Census Data for Goldsboro
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Goldsboro a population of 34,715 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Goldsboro a population of 36,437 people.
The city of Goldsboro is located in Wayne County. The 2010 Census gave Wayne County; a population of 122,623 people. This means that Goldsboro had 29.71% of the county's total population, making it Wayne's most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people, meaning that Goldsboro had 0.38% of the total population of North Carolina - making it the state's 23rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Goldsboro has a total area of 28.16 square miles [72.9 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.02 square miles [0.1 km²]).
Wayne County has a land area of 553 square miles [1,432.5 km²]. At 28.14 square miles [72.9 km²], Goldsboro has 5.09% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Goldsboro 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: 35° 22' 47" (or 35.38°)
- Lon: -77° 58' 23" (or -77.97°)
- 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, Goldsboro had 16,824 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 36,437 people, this averages 2.17 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Goldsboro had a land area of 28.14 square miles [72.9 km²]. This translates to 597 Housing Units per square mile [230.7 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Goldsboro had 16,372 Housing Units, a population of 39,043 people and a land area of 24.79 square miles [64.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.38 people per Housing Unit and 659 Housing Units per square mile [254.8 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Goldsboro and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Wayne County ...
Goldsboro is located in Wayne County<4> and is the County Seat for Wayne County.
The county had a population of 122,623 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 36,437 people, Goldsboro represented 29.71% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Goldsboro has a population density of 1,293 people per square mile [499.6 people/km²], Wayne County averages 221.7 people per square mile [85.6 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Wayne County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro. 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 Goldsboro 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 Goldsboro, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Goldsboro.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.379951° (or 35°22'47" N)
- Lon: -77.973247° (or -77°58'23" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.381961° (or 35°22'55" N)
- Lon: -77.977974° (or -77°58'40" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,584 feet to the southeast<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 (#2403709) to Goldsboro. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Goldsboro. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.378069° (or 35°22'41" N)
- Lon: -77.971289° (or -77°58'16" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 899 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Goldsboro. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Goldsboro.
Miscellaneous Information for Goldsboro ...
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 Wayne County or the city of Goldsboro:
- 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: 191 (Wayne County)
- Place Code: 26880 (Goldsboro)
- State & County Code: 37/191 (North Carolina / Wayne County)
- State & Place Code: 37/26880 (North Carolina / Goldsboro)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Goldsboro is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Goldsboro.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Goldsboro: www.ci.goldsboro.nc.us/
The official website for Wayne County: www.waynegov.com/
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 Wayne, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 242 degrees and a distance of 1,584 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 40 degrees and a distance of 899 feet. |