Counties in North Carolina by employer firms

Mecklenburg County had the highest employer firms of 100 counties in 2013, at 19,714. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at 70. The median was 816 and the figure for North Carolina was 149,525. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest19,714Mecklenburg County
Median816100 counties
North Carolina149,525History

Map of counties, 2013

Alamance County: 2,526 countAlexander County: 477 countAlleghany County: 226 countAnson County: 354 countAshe County: 446 countAvery County: 422 countBeaufort County: 911 countBertie County: 277 countBladen County: 440 countBrunswick County: 1,848 countBuncombe County: 5,751 countBurke County: 1,212 countCabarrus County: 3,105 countCaldwell County: 1,140 countCamden County: 96 countCarteret County: 1,594 countCaswell County: 212 countCatawba County: 3,282 countChatham County: 1,078 countCherokee County: 501 countChowan County: 314 countClay County: 182 countCleveland County: 1,610 countColumbus County: 819 countCraven County: 1,728 countCumberland County: 4,253 countCurrituck County: 477 countDare County: 1,375 countDavidson County: 2,262 countDavie County: 686 countDuplin County: 700 countDurham County: 5,110 countEdgecombe County: 575 countForsyth County: 6,242 countFranklin County: 802 countGaston County: 3,094 countGates County: 109 countGraham County: 132 countGranville County: 734 countGreene County: 213 countGuilford County: 9,854 countHalifax County: 769 countHarnett County: 1,325 countHaywood County: 1,144 countHenderson County: 2,119 countHertford County: 396 countHoke County: 361 countHyde County: 129 countIredell County: 3,462 countJackson County: 772 countJohnston County: 2,468 countJones County: 112 countLee County: 1,102 countLenoir County: 1,053 countLincoln County: 1,294 countMcDowell County: 643 countMacon County: 893 countMadison County: 263 countMartin County: 396 countMecklenburg County: 19,714 countMitchell County: 323 countMontgomery County: 415 countMoore County: 1,827 countNash County: 1,661 countNew Hanover County: 5,395 countNorthampton County: 229 countOnslow County: 2,144 countOrange County: 2,504 countPamlico County: 217 countPasquotank County: 785 countPender County: 812 countPerquimans County: 179 countPerson County: 575 countPitt County: 2,793 countPolk County: 444 countRandolph County: 2,096 countRichmond County: 726 countRobeson County: 1,433 countRockingham County: 1,358 countRowan County: 2,159 countRutherford County: 1,069 countSampson County: 827 countScotland County: 527 countStanly County: 1,061 countStokes County: 526 countSurry County: 1,386 countSwain County: 273 countTransylvania County: 715 countTyrrell County: 70 countUnion County: 3,345 countVance County: 729 countWake County: 18,824 countWarren County: 247 countWashington County: 214 countWatauga County: 1,316 countWayne County: 1,752 countWilkes County: 1,021 countWilson County: 1,406 countYadkin County: 502 countYancey County: 288 count
  • Under 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 800
  • 800 to 1,400
  • 1,400 to 2,400
  • 2,400 and over
count, 2013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2013

Mecklenburg County: 19,714 countMecklenburg County19,714Wake County: 18,824 countWake County18,824Guilford County: 9,854 countGuilford County9,854Forsyth County: 6,242 countForsyth County6,242Buncombe County: 5,751 countBuncombe County5,751New Hanover County: 5,395 countNew Hanover County5,395Durham County: 5,110 countDurham County5,110Cumberland County: 4,253 countCumberland County4,253Iredell County: 3,462 countIredell County3,462Union County: 3,345 countUnion County3,345Catawba County: 3,282 countCatawba County3,282Cabarrus County: 3,105 countCabarrus County3,105Gaston County: 3,094 countGaston County3,094Pitt County: 2,793 countPitt County2,793Alamance County: 2,526 countAlamance County2,526Orange County: 2,504 countOrange County2,504Johnston County: 2,468 countJohnston County2,468Davidson County: 2,262 countDavidson County2,262Rowan County: 2,159 countRowan County2,159Onslow County: 2,144 countOnslow County2,144Henderson County: 2,119 countHenderson County2,119Randolph County: 2,096 countRandolph County2,096Brunswick County: 1,848 countBrunswick County1,848Moore County: 1,827 countMoore County1,827Wayne County: 1,752 countWayne County1,752Craven County: 1,728 countCraven County1,728Nash County: 1,661 countNash County1,661Cleveland County: 1,610 countCleveland County1,610Carteret County: 1,594 countCarteret County1,594Robeson County: 1,433 countRobeson County1,433Wilson County: 1,406 countWilson County1,406Surry County: 1,386 countSurry County1,386Dare County: 1,375 countDare County1,375Rockingham County: 1,358 countRockingham County1,358Harnett County: 1,325 countHarnett County1,325Watauga County: 1,316 countWatauga County1,316Lincoln County: 1,294 countLincoln County1,294Burke County: 1,212 countBurke County1,212Haywood County: 1,144 countHaywood County1,144Caldwell County: 1,140 countCaldwell County1,140Mecklenburg County: 19,714 countMecklenburg County19,714Wake County: 18,824 countWake County18,824Guilford County: 9,854 countGuilford County9,854Forsyth County: 6,242 countForsyth County6,242Buncombe County: 5,751 countBuncombe County5,751New Hanover County: 5,395 countNew Hanover County5,395Durham County: 5,110 countDurham County5,110Cumberland County: 4,253 countCumberland County4,253Iredell County: 3,462 countIredell County3,462Union County: 3,345 countUnion County3,345Catawba County: 3,282 countCatawba County3,282Cabarrus County: 3,105 countCabarrus County3,105Gaston County: 3,094 countGaston County3,094Pitt County: 2,793 countPitt County2,793Alamance County: 2,526 countAlamance County2,526Orange County: 2,504 countOrange County2,504Johnston County: 2,468 countJohnston County2,468Davidson County: 2,262 countDavidson County2,262Rowan County: 2,159 countRowan County2,159Onslow County: 2,144 countOnslow County2,144Henderson County: 2,119 countHenderson County2,119Randolph County: 2,096 countRandolph County2,096Brunswick County: 1,848 countBrunswick County1,848Moore County: 1,827 countMoore County1,827Wayne County: 1,752 countWayne County1,752Craven County: 1,728 countCraven County1,728Nash County: 1,661 countNash County1,661Cleveland County: 1,610 countCleveland County1,610Carteret County: 1,594 countCarteret County1,594Robeson County: 1,433 countRobeson County1,433Wilson County: 1,406 countWilson County1,406Surry County: 1,386 countSurry County1,386Dare County: 1,375 countDare County1,375Rockingham County: 1,358 countRockingham County1,358Harnett County: 1,325 countHarnett County1,325Watauga County: 1,316 countWatauga County1,316Lincoln County: 1,294 countLincoln County1,294Burke County: 1,212 countBurke County1,212Haywood County: 1,144 countHaywood County1,144Caldwell County: 1,140 countCaldwell County1,140
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2013
count
Change on 2012
1Mecklenburg County19,714+1.9%
2Wake County18,824+1.6%
3Guilford County9,854-0.4%
4Forsyth County6,242+0.2%
5Buncombe County5,751+0.6%
6New Hanover County5,395+1.1%
7Durham County5,110+0.8%
8Cumberland County4,253-1.3%
9Iredell County3,462+1.9%
10Union County3,345+1.2%
11Catawba County3,282-0.6%
12Cabarrus County3,105+2%
13Gaston County3,094-0.3%
14Pitt County2,793-1.4%
15Alamance County2,526-0.7%
16Orange County2,504-0.6%
17Johnston County2,468+0.7%
18Davidson County2,262-1.7%
19Rowan County2,159-0.6%
20Onslow County2,144+0.3%
21Henderson County2,119-0.6%
22Randolph County2,096-1.7%
23Brunswick County1,848+2%
24Moore County1,827+1.1%
25Wayne County1,752-0.5%
26Craven County1,728-3.6%
27Nash County1,661-1.8%
28Cleveland County1,610-1.5%
29Carteret County1,594-1.2%
30Robeson County1,433-2%
31Wilson County1,406-1.5%
32Surry County1,386+0.3%
33Dare County1,375+0.8%
34Rockingham County1,358-1.9%
35Harnett County1,3250%
36Watauga County1,316+0.5%
37Lincoln County1,294-1.4%
38Burke County1,212-0.2%
39Haywood County1,144+3.3%
40Caldwell County1,140-1.1%
41Lee County1,102+1.6%
42Chatham County1,0780%
43Rutherford County1,069-3%
44Stanly County1,061-1.2%
45Lenoir County1,053-2.3%
46Wilkes County1,021-2.3%
47Beaufort County911-2.3%
48Macon County893-2.5%
49Sampson County827-3.8%
50Columbus County819-0.2%
51Pender County812+2.9%
52Franklin County802+1%
53Pasquotank County785-2%
54Jackson County772-1%
55Halifax County769-1.3%
56Granville County734+1.2%
57Vance County729-0.4%
58Richmond County726-0.3%
59Transylvania County715+1.3%
60Duplin County700-1.7%
61Davie County686-2%
62McDowell County643-0.6%
63Edgecombe County575-5.4%
63Person County575-1.4%
65Scotland County527-2.6%
66Stokes County5260%
67Yadkin County502-2.9%
68Cherokee County501-1.8%
69Alexander County477-4.2%
69Currituck County477-0.2%
71Ashe County446-0.7%
72Polk County444+2.1%
73Bladen County4400%
74Avery County422+0.2%
75Montgomery County415-6.3%
76Hertford County396-0.3%
76Martin County396-2%
78Hoke County361+0.6%
79Anson County354+1.7%
80Mitchell County3230%
81Chowan County314-1.6%
82Yancey County288-1.7%
83Bertie County277-0.4%
84Swain County273-3.9%
85Madison County263-3.7%
86Warren County247+2.1%
87Northampton County229-1.7%
88Alleghany County226+0.4%
89Pamlico County217+0.9%
90Washington County214-1.4%
91Greene County213-0.5%
92Caswell County212-0.9%
93Clay County182-2.7%
94Perquimans County179+1.7%
95Graham County132-6.4%
96Hyde County129+9.3%
97Jones County112-8.9%
98Gates County109-3.5%
99Camden County96+3.2%
100Tyrrell County70-1.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of firms in the private nonfarm sectors covered by the US Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Establishments under common ownership form one firm.

Excludes nonemployer businesses. Differs from active_companies, the INE DIRCE count, which includes businesses without employees.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties (Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013) [Data set]. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013. Dataset. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2013,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-11},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by employer firms, 2013
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/north-carolina-counties?period=2013.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest employer firms?

Mecklenburg County, with 19,714 in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Tyrrell County, with 70 in 2013.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Employer firms: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings