| Official Name: | Dudley, North Carolina |
| Pushpin Map: | North Carolina#USA |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Wayne |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 7.16 |
| Area Land Km2: | 7.15 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.76 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.76 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 826 |
| Population Density Km2: | 115.56 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 299.28 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 184 |
| Coordinates: | 35.2661°N -78.0383°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 28333[1] |
| Area Code: | 919 and 984 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 2812802 |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
Dudley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States, about 9 miles south of Goldsboro. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 826.[3] Dudley is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Another town named Dudley originally existed several miles north from its current location. It was founded by Labon Lewis, the son of a Revolutionary soldier, named for his deceased brother Dudley Lewis. On January 13, 1840, a post office was established for this town. This office's name was later changed to Everettsville, which was moved to a new location in 1849 and was closed in 1866.
The second and present town bearing the name was set up around 1836-1840 as a camp for the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. This time, however, it was named for Governor Edward B. Dudley, the railroad's founder. In the years in which the village grew, it gained a depot and a passenger station. Its post office was established on February 3, 1850.
In December 1862, during the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge, a number ofbuildings and railroad cars were destroyed in Dudley by the Union Army underMaj. Gen. John G. Foster.
Dudley was incorporated in 1897, with J. W. Hatch elected as the town's first mayor. The town's government lasted for many years until eventually no more officials were elected and the incorporation ended.
The Georgia Pacific Corporation opened a facility in Dudley in 1973 and now employs over 625 people.[4]
| White alone (NH) | 148 | 17.92% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 335 | 40.56% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 0.24% | |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 2 | 0.24% | |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 31 | 3.75% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 308 | 37.29% | |
| Total | 826 | 100.00% |
Education in Dudley is administered by the Wayne County Public School system with children attending classes at Brogden Primary School, Brogden Middle School and Southern Wayne High School. Higher education is offered through Wayne Community College in Goldsboro and Mount Olive College in Mount Olive.
2. See also: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nc/county/wayne/articles/dudley.htm