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Carteret County (/ˌkɑːr.təˈrɛt/ KAR-tuh-REHT or /ˌkɑːr.tɜːrˈɛt/ KAR-tur-ET)[1][2] is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,686.[3] Its county seat is Beaufort.[4] The county was created in 1722 as Carteret Precinct and gained county status in 1739.[5] It was named for Sir George Carteret, one of the 17th century English Lords Proprietor, or for his descendant and heir John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville.
Carteret County | |
|---|---|
 Carteret County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 34.86°N 76.54°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1722 |
| Named for | Sir George Carteret |
| Seat | Beaufort |
| Largest community | Morehead City |
| Government | |
| • County Manager | Tommy Burns |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,330.41 sq mi (3,445.7 km2) |
| • Land | 507.60 sq mi (1,314.7 km2) |
| • Water | 822.81 sq mi (2,131.1 km2) 61.85% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 67,686 |
• Estimate (2023) | 69,615 |
| • Density | 133.35/sq mi (51.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Carteret County comprises the Morehead City, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the New Bern-Morehead City, NC Combined Statistical Area. Most of the county is part of the Crystal Coast.
In 2024, real estate developers in Cedar Point disturbed the site of an ancient Native American settlement. The discovery led to controversy over the continuance of the housing development and calls for new regulations to protect historical sites. Several state lawmakers pushed for construction to resume, with one legislator receiving campaign contributions from the project's developers in 2022.[6]
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The first male of English parents born in the current area of North Carolina was John Fulford. He was born in 1629 in what is now Carteret County. He settled in this area and died in 1729. An article dated September 18, 1893, in The New Bern Daily Journal, identified Fulford's grave in a cemetery outside the county seat of Beaufort, in an area called the Straits. It was described as "bricked up with English brick." In 1971 a survey by the Carteret County Historical Society found such a grave in the Fulford Cemetery off Piper Lane in Gloucester. The unmarked, bricked-up grave matching this description survives today.[7]
One of the more prominent families from Carteret County was the Dennis family. William Dennis Sr. (b.1720 - d.1800) was an extremely colorful landowner, Revolutionary War officer, and defender of the county. In 1747, he assisted with the successful defense of the county during the War of Jenkins' Ear (fighting against Spanish pirates). During the Revolutionary War he served as a 2nd Major in the Carteret County Regiment of the North Carolina militia. In 1782, he fought alongside Lieutenant Colonel John Easton to drive the British from Carteret County. Dennis once owned the Hammock House, which became well known as the house owned by the pirate Blackbeard. His son, William Dennis Junior was a captain in the 8th North Carolina Regiment (1777-1778), was present at Valley Forge and also fought in the Carteret County Regiment (1781-1782). In the 1790 U.S. census, Dennis was one of the largest land owners in the county. Branches of the Dennis family include the Bells, Watsons and Pelletiers, many of whom continued to live in the area for many years. In a typical pattern of following the availability of new lands in the Deep South, some branches of this family later migrated to Mississippi and Texas in the 19th century.[8][9]
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Interactive map of Carteret County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,330.41 square miles (3,445.7 km2), of which 507.60 square miles (1,314.7 km2) is land and 822.81 square miles (2,131.1 km2) (61.85%) is water.[10] It is the third-largest county in North Carolina by total area.
National protected areas/sites
State and local protected areas/sites
- Carteret County Game Land[11]
- Croatan Game Land (part)[12]
- Fort Macon State Park
- North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
- North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort
- Rachel Carson Reserve[13]
- Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area
Outstanding water sources and protected areas:[14][15][16]
- Back Bay Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- Back Sound Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- Back Sound Outstanding Resource Water
- Bardens Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary
- Bear Island Area Outstanding Resource Water (part)
- Bogue Sound Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- Bogue Sound Outstanding Resource Water
- Core Sound, Neuse River Basin Outstanding Resource Water
- Core Sound, White Oak River Basin Outstanding Resource Water
- Drum Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary
- Neuse-Southeast Pamlico Sound Area Outstanding Resource Water (part)
- Newport River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- North Bay Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- North River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- Ocracoke Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary (part)
- Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
- The Straits Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area
- White Oak River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area (part)
Major water bodies
- Adams Creek[17]
- Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
- Back Sound
- Barden Inlet
- Barry Bay[18]
- Bogue Sound
- Calico Bay
- Cedar Island Bay[19]
- Core Sound
- Drum Inlet
- Harlowe Creek[20]
- Intracoastal Waterway
- Jarrett Bay[21]
- Long Bay[22]
- Nelson Bay[23]
- Newport River
- Neuse River
- North River
- Ocracoke Inlet
- Onslow Bay
- Pamlico Sound
- Raleigh Bay
- South River[17]
- Taylor's Creek[24]
- Thorofare Bay[25]
- Turnagain Bay[17]
- West Bay[26]
- West Thorofare Bay[27]
- White Oak River
Adjacent counties
- Jones County – north
- Craven County – north
- Pamlico County – north
- Hyde County – northeast
- Onslow County – west
Major highways
Major infrastructure
- Amtrak Thruway (Morehead City)
- Carteret County Speedway[28]
- Cedar Island–Ocracoke Ferry (to Hyde County)
- Michael J. Smith Field
- Ferries to the uninhabited islands in Cape Lookout National Seashore[29]
- Port of Morehead City
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 3,734 | — | |
| 1800 | 4,399 | 17.8% | |
| 1810 | 4,823 | 9.6% | |
| 1820 | 5,609 | 16.3% | |
| 1830 | 6,597 | 17.6% | |
| 1840 | 6,591 | −0.1% | |
| 1850 | 6,939 | 5.3% | |
| 1860 | 8,186 | 18.0% | |
| 1870 | 9,010 | 10.1% | |
| 1880 | 9,784 | 8.6% | |
| 1890 | 10,825 | 10.6% | |
| 1900 | 11,811 | 9.1% | |
| 1910 | 13,776 | 16.6% | |
| 1920 | 15,384 | 11.7% | |
| 1930 | 16,900 | 9.9% | |
| 1940 | 18,284 | 8.2% | |
| 1950 | 23,059 | 26.1% | |
| 1960 | 30,940 | 34.2% | |
| 1970 | 31,603 | 2.1% | |
| 1980 | 41,092 | 30.0% | |
| 1990 | 52,556 | 27.9% | |
| 2000 | 59,383 | 13.0% | |
| 2010 | 66,469 | 11.9% | |
| 2020 | 67,686 | 1.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 69,615 | [3] | 2.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[30] 1790–1960[31] 1900–1990[32] 1990–2000[33] 2010[34] 2020[3] | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 57,538 | 85.01% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,208 | 4.74% |
| Native American | 252 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 584 | 0.86% |
| Pacific Islander | 63 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,922 | 4.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,119 | 4.61% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 67,686 people, 28,962 households, and 18,292 families residing in the county.
2000 census
At the 2000 census,[36] there were 59,383 people, 25,204 households, and 17,365 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile (44 people/km2). There were 40,947 housing units at an average density of 79 units per square mile (31 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.28% White, 6.99% Black or African American, 0.54% Asian, 0.43% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 25,204 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94 males.
The median income for a household in Carteret County in 2009 was $49,711, and the median income for a family was $45,499. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $22,126 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,260. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
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Carteret County is a member of the regional Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. It includes 16 of North Carolina's townships.
Carteret County operates under a council–manager form of government. The county manager is Tommy Burns.[37]
A voting machine malfunction in the county resulted in the loss of 4,438 ballots cast during early voting for the November 2, 2004, general election.[38] Since the number of lost ballots exceeded the lead held (by Steve Troxler over Britt Cobb) in the statewide race for agriculture commissioner, the State Board of Elections decided to hold a special election on January 11, 2005, open only to the 18,500 voters in the county who either failed to vote or whose votes were lost.[39][40] Both candidates filed legal challenges contesting the format of the new election.[41] On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race.[42]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 32,508 | 70.95% | 12,813 | 27.97% | 496 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 30,028 | 70.33% | 12,093 | 28.32% | 574 | 1.34% |
| 2016 | 26,569 | 70.32% | 9,939 | 26.31% | 1,273 | 3.37% |
| 2012 | 24,775 | 69.76% | 10,301 | 29.00% | 441 | 1.24% |
| 2008 | 23,131 | 66.86% | 11,130 | 32.17% | 336 | 0.97% |
| 2004 | 17,716 | 69.27% | 7,732 | 30.23% | 127 | 0.50% |
| 2000 | 17,381 | 65.69% | 8,839 | 33.40% | 241 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | 11,721 | 56.15% | 7,566 | 36.24% | 1,589 | 7.61% |
| 1992 | 10,334 | 47.36% | 8,028 | 36.79% | 3,457 | 15.84% |
| 1988 | 11,076 | 61.55% | 6,859 | 38.12% | 59 | 0.33% |
| 1984 | 11,637 | 66.28% | 5,882 | 33.50% | 38 | 0.22% |
| 1980 | 7,733 | 52.37% | 6,485 | 43.92% | 549 | 3.72% |
| 1976 | 5,786 | 44.72% | 7,080 | 54.72% | 73 | 0.56% |
| 1972 | 8,463 | 74.14% | 2,805 | 24.57% | 147 | 1.29% |
| 1968 | 4,593 | 40.23% | 3,762 | 32.95% | 3,061 | 26.81% |
| 1964 | 4,289 | 40.77% | 6,231 | 59.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,493 | 46.05% | 5,264 | 53.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,804 | 49.54% | 3,875 | 50.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,967 | 40.94% | 4,280 | 59.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,520 | 29.46% | 3,491 | 67.66% | 149 | 2.89% |
| 1944 | 1,566 | 30.98% | 3,489 | 69.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 1,789 | 31.47% | 3,896 | 68.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,889 | 33.32% | 3,780 | 66.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,765 | 33.46% | 3,455 | 65.50% | 55 | 1.04% |
| 1928 | 3,133 | 60.51% | 2,045 | 39.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,854 | 44.89% | 2,261 | 54.75% | 15 | 0.36% |
| 1920 | 2,315 | 52.79% | 2,070 | 47.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 1,246 | 51.68% | 1,165 | 48.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 218 | 11.43% | 1,153 | 60.43% | 537 | 28.14% |
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Primary and secondary education
The county is served by the Carteret County Public Schools. Carteret County Public Schools has 16 schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. Those 16 schools are separated into three high schools, four middle schools, and nine elementary schools.[44]
In addition the county is home to a public charter school and three private schools:
- Tiller School is a grade K-5 public charter school in Beaufort[45]
- Saint Egbert School is a grade K-5 Catholic school in Morehead City[46]
- Grace Christian School is a grade K-8 school in Newport[47]
- Gramercy Christian School is a grade K-12 school in Newport[48]
Higher learning
- Carteret Community College (CCC)
- UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences (UNC-IMS)
- NCSU Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST)
- Duke University Marine Laboratory
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The Carteret County News-Times is a community newspaper based in Morehead City that serves Carteret County and nearby areas.[49] Its predecessors were The Beaufort News, a newspaper founded in 1912, and the Twin City Daily Times, a newspaper founded in 1936.[50] The Phillips family purchased and merged the two newspapers together to form Carteret County News-Times.[51] The Carteret County News-Times's earliest printing was on May 18, 1948.[49] Beginning in 1981, the newspaper has published three editions a week: Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.[49] According to the 2010 book North Carolina's Central Coast and New Bern, the newspaper is "a good source of information for vacationers who want to know the schedules of tours, festivals, kids' programs, seminars, exhibits and events of all types within the county and the surrounding area".[52]
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Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue is located in the western section of Carteret County along Bogue Sound. It comprises an 875 acres (3.54 km2) landing field located on Bogue Sound that serves as the Marine Corps’ only East Coast site for Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP).[53]
Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic is a training field in Atlantic. The USMC manages the Navy's Dumpling Creek Transmission Station in Merrimon. BT-11 Piney Island in Davis[54] and Cat Island in Bogue Sound are former Marine Corps bombing ranges.[55]
The Marine Corps also has a facility in Beaufort, at the southern tip of Radio Island[56] (between the NC State Port in Morehead City, and the marine science laboratories on Pivers Island in Beaufort). It is military property, but is only manned during military port operations.
The US Navy has a Port Control Office and the US Army has a Reserve Center, both in the eastern part of Morehead City. The NC National Guard has an Armory in Morehead City.
The US Coast Guard operates a Sector Office at Fort Macon, as well as a USCG Station at Emerald Isle and Morehead City.
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Cities
- Morehead City (largest community)
Towns
Townships
- Atlantic
- Beaufort
- Cedar Island
- Davis
- Harkers Island
- Harlowe
- Marshallberg
- Merrimon
- Morehead
- Newport
- Portsmouth
- Sea Level
- Smyrna
- Stacy
- Straits
- White Oak
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Bettie
- Cape Lookout
- Cedar Island
- Core Creek
- Gales Creek
- Harlowe
- Lola
- Merrimon
- Mill Creek
- North River
- Ocean
- Otway
- Salter Path
- Sea Gate
- Sea Level
- Smyrna
- South River
- Stacy
- Stella
- Straits
- Wildwood
- Williston
- Wiregrass
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