Black Population Share By US County in 1900 & 2020 Map

Map created by TweedleThe two maps above show the share of Black Americans (African Americans) by county in 1900 and again in 2020.

Remarkably, the share of Black Americans has stayed relatively constant 11.6% in 1900 growing to 12.4% in 2020.

Although in absolute numbers they’ve grown considerably along with the rest of the United States.

Here’s a super brief history up to 1900:

In 1790, when the first U.S. census was taken, Africans (including slaves and free people) numbered about 760,000—about 19.3% of the population.

In 1860, at the start of the Civil War, the African American population had increased to 4.4 million, but the percentage rate dropped to 14% of the overall population of the country. The vast majority were slaves, with only 488,000 counted as “freemen”.

By 1900, the Black population had doubled and reached 8.8 million.

In 1930, Blacks reached the lowest share of the US population at 9.7%, (11.9 million) due to mass immigration (mostly from Europe) in the early 20th century. However, once that stopped their share began to grow again.

In the 2020, Census there were 41,104,200 Black Americans who said they were black alone aka one race (This includes both Non-Hispanic Blacks; 39,940,338; 12.05% and Black Hispanics; 1,163,862; 0.35%).

There were also an additional 5,832,533 people who were said they were black in combination aka multiracial representing  1.76% of the total U.S. population.

With a total of both groups being, 46,936,733 or 14.16% of the total U.S. population.

Top 5 States In 2020 By Total Numbers

1. Texas: 3,552,997
2. Georgia: 3,320,513
3. Florida: 3,246,38
4. New York: 2,986,172
5. California: 2,237,044

Top 5 States In 2020 By Share

1. DC: 44.17%
2. Mississippi: 37.94%
3. Louisiana: 33.13%
4. Georgia: 33.03%
5. Maryland: 32.01%

Here’s a full table with the changes over time:

Year	Number	% of total population	% Change (10 yr)	Number of Slaves	% in slavery
1790	757,208	19.3% (highest)	–	697,681	92%
1800	1,002,037	18.90%	32.30%	893,602	89%
1810	1,377,808	19.00%	37.50%	1,191,362	86%
1820	1,771,656	18.40%	28.60%	1,538,022	87%
1830	2,328,642	18.10%	31.40%	2,009,043	86%
1840	2,873,648	16.80%	23.40%	2,487,355	87%
1850	3,638,808	15.70%	26.60%	3,204,287	88%
1860	4,441,830	14.10%	22.10%	3,953,731	89%
1870	4,880,009	12.70%	9.90%	–	–
1880	6,580,793	13.10%	34.90%	–	–
1890	7,488,788	11.90%	13.80%	–	–
1900	8,833,994	11.60%	18.00%	–	–
1910	9,827,763	10.70%	11.20%	–	–
1920	10.5 million	9.90%	6.80%	–	–
1930	11.9 million	9.7% (lowest)	13%	–	–
1940	12.9 million	9.80%	8.40%	–	–
1950	15.0 million	10.00%	16%	–	–
1960	18.9 million	10.50%	26%	–	–
1970	22.6 million	11.10%	20%	–	–
1980	26.5 million	11.70%	17%	–	–
1990	30.0 million	12.10%	13%	–	–
2000	34.6 million	12.30%	15%	–	–
2010	38.9 million	12.60%	12%	–	–
2020	41.1 million	12.40%	5.60%	–	–

And although the share of black Americans in the entire United States stayed relatively constant, where they lived did not.

Great Migration & New Great Migration

In 1900, the vast majority of blacks still lived in the South but after the Great Migration they lived much more throughout the United States. However, that is also now changing.

Internal Black migration within the United State between 1900 and 2020 can primarily divided into two major phases: the Great Migration (1910-1970) and the Return Migration (1970s-present).

There are also several ongoing trends influenced by broader socio-economic changes.

Here’s a breakdown of these movements over time:

1. The Great Migration (1910-1970)

The Great Migration is perhaps the most notable chapter of Black internal migration. During this period, approximately 6 million African Americans moved from the rural South to the urban North, Midwest, and West. This migration is often divided into two waves:

First Wave (1910-1940s)

• Causes: This migration was driven by economic factors such as the availability of jobs in the North due to industrialization, the agricultural collapse in the South, and the oppressive racial system of Jim Crow laws in Southern states.
• Destinations: Key cities in the North like Chicago, Detroit, New York (Harlem), Cleveland, and Philadelphia saw large influxes of Black migrants.
• Impact: The migration reshaped the demographic and cultural landscape of the North. Cities like Harlem became the epicenter of African American cultural movements like the Harlem Renaissance. There was also an increase in racial tensions, leading to race riots, restrictive housing covenants, and segregation in Northern cities.

Second Wave (1940s-1970)

• Causes: The second wave was spurred by World War II and the booming wartime economy, which increased industrial job opportunities, as well as the Civil Rights Movement and declining agricultural opportunities due to the mechanization of farming.
• Destinations: This wave saw migrations not only to Northern cities but also to the West Coast (e.g., Los Angeles, Oakland, and Seattle). Black workers were employed in industries such as shipbuilding and manufacturing, particularly in defense-related jobs during the war.
• Impact: African American communities in Northern and Western cities grew significantly, but they often faced systemic discrimination in housing, education, and employment. Urban segregation and the rise of “white flight” to suburban areas began to reshape these cities.

2. The Return Migration (1970s-Present)

After decades of migration away from the South, a reverse trend emerged beginning in the 1970s, sometimes called the New Great Migration or Return Migration. Millions of African Americans began moving back to the South, reversing the earlier trend. The reasons for this include:

• Economic opportunities: The industrial base of many Northern cities had eroded by the 1970s, and the Southern states were becoming more economically dynamic, with expanding job markets, particularly in sectors like technology, services, and health care.
• Lower cost of living: Compared to cities in the North and West, Southern cities had more affordable housing, making it easier for Black families to achieve upward mobility.
• Cultural and familial ties: Many African Americans had strong familial roots in the South, and cultural affinity also played a significant role.
• Urban decline in Northern cities: The decline of urban centers due to deindustrialization, poverty, and crime drove some Black residents to seek better opportunities in the Sunbelt.

Destinations:

Cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas, and Raleigh have become major hubs for Black migrants.

Atlanta, in particular, became known as a “Black Mecca,” due to its economic opportunities and political influence, with a large number of Black-owned businesses, cultural institutions, and political leadership.

Impact:

• The South now houses some of the largest Black populations in the U.S. Atlanta, for example, saw a huge growth in its African American population and political power, becoming a center of Black culture and entrepreneurship.
• This migration also altered traditional patterns of racial geography in the South, with many Black families moving to suburban areas previously dominated by white populations.

3. Ongoing Trends (1990s-2020)

Recent trends continue to show a reversal of the Great Migration, with the South experiencing a Black population resurgence:

• Urbanization of the South: Southern cities have modernized and urbanized, offering a combination of economic opportunity and cultural acceptance that earlier generations did not experience.
• Suburbanization: There is a significant trend of Black Americans moving not only to Southern cities but also to the suburbs, part of a broader national suburbanization trend.
• Growth of the Black Middle Class: Cities like Atlanta have seen a rising Black middle class, with opportunities in corporate America, real estate, and tech industries.

However, challenges remain:

• Gentrification: In both Northern and Southern cities, gentrification has displaced long-established Black communities.
• Economic Disparities: Despite improvements, significant income and wealth gaps persist between Black and white populations, and structural inequalities in housing, education, and employment continue to shape the experience of Black migration.

And despite the increased geographic distribution there are relatively few counties where blacks make up the majority of the population, but many where there are almost no black residents.

Majority Black US Counties

Map created by Abbasi786786 

U.S. counties and county equivalents with populations that are majority-Black as of the 2020 United States Census.

They are:

County	State	Black %	Black alone %	Population	Black	Black alone
Claiborne	Mississippi	88.60%	87.45%	9,135	8,094	7,989
Jefferson	Mississippi	86.72%	85.28%	7,260	6,296	6,191
Holmes	Mississippi	85.23%	83.86%	17,000	14,489	14,256
Greene	Alabama	82.20%	80.80%	7,730	6,354	6,246
Macon	Alabama	80.85%	79.05%	19,532	15,792	15,441
Humphreys	Mississippi	80.39%	78.48%	7,785	6,258	6,110
Tunica	Mississippi	78.36%	77.27%	9,782	7,665	7,559
Coahoma	Mississippi	77.56%	76.12%	21,390	16,590	16,281
Petersburg	Virginia	77.19%	74.16%	33,458	25,826	24,811
Leflore	Mississippi	75.10%	73.73%	28,339	21,283	20,895
Quitman	Mississippi	75.08%	73.61%	6,176	4,637	4,546
Sumter	Alabama	73.85%	72.88%	12,345	9,117	8,997
Clayton	Georgia	72.70%	69.89%	297,595	216,351	207,981
Washington	Mississippi	72.57%	71.33%	44,922	32,601	32,042
Sharkey	Mississippi	72.34%	70.76%	3,800	2,749	2,689
Bullock	Alabama	72.34%	71.41%	10,357	7,492	7,396
Noxubee	Mississippi	72.19%	70.27%	10,285	7,425	7,227
Allendale	South Carolina	71.76%	70.36%	8,039	5,769	5,656
Wilcox	Alabama	71.68%	70.59%	10,600	7,598	7,483
Dougherty	Georgia	71.64%	69.92%	85,790	61,457	59,988
Dallas	Alabama	71.49%	69.94%	38,462	27,497	26,899
Lowndes	Alabama	71.15%	69.75%	10,311	7,336	7,192
Perry	Alabama	71.08%	69.75%	8,511	6,050	5,936
Sunflower	Mississippi	71.03%	69.94%	25,971	18,448	18,164
Hinds	Mississippi	70.86%	69.43%	227,742	161,374	158,112
East Carroll	Louisiana	70.68%	69.55%	7,459	5,272	5,188
Hancock	Georgia	70.19%	69.01%	8,735	6,131	6,028
Wilkinson	Mississippi	69.08%	67.39%	8,587	5,932	5,787
Emporia	Virginia	66.04%	63.39%	5,766	3,808	3,655
Calhoun	Georgia	65.12%	64.26%	5,573	3,629	3,581
Williamsburg	South Carolina	64.68%	63.39%	31,026	20,068	19,666
Loíza	Puerto Rico	64.65%	31.79%	23,693	15,318	7,533
Bolivar	Mississippi	63.81%	62.50%	30,985	19,770	19,365
Phillips	Arkansas	63.74%	62.43%	16,568	10,560	10,343
Madison	Louisiana	63.52%	62.13%	10,017	6,363	6,224
Prince George's	Maryland	63.03%	59.83%	967,201	609,663	578,703
Kemper	Mississippi	62.36%	61.14%	8,988	5,605	5,495
Lee	South Carolina	62.32%	61.00%	16,531	10,302	10,084
Terrell	Georgia	62.13%	60.59%	9,185	5,707	5,565
Orangeburg	South Carolina	62.07%	60.61%	84,223	52,275	51,046
Bertie	North Carolina	61.54%	59.77%	17,934	11,036	10,720
Randolph	Georgia	61.43%	60.34%	6,425	3,947	3,877
Rockdale	Georgia	61.13%	58.15%	93,570	57,204	54,409
Yazoo	Mississippi	60.77%	59.57%	26,743	16,252	15,931
Baltimore City	Maryland	60.42%	57.79%	585,708	353,890	338,478
Macon	Georgia	60.39%	59.29%	12,082	7,296	7,164
Jefferson Davis	Mississippi	60.15%	58.68%	11,321	6,810	6,643
Warren	Georgia	59.98%	58.54%	5,215	3,128	3,053
Bamberg	South Carolina	59.61%	58.32%	13,311	7,935	7,763
Greensville	Virginia	59.49%	58.44%	11,391	6,776	6,657
Tallahatchie	Mississippi	59.42%	58.62%	12,715	7,555	7,454
St. John the Baptist	Louisiana	59.32%	57.22%	42,477	25,196	24,305
Hertford	North Carolina	59.31%	57.50%	21,552	12,783	12,393
Franklin	Virginia	59.03%	56.71%	8,180	4,829	4,639
Clay	Mississippi	58.97%	57.97%	18,636	10,989	10,803
Montgomery	Alabama	58.54%	56.98%	228,954	134,029	130,467
Adams	Mississippi	58.20%	56.83%	29,538	17,192	16,785
Richmond	Georgia	58.07%	55.27%	206,607	119,970	114,201
Marion	South Carolina	57.92%	56.21%	29,183	16,902	16,403
Edgecombe	North Carolina	57.82%	56.09%	48,900	28,274	27,429
Issaquena	Mississippi	57.77%	56.58%	1,338	773	757
Hale	Alabama	57.71%	56.39%	14,785	8,533	8,337
Jefferson	Arkansas	57.62%	56.25%	67,260	38,756	37,835
Clay	Georgia	57.37%	56.07%	2,848	1,634	1,597
Northampton	North Carolina	57.21%	55.46%	17,471	9,995	9,689
Orleans	Louisiana	57.02%	54.24%	383,997	218,969	208,273
Portsmouth	Virginia	56.75%	53.33%	97,915	55,570	52,214
Bibb	Georgia	56.48%	54.58%	157,346	88,865	85,885
Taliaferro	Georgia	56.19%	53.43%	1,559	876	833
Lee	Arkansas	56.13%	54.22%	8,600	4,827	4,663
Brunswick	Virginia	55.89%	54.31%	15,849	8,858	8,607
Tensas	Louisiana	55.75%	54.26%	4,147	2,312	2,250
St. Francis	Arkansas	55.54%	54.40%	23,090	12,825	12,561
Fairfield	South Carolina	55.49%	53.71%	20,948	11,625	11,251
Crittenden	Arkansas	55.44%	53.79%	48,163	26,700	25,905
St. Helena	Louisiana	55.23%	53.67%	10,920	6,031	5,861
Sussex	Virginia	55.10%	53.38%	10,829	5,967	5,781
Washington	Georgia	54.88%	53.65%	19,988	10,969	10,724
Talbot	Georgia	54.86%	53.71%	5,733	3,145	3,079
Gadsden	Florida	54.80%	53.47%	43,826	24,018	23,435
Pike	Mississippi	54.73%	53.47%	40,324	22,068	21,562
Chicot	Arkansas	54.31%	53.07%	10,208	5,544	5,417
Marengo	Alabama	53.82%	52.72%	19,323	10,400	10,188
Hampton	Virginia	53.65%	49.52%	137,148	73,579	67,915
Charles	Maryland	53.59%	49.24%	166,617	89,295	82,035
Danville	Virginia	53.38%	51.37%	42,590	22,734	21,879
DeKalb	Georgia	53.30%	50.89%	764,382	407,451	388,963
Shelby	Tennessee	53.00%	51.34%	929,744	492,757	477,321
Halifax	North Carolina	52.98%	51.10%	48,622	25,759	24,846
Hampton	South Carolina	52.78%	51.68%	18,561	9,796	9,592
Sumter	Georgia	52.49%	51.05%	29,616	15,546	15,120
Early	Georgia	52.40%	51.24%	10,854	5,688	5,562
Jefferson	Georgia	52.25%	50.77%	15,709	8,208	7,976
Marlboro	South Carolina	52.22%	50.22%	26,667	13,926	13,391
Henry	Georgia	52.02%	49.07%	240,712	125,211	118,124
Copiah	Mississippi	51.98%	50.56%	28,368	14,747	14,342
Jasper	Mississippi	51.97%	50.96%	16,367	8,506	8,341
Haywood	Tennessee	51.84%	50.56%	17,864	9,260	9,032
Vance	North Carolina	51.71%	49.88%	42,578	22,017	21,237
Douglas	Georgia	51.48%	48.44%	144,237	74,260	69,870
Warren	North Carolina	51.10%	48.89%	18,642	9,526	9,114
Dooly	Georgia	50.43%	49.62%	11,208	5,652	5,561
Washington	North Carolina	50.36%	48.85%	11,003	5,541	5,375
Caddo	Louisiana	50.16%	48.48%	237,848	119,304	115,298

On the other hand there are 30 counties in the United States without a single black resident:

1. Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska
2. Jackson County, Colorado
3. Lane County, Kansas
4. Schuyler County, Missouri
5. Worth County, Missouri
6. Carter County, Montana
7. Daniels County, Montana
8. Garfield County, Montana
9. Granite County, Montana
10. Petroleum County, Montana
11. Banner County, Nebraska
12. Boyd County, Nebraska
13. Hayes County, Nebraska
14. Keya Paha County, Nebraska
15. Logan County, Nebraska
16. Loup County, Nebraska
17. McPherson County, Nebraska
18. Sioux County, Nebraska
19. Thomas County, Nebraska
20. Wheeler County, Nebraska
21. Bowman County, North Dakota
22. Emmons County, North Dakota
23. Sherman County, Oregon
24. Buffalo County, South Dakota
25. Campbell County, South Dakota
26. Ziebach County, South Dakota
27. King County, Texas
28. Loving County, Texas
29. Piute County, Utah
30. Crook County, Wyoming

And the following 52 counties have fewer than 0.1% of the population being black:

1. Caribou County, Idaho
2. Mercer County, Missouri
3. Osborne County, Kansas
4. Kimball County, Nebraska
5. Taylor County, Iowa
6. Hitchcock County, Nebraska
7. Grant County, South Dakota
8. Wayne County, Utah
9. Emery County, Utah
10. Cimarron County, Oklahoma
11. Kearney County, Nebraska
12. Greeley County, Nebraska
13. Menominee County, Wisconsin
14. Tyler County, West Virginia
15. Jeff Davis County, Texas
16. Mellette County, South Dakota
17. Deuel County, Nebraska
18. Cheyenne County, Colorado
19. McCone County, Montana
20. Jerauld County, South Dakota
21. Searcy County, Arkansas
22. Ringgold County, Iowa
23. Harlan County, Nebraska
24. Oneida County, Idaho
25. Adams County, Idaho
26. Brown County, Nebraska
27. Wheeler County, Oregon
28. Perkins County, South Dakota
29. Kittson County, Minnesota
30. Ness County, Kansas
31. Sioux County, North Dakota
32. Butte County, Idaho
33. Beaver County, Oklahoma
34. Lyman County, South Dakota
35. Cavalier County, North Dakota
36. Hamlin County, South Dakota
37. Big Horn County, Montana
38. Benewah County, Idaho
39. Pondera County, Montana
40. Sanborn County, South Dakota
41. Davis County, Iowa
42. Highland County, Virginia
43. Towner County, North Dakota
44. Jackson County, Kentucky
45. Faulk County, South Dakota
46. Warren County, Indiana
47. Haines Borough, Alaska
48. Newton County, Arkansas
49. Oscoda County, Michigan
50. Morgan County, Utah
51. Shannon County, Missouri
52. Starr County, Texas

Note all the data above comes from the US Census.