Craven County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 708.4 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 136.8 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 46.2%. On the 2000 census form, 98.3% of the population reported only one race, with 25.1% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 4.0% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.50 persons compared to an average family size of 2.93 persons. In 2008 Public administration was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $55,019. Per capita income grew by 14.4% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2008) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	96,892	589	Covered Employment	41,250	549
Growth (%) since 1990	18.4%	1098	Avg wage per job	$35,829	777
Households (2000)	34,582	564	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	10.3%	1561
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	42,062	646	Avg wage per job	$42,308	1025
Unemployment Rate (2008)	6.1	1219	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	2.7%	1269
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$33,242	803	Avg wage per job	$46,501	437
Median Household Income (2007)	$44,227	1104	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	11.4%	1004
Poverty Rate (2007)	13.9	1603	Avg wage per job	$32,890	1069
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	82.1	1,077	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	1.9%	2175
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	19.3	783	Avg wage per job	$48,282	490