National protected area

• Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and Local protected site

• Museum of the Albemarle

Major water bodies

• Albemarle Sound
• Big Flatty Creek
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Little River
• Newbegun Creek
• Pasquotank River

Adjacent counties

• Tyrrell County – south
• Camden County – east
• Perquimans County – southwest
• Gates County – northwest

Major highways

• 
  Future I-87
• US 17
• 
  US 17 Bus.
• 
  US 17 Bus. Truck
• 
  US 17 Byp.
• US 158
• NC 344

Major infrastructure

• Elizabeth City Regional Airport

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 40,568 people, 14,697 households, and 9,829 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census,^[14] there were 40,661 people, 13,907 households, and 9,687 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile (59 people/km²). There were 14,289 housing units at an average density of 63 units per square mile (24 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.7% White, 37.8% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 4.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,907 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,444, and the median income for a family was $36,402. Males had a median income of $30,072 versus $21,652 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,815. 18.4% of the population and 15.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 25.5% are under the age of 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older.

City

• Elizabeth City (county seat and largest community)

Unincorporated communities

• Nixonton
• Weeksville

Townships

• Elizabeth City
• Mount Hermon
• Newland
• Nixonton
• Providence
• Salem