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| Beaufort County, North Carolina | ||
 Beaufort County Courthouse
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 Location in the state of North Carolina | ||
 North Carolina's location in the U.S. | ||
| Founded | 1739 | |
|---|---|---|
| Named for | Henry, Duke of Beaufort | |
| Seat | Washington | |
| Largest city | Washington | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
958 sq mi (2,481 km²) 827 sq mi (2,142 km²) 131 sq mi (339 km²), 14% | |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
44,652 53.8/sq mi (21/km²) | |
| Congressional district | 3rd | |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | |
| Website | www.co.beaufort.nc.us | |
Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 44,652.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The county was founded in 1705 as Pamptecough Precinct. Originally included in Bath County, it was renamed Beaufort Precinct in 1712 and became Beaufort County in 1739.[3][4]
History[]
Beaufort County was first called Pamptecough. The name was changed about 1712 to Beaufort, named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who became one of Carolina's Lords Proprietor around 1709.
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 958 square miles (2,480 km2), of which 827 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 131 square miles (340 km2) (14%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. It is split in half by the Pamlico River and the mouth of the Pamlico River.
State and local protected lands[]
- Goose Creek Game Land (part)
- Goose Creek State Park
- Van Swamp Game Lands (part)
Adjacent counties[]
- Washington County - northeast
- Martin County - northwest
- Hyde County - east
- Pamlico County - south
- Craven County - southwest
- Pitt County - west
Major water-bodies[]
- Goose Creek
- Intracoastal Waterway
- Pamlico River
- Pungo River
- South River
- Tar River
Major highways[]
US 17- US 264
- US 264 Bus.
- NC 32
- NC 33
- NC 45
- NC 92
- NC 99
- NC 102
- NC 171
- NC 306
Other major infrastructure[]
- Bayview-Aurora Ferry
- Washington-Warren Field Airport (OCW)
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 5,405 | ||
| 1800 | 6,242 | 15.5% | |
| 1810 | 7,203 | 15.4% | |
| 1820 | 9,850 | 36.7% | |
| 1830 | 10,969 | 11.4% | |
| 1840 | 12,225 | 11.5% | |
| 1850 | 13,816 | 13.0% | |
| 1860 | 14,766 | 6.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,011 | −11.9% | |
| 1880 | 17,474 | 34.3% | |
| 1890 | 21,072 | 20.6% | |
| 1900 | 26,404 | 25.3% | |
| 1910 | 30,877 | 16.9% | |
| 1920 | 31,024 | 0.5% | |
| 1930 | 35,026 | 12.9% | |
| 1940 | 36,431 | 4.0% | |
| 1950 | 37,134 | 1.9% | |
| 1960 | 36,014 | −3.0% | |
| 1970 | 35,980 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 40,355 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 42,283 | 4.8% | |
| 2000 | 44,958 | 6.3% | |
| 2010 | 47,759 | 6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[10] | |||
Beaufort County comprises the Washington, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greenville-Washington, NC Combined Statistical Area.
2020 census[]
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 29,431 | 65.91% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,195 | 22.83% |
| Native American | 90 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 164 | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander | 16 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,323 | 2.96% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,433 | 7.69% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 44,652 people, 19,701 households, and 12,638 families residing in the county.
2000 census[]
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 44,958 people, 18,319 households, and 12,951 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 22,139 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.44% White, 29.03% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 18,319 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,066, and the median income for a family was $37,893. Males had a median income of $30,483 versus $21,339 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,722. About 15.20% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Beaufort County, North Carolina were:
- English - 14.4%
- "American" - 11.9%
- German - 6.6%
- Irish - 6.0%
- Scottish - 2.5%
- French - 1.6%
- Italian - 1.5%[13]
Communities[]
City[]
- Washington (county seat and largest city)
Map of Beaufort County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Towns[]
- Aurora
- Bath
- Belhaven
- Chocowinity
- Pantego
- Washington Park
Census-designated places[]
- Bayview
- Cypress Landing
- Pinetown
- River Road
Other unincorporated communities[]
- Blounts Creek
- Edward
- Royal
Population ranking[]
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2021 estimates of Beaufort County.[14]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2021 Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Washington | City | 9,493 |
| 2 | River Road | CDP | 4,333 |
| 3 | Belhaven | Town | 1,758 |
| 4 | Chocowinity | Town | 880 |
| 5 | Aurora | Town | 555 |
| 6 | Washington Park | Town | 437 |
| 7 | Bayview | CDP | 338 |
| 8 | Bath | Town | 245 |
| 9 | Pantego | Town | 171 |
| 10 | Pinetown | CDP | 151 |
Politics, law and government[]
Beaufort is a typical “Solid South” county in its voting patterns. It voted Democratic consistently up through 1964, even resisting the lure of voting against Al Smith’s Catholic faith and opposition to Prohibition in 1928 when North Carolina went Republican for the only time between 1876 and 1964. However, the increasing social and racial liberalism of the Democratic Party turned its electorate to George Wallace in 1968 and overwhelmingly to Richard Nixon against George McGovern four years later. Since then, Beaufort has been a strongly Republican county, with the last Democrat to carry it being Jimmy Carter in 1976.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 16,437 | 62.46% | 9,633 | 36.61% | 245 | 0.93% |
| 2016 | 14,543 | 60.75% | 8,764 | 36.61% | 631 | 2.64% |
| 2012 | 13,977 | 59.17% | 9,435 | 39.94% | 208 | 0.88% |
| 2008 | 13,460 | 58.50% | 9,454 | 41.09% | 96 | 0.42% |
| 2004 | 12,432 | 63.68% | 7,025 | 35.99% | 65 | 0.33% |
| 2000 | 10,531 | 60.83% | 6,634 | 38.32% | 148 | 0.85% |
| 1996 | 8,154 | 53.59% | 6,172 | 40.57% | 889 | 5.84% |
| 1992 | 7,337 | 45.91% | 6,445 | 40.33% | 2,198 | 13.75% |
| 1988 | 8,190 | 60.35% | 5,352 | 39.44% | 28 | 0.21% |
| 1984 | 9,284 | 60.66% | 5,987 | 39.12% | 33 | 0.22% |
| 1980 | 6,773 | 51.95% | 6,024 | 46.21% | 240 | 1.84% |
| 1976 | 4,677 | 44.68% | 5,728 | 54.72% | 62 | 0.59% |
| 1972 | 6,915 | 69.65% | 2,901 | 29.22% | 112 | 1.13% |
| 1968 | 2,669 | 23.03% | 3,232 | 27.89% | 5,686 | 49.07% |
| 1964 | 3,595 | 37.12% | 6,090 | 62.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,694 | 30.85% | 6,039 | 69.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,277 | 28.44% | 5,730 | 71.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,404 | 30.69% | 5,429 | 69.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,055 | 17.50% | 4,675 | 77.53% | 300 | 4.98% |
| 1944 | 1,133 | 19.40% | 4,706 | 80.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 936 | 14.48% | 5,528 | 85.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 964 | 13.58% | 6,133 | 86.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 839 | 13.05% | 5,552 | 86.33% | 40 | 0.62% |
| 1928 | 2,521 | 41.64% | 3,533 | 58.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,502 | 32.35% | 3,048 | 65.65% | 93 | 2.00% |
| 1920 | 2,266 | 39.15% | 3,522 | 60.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 1,274 | 39.42% | 1,957 | 60.55% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1912 | 295 | 11.76% | 1,605 | 63.97% | 609 | 24.27% |
| 1908 | 1,304 | 41.23% | 1,828 | 57.79% | 31 | 0.98% |
| 1904 | 867 | 32.47% | 1,803 | 67.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | 1,799 | 43.72% | 2,316 | 56.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1896 | 2,207 | 46.53% | 2,513 | 52.98% | 23 | 0.48% |
| 1892 | 1,612 | 45.27% | 1,865 | 52.37% | 84 | 2.36% |
| 1888 | 1,833 | 45.92% | 2,033 | 50.93% | 126 | 3.16% |
| 1884 | 1,713 | 46.20% | 1,995 | 53.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 1,723 | 49.38% | 1,766 | 50.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.
Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier. Construction, which has not yet begun, is controversial due to its potential ecological impact.
Education[]
Beaufort County Schools is the local public school system.
See also[]
- List of counties in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, North Carolina
- North Carolina Ferry System
- North Carolina State Parks
- Bath, North Carolina, first provincial capital before Edenton.
References[]
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts: Beaufort County". 2022-04-18. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/beaufortcountynorthcarolina/INC110219.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm.
- ^ "Beaufort County". State Library of North Carolina. January 1, 2006. http://ncpedia.org/geography/beaufort.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_37.txt.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37013.html.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37013&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ "Archived copy". http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US37013.
- ^ "Beaufort County NC - Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods, & Subdivisions". https://northcarolina.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,013,c,beaufort.cfm.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
External links[]
- Official website
- Geographic data related to Beaufort County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
- Life on the Pamlico: A Publication of Beaufort County Community College
- The Beaufort Sun
Geographic data related to 
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Martin County | Washington County |
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| Pitt County | 
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Hyde County | ||
   Beaufort County, North Carolina | ||||
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| Craven County | Pamlico County |
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| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Beaufort County, North Carolina. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |