Map of Wayne County, North Carolina

Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 117,333. Its county seat is Goldsboro and it is home to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Wayne County comprises the Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Wayne County overview:
Name:	Wayne County
FIPS code:	37-191
State:	North Carolina
Founded:	1779
Named for:	Anthony Wayne
Seat:	Goldsboro
Largest city:	Goldsboro
Total Area:	557 sq mi (1,440 km²)
Land Area:	553 sq mi (1,430 km²)
Total Population:	116,835
Population Density:	221.3/sq mi (85.4/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−5 (Eastern)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−4 (EDT)
Website:	www.waynegov.com

Wayne County location map. Where is Wayne County?

Wayne County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Wayne County. — Location of Wayne County in the the United States.

Wayne County location on the North Carolina map. Where is Wayne County. — Location of Wayne County in North Carolina.

History

Prior to 1730, Native Americans were the only known occupants of the territory now known as Wayne County. Settlers trickled into the territory, occupying land along the Neuse River. There was no general migration here until after 1750; as populations built up in the coastal areas, some settlers moved west for land.

Wayne County was established during the American Revolutionary War on November 2, 1779, from the western part of Dobbs County. It was named for “Mad Anthony” Wayne, a general in the war. The act establishing the County provided that the first court should be held at the home of Josiah Sasser, at which time the justices were to decide on a place for all subsequent courts until a courthouse could be erected. By 1782 the commissioners were named. In 1787 an act was passed establishing Waynesborough on the west side of the Neuse River, on the land of Doctor Andrew Bass. The courthouse was built here.

In 1855 parts of Wayne County, Edgecombe County, Johnston County, and Nash County were combined to form Wilson County.

Wayne County Road Map

Wayne CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Wayne County, North Carolina. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Wayne CountyMap — Wayne Countypolitical map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557 square miles (1,440 km), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km) (0.7%) is water.

Wayne County’s surface is level to gently rolling uplands with broad bottoms along the rivers and some creeks. Elevations are predominantly 120 to 145 feet above sea level. The largest waterway, the Neuse River, bisects the lower central portion of the county and cuts a deep channel 20 to 40 feet deep as it flows in an eastward direction. Unusual river bluffs occur in the vicinity of Seven Springs. In addition to the Neuse River, the county is drained by the Little River, the Northeast Cape Fear River and numerous creeks.

Wayne County is underlain by unconsolidated beds of sand, clay and gravel. For the most part, these beds were deposited in seawater as the sea advanced and retreated during the geologic development of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. To a much lesser extent, streams deposited layers of sediment which mixed with that deposited on the sea floor.

The climate in Wayne County is characterized by warm summers and moderate winters. The average temperature is about 62 degrees. Annual precipitation is about 50 inches of rainfall per year, with the major portion occurring in the late spring and summer.

State and local protected areas/sites

Charles B. Aycock Birthplace
Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park

Major water bodies

Bear Creek (North Fork Salt River tributary)
Great Swamp
Little River (Neuse River tributary)
Juniper Swamp
Nahunta Swamp
Neuse River
Northeast Cape Fear River
Quaker Neck Lake
Thoroughfare Swamp
Water Branch (Richardson Creek tributary)

Adjacent counties

Wilson County – north
Greene County – east-northeast
Lenoir County – east-southeast
Duplin County – south
Sampson County – southwest
Johnston County – west

Major highways

Future I-42 (Concurrency with US 70)
I-795 / Future I-795
US 13
US 70
US 70 Byp.
US 117
US 117 Alt.
NC 50
NC 55
NC 111
NC 222
NC 403
NC 581
NC 581 Conn. (Connecter Route)

The main highway in Wayne County is US 70, which offers access to the North Carolina coast, the capital city of Raleigh and I-95. The only interstate in Wayne County is I-795, which is a direct connector with I-95 and US 264. US 70 has been designated as Future Interstate 42.

Major infrastructure

Goldsboro Union Station
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base