Census Data for Elizabeth City
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Elizabeth City a population of 17,872 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Elizabeth City a population of 18,683 people.
The city of Elizabeth City is located in Pasquotank County. The 2010 Census gave Pasquotank County; a population of 40,661 people. This means that Elizabeth City had 45.95% of the county's total population, making it Pasquotank's most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that Elizabeth City had 0.2% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 47th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Elizabeth City has a total area of 12.25 square miles [31.7 km²]. Of this total, 11.63 square miles [30.1 km²] is land, with the balance (5.09%) being water (0.62 square miles [1.6 km²]).
Pasquotank County has a land area of 226.9 square miles [587.6 km²]. At 11.63 square miles [30.1 km²], Elizabeth City has 5.12% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Elizabeth City, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Elizabeth City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Elizabeth City might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 36° 17' 38" (or 36.29°)
- Lon: -76° 14' 7" (or -76.24°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Elizabeth City had 8,167 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 18,683 people, this averages 2.29 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Elizabeth City had a land area of 11.63 square miles [30.1 km²]. This translates to 666 Housing Units per square mile [257.4 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Elizabeth City had 7,463 Housing Units, a population of 17,188 people and a land area of 8.94 square miles [23.1 km²]. This gives a density of 2.3 people per Housing Unit and 780 Housing Units per square mile [301.3 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Elizabeth City and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Pasquotank County ...
The community of Elizabeth City is primarily located in Pasquotank County<4> and is the County Seat for Pasquotank County. A portion of Elizabeth City extends into Camden County.
The county had a population of 40,661 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 18,683 people, Elizabeth City represented 45.95% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Elizabeth City has a population density of 1,525 people per square mile [588 people/km²], Pasquotank County averages 179.2 people per square mile [69.2 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Pasquotank County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Elizabeth City, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Elizabeth City. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Elizabeth City or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Elizabeth City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Elizabeth City.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 36.293994° (or 36°17'38" N)
- Lon: -76.235425° (or -76°14'7" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 36.295585° (or 36°17'44" N)
- Lon: -76.224954° (or -76°13'29" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,131 feet to the west<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2403551) to Elizabeth City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Elizabeth City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 36.294556° (or 36°17'40" N)
- Lon: -76.230757° (or -76°13'50" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,386 feet to the west<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Elizabeth City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Elizabeth City.
Miscellaneous Information for Elizabeth City ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Pasquotank County or the city of Elizabeth City:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 37 (North Carolina)
- County Code: 139 (Pasquotank County)
- Place Code: 20580 (Elizabeth City)
- State & County Code: 37/139 (North Carolina / Pasquotank County)
- State & Place Code: 37/20580 (North Carolina / Elizabeth City)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Elizabeth City is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Elizabeth City, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Elizabeth City. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Elizabeth City:27909<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Elizabeth City.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Elizabeth City: www.ci.elizabeth-city.nc.us/
The official website for Pasquotank County: www.co.pasquotank.nc.us/
The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of North Carolina's counties, including Pasquotank, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 100 degrees and a distance of 3,131 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 98 degrees and a distance of 1,386 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Elizabeth City or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |