| | Population, April 1, 1990 | Population, April 1, 2000 | Numeric Population Change, 1990 to 2000 | Percent Population Change, 1990 to 2000 | Land Area (square miles), 2000 | Persons Per Square Mile, 1990 | Persons Per Square Mile, 2000 |
|
| United States | 248,709,873 | 281,421,906 | 32,712,033 | 13.2% | 3,537,438.4 | 70.3 | 79.6 |
| Appalachian Region | 21,727,579 | 23,642,578 | 1,914,999 | 8.8% | 204,812.1 | 106.1 | 115.4 |
| North Carolina | 6,628,637 | 8,049,313 | 1,420,676 | 21.4% | 48,710.9 | 136.1 | 165.2 |
| Appalachian North Carolina | 1,306,682 | 1,526,207 | 219,525 | 16.8% | 11,900.9 | 109.8 | 128.2 |
|
| County |
| Alexander | 27,544 | 33,603 | 6,059 | 22.0% | 260.2 | 105.8 | 129.2 |
| Alleghany | 9,590 | 10,677 | 1,087 | 11.3% | 234.6 | 40.9 | 45.5 |
| Ashe | 22,209 | 24,384 | 2,175 | 9.8% | 426.1 | 52.1 | 57.2 |
| Avery | 14,867 | 17,167 | 2,300 | 15.5% | 247.0 | 60.2 | 69.5 |
| Buncombe | 174,821 | 206,330 | 31,509 | 18.0% | 656.0 | 266.4 | 314.5 |
| Burke | 75,744 | 89,148 | 13,404 | 17.7% | 506.7 | 149.5 | 175.9 |
| Caldwell | 70,709 | 77,415 | 6,706 | 9.5% | 471.6 | 149.9 | 164.2 |
| Cherokee | 20,170 | 24,298 | 4,128 | 20.5% | 455.2 | 44.3 | 53.4 |
| Clay | 7,155 | 8,775 | 1,620 | 22.6% | 214.7 | 33.3 | 40.9 |
| Davie | 27,859 | 34,835 | 6,976 | 25.0% | 265.2 | 105.0 | 131.4 |
| Forsyth | 265,878 | 306,067 | 40,189 | 15.1% | 409.6 | 649.0 | 747.2 |
| Graham | 7,196 | 7,993 | 797 | 11.1% | 292.1 | 24.6 | 27.4 |
| Haywood | 46,942 | 54,033 | 7,091 | 15.1% | 553.7 | 84.7 | 97.6 |
| Henderson | 69,285 | 89,173 | 19,888 | 28.7% | 374.0 | 185.4 | 238.4 |
| Jackson | 26,846 | 33,121 | 6,275 | 23.4% | 490.7 | 54.7 | 67.5 |
| Macon | 23,499 | 29,811 | 6,312 | 26.9% | 516.5 | 45.5 | 57.7 |
| Madison | 16,953 | 19,635 | 2,682 | 15.8% | 449.4 | 37.7 | 43.7 |
| McDowell | 35,681 | 42,151 | 6,470 | 18.1% | 441.7 | 80.8 | 95.4 |
| Mitchell | 14,433 | 15,687 | 1,254 | 8.7% | 221.4 | 65.2 | 70.8 |
| Polk | 14,416 | 18,324 | 3,908 | 27.1% | 237.9 | 60.6 | 77.0 |
| Rutherford | 56,918 | 62,899 | 5,981 | 10.5% | 564.1 | 100.9 | 111.5 |
| Stokes | 37,223 | 44,711 | 7,488 | 20.1% | 451.8 | 82.4 | 99.0 |
| Surry | 61,704 | 71,219 | 9,515 | 15.4% | 536.5 | 115.0 | 132.7 |
| Swain | 11,268 | 12,968 | 1,700 | 15.1% | 528.1 | 21.3 | 24.6 |
| Transylvania | 25,520 | 29,334 | 3,814 | 14.9% | 378.4 | 67.4 | 77.5 |
| Watauga | 36,952 | 42,695 | 5,743 | 15.5% | 312.5 | 118.2 | 136.6 |
| Wilkes | 59,393 | 65,632 | 6,239 | 10.5% | 757.2 | 78.4 | 86.7 |
| Yadkin | 30,488 | 36,348 | 5,860 | 19.2% | 335.6 | 90.8 | 108.3 |
| Yancey | 15,419 | 17,774 | 2,355 | 15.3% | 312.5 | 49.4 | 56.9 |
