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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Carteret County, North Carolina
Carteret County (/ˌkɑːr.təˈrɛt/ KAR-tuh-REHT or /ˌkɑːr.tɜːrˈɛt/ KAR-tur-ET) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,686. Its county seat is Beaufort. The county was created in 1722 as Carteret Precinct and gained county status in 1739. 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 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.

History

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.

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,330.41 square miles (3,445.7 km), of which 507.60 square miles (1,314.7 km) is land and 822.81 square miles (2,131.1 km) (61.85%) is water. It is the third-largest county in North Carolina by total area.

National protected areas/sites

State and local protected areas/sites

Outstanding water sources and protected areas:

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17903,734—
18004,39917.8%
18104,8239.6%
18205,60916.3%
18306,59717.6%
18406,591−0.1%
18506,9395.3%
18608,18618.0%
18709,01010.1%
18809,7848.6%
189010,82510.6%
190011,8119.1%
191013,77616.6%
192015,38411.7%
193016,9009.9%
194018,2848.2%
195023,05926.1%
196030,94034.2%
197031,6032.1%
198041,09230.0%
199052,55627.9%
200059,38313.0%
201066,46911.9%
202067,6861.8%
2023 (est.)69,6152.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Carteret County racial composition
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, 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/km). There were 40,947 housing units at an average density of 79 units per square mile (31 units/km). 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.

Government and politics

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.

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. 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. Both candidates filed legal challenges contesting the format of the new election. On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race.

United States presidential election results for Carteret County, North Carolina
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%

Education

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.

In addition the county is home to a public charter school and three private schools:

Higher learning

Media

The Carteret County News-Times is a community newspaper based in Morehead City that serves Carteret County and nearby areas. Its predecessors were The Beaufort News, a newspaper founded in 1912, and the Twin City Daily Times, a newspaper founded in 1936. The Phillips family purchased and merged the two newspapers together to form Carteret County News-Times. The Carteret County News-Times's earliest printing was on May 18, 1948. Beginning in 1981, the newspaper has published three editions a week: Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. 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".

Military

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 km) landing field located on Bogue Sound that serves as the Marine Corps’ only East Coast site for Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP).

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 and Cat Island in Bogue Sound are former Marine Corps bombing ranges.

The Marine Corps also has a facility in Beaufort, at the southern tip of Radio Island (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.

Communities

Map of Carteret County with municipal and township labels

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

See also