Wilkes County, NC: Cities, ZIP Codes & Population
Wilkes County is a county-level area in North Carolina identified by the FIPS code 37193. Our data lists 10 places in it, led by North Wilkesboro, NC, with combined estimates of about 33,439 people across those places. This page shows its cities, ZIP codes, time zone and neighboring counties.
What are the key facts about Wilkes County?
| County | Wilkes County |
|---|---|
| State | North Carolina |
| FIPS code | 37193 |
| Places in our data | 10 |
| Places with a city page | 1 |
| Combined place estimates | 33,439 |
| Largest place | North Wilkesboro, NC (18,066) |
| Rank in state | 40th of 100 counties by combined place population |
| Weighted density | 541 per sq mi |
| Time zone | Eastern time |
| ZIP codes | 7 |
Which cities and towns are in Wilkes County?
Wilkes County has 1 place large enough for a full page on this site. They are ranked below by estimated population, together with whether each is incorporated, its density in people per square mile and the number of ZIP codes it uses. North Wilkesboro, NC is the largest.
| Place | Type | Population | Per sq mi | ZIPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wilkesboro, NC | Incorporated | 18,066 | 632 | 1 |
The county also contains 9 smaller communities that appear here but do not have separate pages because their populations are too small for reliable data: Wilkesboro, Mulberry, Fairplains, Cricket, Moravian Falls, Millers Creek, Hays, Pleasant Hill, Ronda. Residents of these places often depend on the county for services such as roads, courts and public health.
How large is Wilkes County compared with other counties in North Carolina?
Adding up the estimates for the places in our data gives 33,439 people, which ranks Wilkes County 40th among 100 counties in North Carolina. The average listed place has about 3,344 residents. The weighted density is about 541 people per square mile, which is small-town or exurban by our scale. These totals add up place estimates, so they can differ from the official county population, which includes people outside any listed place. See why population figures differ.
What ZIP codes are in Wilkes County?
The places in Wilkes County use 7 ZIP codes: 28621, 28635, 28651, 28654, 28659, 28670, 28697. Every code begins with 2, which is assigned to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast coast (D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas). A ZIP code can cross county lines, so a code listed here may also serve addresses in a neighboring county. Use the ZIP code lookup to check a single code, or read how ZIP codes work.
Which counties are near Wilkes County?
The closest counties by distance between the average locations of their places are listed below. The distance is a rough guide to how close the areas are, because county shapes vary widely.
- Alleghany County, NC — about 21 miles north (center to center), 1,723 people in listed places
- Alexander County, NC — about 22 miles south (center to center), 11,564 people in listed places
- Yadkin County, NC — about 25 miles east (center to center), 7,390 people in listed places
- Ashe County, NC — about 27 miles northwest (center to center), 5,396 people in listed places
- Surry County, NC — about 29 miles northeast (center to center), 31,690 people in listed places
- Iredell County, NC — about 31 miles southeast (center to center), 70,136 people in listed places
What does the FIPS code 37193 mean?
The first two digits, 37, identify North Carolina, and the last three, 193, identify Wilkes County inside that state. Government datasets use this code to join records without confusing counties that share a name. Our guide to counties and FIPS codes explains the numbering, and the North Carolina hub lists every county we cover in the state.
Where to go next
Combined place populations are estimates from a compiled dataset and are not official county totals.