Northampton County /

Northampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 22,086. Its county seat is Jackson. Northampton County is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county was formed in 1741 from Bertie County. It was named for James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton. In 1759 parts of Northampton County, Bertie County, and Chowan County were combined to form Hertford County. Northampton County is a member of the regional Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. It is a traditionally Democratic county and was one of only two counties in the state won by George McGovern. The last Democratic candidate to lose the county was William Jennings Bryan in 1896. In the last five Presidential elections the Democratic candidate has consistently received over 63% of the county's vote. It is part of North Carolina's 1st congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+9 and has been represented by a Democratic Congressman since 1899. It is currently represented by G. K. Butterfield. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 551 square miles (1,426 km²), of which,