Counties with the most veterans in North Carolina
There are roughly 19 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 35%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in North Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2020 5-year estimate.
California, Texas, and Florida are home to the most veterans, and Wyoming, Vermont, and Washington D.C. home to the least. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#50. Warren County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 70
--- Vietnam War: 496
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 240
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 149
#49. New Hanover County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 365
--- Korean War: 1,461
--- Vietnam War: 5,097
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,027
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 3,287
#48. Gaston County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 295
--- Korean War: 715
--- Vietnam War: 4,978
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,050
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 2,513
#47. Madison County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 87
--- Vietnam War: 506
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 297
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 226
#46. Cleveland County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 58
--- Korean War: 578
--- Vietnam War: 2,555
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 777
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 625
#45. Wilkes County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 38
--- Korean War: 391
--- Vietnam War: 1,725
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 900
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 605
#44. Buncombe County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 660
--- Korean War: 1,748
--- Vietnam War: 6,556
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,608
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 2,854
#43. Jackson County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 55
--- Korean War: 277
--- Vietnam War: 1,430
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 277
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 446
#42. Martin County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 24
--- Korean War: 87
--- Vietnam War: 639
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 444
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 204
#41. Person County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 82
--- Vietnam War: 944
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 564
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 562
#40. Nash County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 151
--- Korean War: 615
--- Vietnam War: 2,475
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,240
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,158
#39. Beaufort County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 74
--- Korean War: 278
--- Vietnam War: 1,674
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 467
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 242
#38. McDowell County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 68
--- Korean War: 277
--- Vietnam War: 1,319
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 283
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 414
#37. Rowan County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 317
--- Korean War: 684
--- Vietnam War: 3,346
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,603
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,536
#36. Wilson County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 117
--- Korean War: 199
--- Vietnam War: 1,794
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,297
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,114
#35. Polk County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 51
--- Korean War: 207
--- Vietnam War: 671
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 157
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 176
#34. Stokes County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 69
--- Korean War: 231
--- Vietnam War: 1,199
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 540
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 403
#33. Lincoln County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 64
--- Korean War: 349
--- Vietnam War: 2,151
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,090
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,153
#32. Bladen County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 107
--- Vietnam War: 839
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 405
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 402
#31. Gates County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 32
--- Vietnam War: 227
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 305
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 88
#30. Lee County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 50
--- Korean War: 242
--- Vietnam War: 1,378
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 954
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,107
#29. Tyrrell County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 55
--- Vietnam War: 74
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 67
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 36
#28. Davie County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 81
--- Korean War: 245
--- Vietnam War: 1,211
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 636
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 365
#27. Alleghany County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 13
--- Korean War: 96
--- Vietnam War: 453
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 127
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 122
#26. Henderson County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 345
--- Korean War: 755
--- Vietnam War: 3,920
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,268
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,138
#25. Johnston County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 316
--- Korean War: 667
--- Vietnam War: 4,056
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,561
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 3,599
#24. Macon County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 101
--- Korean War: 246
--- Vietnam War: 1,205
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 403
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 220
#23. Washington County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 101
--- Korean War: 64
--- Vietnam War: 330
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 149
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 84
#22. Clay County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 19
--- Korean War: 38
--- Vietnam War: 550
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 87
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 53
#21. Lenoir County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 110
--- Korean War: 393
--- Vietnam War: 1,809
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,027
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 765
#20. Dare County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 191
--- Vietnam War: 1,449
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 552
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 570
#19. Jones County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 65
--- Vietnam War: 377
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 214
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 118
#18. Haywood County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 186
--- Korean War: 418
--- Vietnam War: 2,366
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 877
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 735
#17. Pender County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 157
--- Korean War: 383
--- Vietnam War: 1,844
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,637
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,269
#16. Perquimans County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 46
--- Korean War: 118
--- Vietnam War: 598
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 238
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 122
#15. Brunswick County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 211
--- Korean War: 629
--- Vietnam War: 6,574
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,070
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 2,116
#14. Pasquotank County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 99
--- Korean War: 180
--- Vietnam War: 943
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,173
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,174
#13. Moore County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 343
--- Korean War: 632
--- Vietnam War: 3,107
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,650
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 2,553
#12. Cherokee County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 36
--- Korean War: 179
--- Vietnam War: 1,548
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 328
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 292
#11. Transylvania County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 285
--- Korean War: 206
--- Vietnam War: 1,469
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 392
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 373
#10. Wayne County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 141
--- Korean War: 494
--- Vietnam War: 3,595
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,402
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 3,736
#9. Harnett County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 81
--- Korean War: 633
--- Vietnam War: 2,998
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,303
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 5,544
#8. Pamlico County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 229
--- Vietnam War: 532
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 336
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 213
#7. Carteret County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 147
--- Korean War: 665
--- Vietnam War: 3,489
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,219
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,705
#6. Currituck County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 130
--- Vietnam War: 778
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,373
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 1,135
#5. Camden County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 26
--- Korean War: 75
--- Vietnam War: 360
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 581
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 327
#4. Craven County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 168
--- Korean War: 685
--- Vietnam War: 3,685
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,526
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 3,709
#3. Hoke County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 72
--- Korean War: 194
--- Vietnam War: 1,023
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,909
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 3,168
#2. Cumberland County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 175
--- Korean War: 1,274
--- Vietnam War: 9,871
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 17,103
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 20,377
#1. Onslow County
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 131
--- Korean War: 675
--- Vietnam War: 4,564
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7,997
--- Gulf War (09/2002 or later): 13,515