Back Brunswick County, Noord-Carolina Afrikaans مقاطعة برونزويك (كارولاينا الشمالية) Arabic Brunswick County, North Carolina BAR Брънзуик (окръг, Северна Каролина) Bulgarian বার্নসউইক কাউন্টি, নর্থ ক্যারোলাইনা BPY Brunswick Gông (North Carolina) CDO Брансуик (гуо, Къилбаседа Каролина) CE Brunswick County (kondado sa Tinipong Bansa, North Carolina) CEB Brunswick County (Severní Karolína) Czech Brunswick County, Gogledd Carolina Welsh
Brunswick County | |
|---|---|
_16.jpg) Brunswick County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 34°02′N 78°14′W / 34.04°N 78.23°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | March 9, 1764 |
| Named for | Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| Seat | Bolivia |
| Largest community | Leland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,049.54 sq mi (2,718.3 km2) |
| • Land | 850.08 sq mi (2,201.7 km2) |
| • Water | 199.46 sq mi (516.6 km2) 19.00% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 136,693 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 159,964 |
| • Density | 160.80/sq mi (62.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Brunswick County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the southernmost county in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693.[1] Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in the state.[2] With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.[3]
Brunswick County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. From 2013 to 2023, the county was part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. During that time, Brunswick County and Wilmington area leaders disputed the change, including many government leaders like Senator Richard Burr. Ultimately, their efforts were a success because the county was added back into the MSA after a 2023 realignment.[4][5][6][7]
Much of the economy of the county is built around tourism, with beach communities lying along the south-facing beaches past Cape Fear such as Bald Head Island (the southernmost point of North Carolina) and Oak Island being popular destinations. Calabash, on the border of South Carolina, is renowned for its fried seafood, with "Calabash-style" restaurants dotting the region. The proximity to Cinespace Wilmington in nearby Wilmington has made Brunswick County a popular filming location for many movies and TV shows.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
2020CensusQuickFactswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Brunswick is once again the fastest-growing county". WUNC. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Regional fight continues to move Brunswick County back into Wilmington's MSA | WWAY NewsChannel 3 | Wilmington NC News". Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013. Wilmington disputes move
- ^ Still, Johanna F. (July 21, 2023). "Brunswick back in Wilmington MSA". WilmingtonBiz. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ WECT Staff (July 25, 2023). "Brunswick Co. returns to Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area". WECT. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "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" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.