Ruth, NC Demographics

A map of Ruth's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	433	277	84.9%	79.8%
Hispanic	44	29	8.6%	8.4%
Multiracial	27	16	5.3%	4.6%
Black	5	20	1.0%	5.8%
Asian	1	3	0.2%	0.9%
Native American/Other	0	2	0.0%	0.6%

Ruth, North Carolina has an estimated population of 510, a dramatic increase from the 347 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 84.9% White, 8.6% Hispanic, 5.3% Multiracial, 1.0% Black, 0.2% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ruth, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ruth has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ruth, that probability was 35.0% in 2020 and 26.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ruth is ranked the 585th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Ruth was ranked the 632nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Ruth's White Population

433 residents of Ruth, or 84.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ruth is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Ruth ranks 266th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's White population has grown by an estimated 56.3%. White residents' share of Ruth's population has increased from 79.8% to 84.9%.

Ruth is more White than neighboring Rutherfordton (68.5% White), Spindale (72.4% White), Forest City (55.6% White), and Caroleen (82.8% White). Ruth is less White than neighboring Bostic (90.1% White).

Ruth's Black Population

5 residents of Ruth, or 1.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ruth is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Ruth ranks 496th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's Black population has declined by an estimated 75.0%. Black residents' share of Ruth's population has decreased from 5.8% to 1.0%.

Ruth is more Black than neighboring Caroleen (0% Black). Ruth is less Black than neighboring Rutherfordton (10.4% Black), Spindale (14.4% Black), Forest City (21.8% Black), and Bostic (5.5% Black).

Ruth's Asian Population

1 residents of Ruth, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ruth is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Ruth ranks 304th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's Asian population has declined by an estimated 66.7%. Asian residents' share of Ruth's population has decreased from 0.9% to 0.2%.

Ruth is more Asian than neighboring Caroleen (0% Asian). Ruth is less Asian than neighboring Rutherfordton (1.1% Asian), Spindale (1% Asian), Forest City (1.6% Asian), and Bostic (0.7% Asian).

Ruth's Hispanic Population

44 residents of Ruth, or 8.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ruth is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Ruth ranks 258th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 51.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Ruth's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.6%.

Ruth is more Hispanic than neighboring Spindale (6.1% Hispanic), Bostic (0% Hispanic), and Caroleen (0% Hispanic). Ruth is less Hispanic than neighboring Rutherfordton (9.9% Hispanic), and Forest City (10.5% Hispanic).

Ruth's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Ruth, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ruth is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Ruth ranks 513th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ruth's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Ruth is less Native American/Other than neighboring Rutherfordton (0.3% Native American/Other), Spindale (1.3% Native American/Other), Forest City (2.3% Native American/Other), and Caroleen (17.2% Native American/Other).

Ruth's Multiracial Population

27 residents of Ruth, or 5.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ruth is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Ruth ranks 186th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruth's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 68.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Ruth's population has increased from 4.6% to 5.3%.

Ruth is more Multiracial than neighboring Spindale (4.8% Multiracial), Bostic (3.7% Multiracial), and Caroleen (0% Multiracial). Ruth is less Multiracial than neighboring Rutherfordton (9.6% Multiracial), and Forest City (8.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.