Bertie County, North Carolina

Bertie County (/ˈbɜːrˈtiː/ BUR-TEE)^[1][2] is a county located in the northeast area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,934.^[3] Its county seat is Windsor.^[4] The county was created in 1722 as Bertie Precinct and gained county status in 1739.^[5]

The county was formed as Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County lying west of the Chowan River. It was named for James Bertie, his brother Henry Bertie, or perhaps both, each having been one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

In 1729 parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct of Albemarle County were combined to form Tyrrell Precinct. With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became separate counties. As population of settlers increased, in 1741 parts of Bertie County were organized as Edgecombe County and Northampton County. Finally, in 1759 parts of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties were combined to form Hertford County. Bertie's boundaries have remained the same since then.

This mostly rural county depended on the agricultural economy well into the 20th century. In the colonial and antebellum eras, tobacco and cotton were the chief commodity crops, worked by Indian and African slaves. After the Civil War, agriculture continued to be important to the county. In the 21st century, developers have referred to it as being within the Inner Banks region, which is increasingly attracting retirees and buyers of second homes, because of its beaches and landscapes.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 741.31 square miles (1,920.0 km²), of which 699.18 square miles (1,810.9 km²) is land and 42.13 square miles (109.1 km²) (5.61%) is water.^[6]

• Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge

• Bachelor Bay Game Land (part)^[7]
• Bertie County Game Land^[7]
• Chowan Swamp Game Land (part)^[7]
• Historic Hope Plantation
• Jamesville Wildlife Preserve
• Lewiston Woodville Preserve
• Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part)^[7]
• Salmon Creek State Natural Area
• Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (part)^[7]

• Albemarle Sound
• Beaverdam Swamp
• Cashie River
• Chowan River
• Chinkapin Swamp
• Cucklemaker Creek
• Cypress Swamp
• Falt Swamp Creek
• Hoggard Mill Creek
• Loosing Swamp
• Middle River
• Quioccosin Creek
• Roanoke River
• Stoney Creek
• Wahton Swamp
• Wildcat Swamp

• Hertford County – north
• Chowan County – east
• Washington County – southeast
• Martin County – south
• Halifax County – west
• Northampton County – northwest

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  Future I-87
• US 13
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  US 13 Bus.
• US 17
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  US 17 Bus.
• 
  US 17 Byp.
• NC 11
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  NC 11 Bus.
• NC 42
• NC 45
• NC 305
• NC 308

• Sans Souci Ferry, river ferry across the Cashie River

As of the 2020 census, Bertie County had the highest proportion of black residents among all counties in the state.^[15]

At the 2020 census, there were 17,934 people, 7,264 households, and 4,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 59.52% Black or African American, 35.12% White, 0.35% Asian, 0.32% Native American, 2.85% of other or mixed race, and 1.84% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median age in Bertie County was 45.9. 14% were ages 0–14, 11% were ages 15–24, 23% were ages 25–44, 27% were ages 45–64, 21% were ages 65–84, and 3% were 85 years or older.^[16] For every 100 females there were 107.3 males.^[17]

Income information was not available for the county in 2020. However, in 2019, the median income for women in the county was $22,443, and $27,992 for men.^[18]

There was limited Census data available for household information regarding percentages of married, single, and non-family households. However, the U.S. Census Bureau published that of 7,264 households, 4,531 were family households and 2,733 were nonfamily households. 45.3% of family households had a householder of 60 years or older, while 62.2% of nonfamily householders had a householder of 60 years or older.^[19]

At the 2010 census, there were 21,282 people living in the county. 62.5% were Black or African American, 35.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

At the 2000 census,^[20] there were 19,773 people, 7,743 households, and 5,427 families living in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 9,050 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.34% Black or African American, 36.30% White, 0.44% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, 0.48% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,743 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.00% were married couples living together, 20.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,177, and the median income for a family was $30,186. Males had a median income of $26,866 versus $18,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,096. About 19.30% of families and 26% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 28.30% of those age 65 or over.

The 2024 population estimate for Bertie County is 16,939.^[19] This is a decrease of approximately 5.5% since 2020. This decline is consistent with long-term trends showing decreasing population levels in the area for multiple decades.

Bertie County has shown persistent economic challenges over the past few decades. The estimated median household income across 2019-2023 is $45,931, which is below the state median.^[21] 19.8% of residents live below both the federal poverty line.^[22] Approximately 82% of adults 25 years or older have at least a high school diploma, while only 17.8% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.^[19] These indicators may suggest socioeconomic limitations that restrict upward mobility for residents within the area.

Bertie County has experienced significant population decline over the past 15 years. The estimated 2025 population for Bertie County is 16,543.^[23] This is a significant drop from the 2010 Census, which had a population at 21,282.^[19] This is an approximately 22.3% decrease in population over 15 years. Additionally, data from 2019-2023 shows that approximately 10.1% of people in Bertie County moved within the past year.^[21]

The 2020 Census shows that the racial composition of Bertie County remains heavily skewed towards the Black/African American population. With 59.5% of the population identifying as Black/African American, they compose a majority of the 17,934 residents in 2020. The county remains as one of the most predominantly black counties in North Carolina, which may shape social and economic dynamics across the county.^[24]

Looking forward for Bertie County, projections from the NC OBSM indicate that the population is expected to continue its gradual decline over the next several decades. The population is expected to decrease from an estimated 16,543 in 2025 to approximately 16,058 by 2030. This is an approximately 4.5% decrease across the decade. Additionally, the OSM projects that the population will decline to approximately 15,706 by 2040, and by 2050, to 15,623.^[25] Several factors may be contributing to these declines, such as negative natural population change, out-migration, and increased death rates with an aging population.

Bertie County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments. The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer.

The 2024 presidential election marked the strongest showing for a Republican candidate in Bertie County since 1984, with Donald Trump winning nearly 42 percent of the county vote.

Public schools in the county are managed by Bertie County Schools. Notable schools in Bertie county include Bertie High School, Lawrence Academy, and Bethel Assembly Christian Academy.^[27][28][29] The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.^[30]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Bertie County.^[31]

† = county seat

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bertie County, North Carolina
• List of Highway Historical Markers in Bertie County, North Carolina
• Meherrin Indian Tribe, state-recognized tribe that resides in the county

• Geographic data related to Bertie County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website
• If You Build It at IMDb , documentary film about an education project in Bertie County
• Raising Bertie at IMDb , documentary film about education in Bertie County