 1,012 8.44%
93 Mount Airy 10,631 862 8.11%
94 Apex 67,765 5,475 8.08%
95 Elon 11,325 901 7.96%
96 Hendersonville 15,253 1,209 7.93%
97 Holly Springs 43,429 3,425 7.89%
98 Stallings 16,495 1,281 7.77%
99 Wesley Chapel 8,923 685 7.68%
100 Belmont 15,140 1,109 7.32%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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