Marines


Read More: Population Growth

 

Population growth in Onslow County between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War was slow relative to North Carolina as a whole.  During the early nineteenth century, a significant portion of the population was lost on account of out-migration to Georgia, Tennessee, and the Gulf Coast states where land was more plentiful (Watson 1995:30-31).  Those who remained lived in emerging towns and villages including French’s Mill, Foy’s Store, Rich Lands, Stones Bay, and Swansborough (later Swansboro) (Watson 1995:32-34).  After the Revolution, slavery became a much more integral part of Onslow County society with the number of slaves doubling between the late eighteenth century and the mid-nineteenth century (Loftfield 1981:113; Watson 1995:36-37).