1. History

2. Law and government

3. Military

4. Geography
    National protected areas  Major highways 

5. Demographics

6. Education

7. Communities
    Towns  Census-designated places  Unincorporated communities 

8. See also

9. References

10. External links

Carteret County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 66,469.^[2] Its county seat is Beaufort.^[3] The county was created in 1722 as Carteret Precinct and gained county status in 1739.^[4] 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 Sept. 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.^[5]

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 Militia. In 1782, He fought alongside Col. 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 NC Regiment present at Valley Forge. In the 1790 US 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.

Law and government

Carteret County is a member of the regional Eastern Carolina Council of Governments. It includes 16 of North Carolina's townships.

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.^[6] 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.^[7][8] Both candidates filed legal challenges contesting the format of the new election.^[9] On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race.^[10]

Military

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1341|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|506|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|834|sqmi}} (62%) is water.^[13] It is the third-largest county in North Carolina by total area.

National protected areas

• Cape Lookout National Seashore
• Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Croatan National Forest (part)

Major highways

• {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|12}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|24}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|58}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|101}}

Demographics

As of the census^[19] of 2000, 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/km²). There were 40,947 housing units at an average density of 79 per square mile (30/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.

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.^[20]

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

• Tiller School is a grade K-5 public charter school^[21] in Beaufort, NC.
• Saint Egbert School is a grade K-5 Catholic school^[22] in Morehead City, NC.
• Grace Christian School is a grade K-8 school^[23] in Newport, NC.
• Gramercy Christian School is a grade K-12 school^[24] in Newport, NC.

Communities

Towns

• Atlantic Beach
• Beaufort
• Bogue
• Cape Carteret
• Cedar Point
• Emerald Isle
• Indian Beach
• Morehead City
• Newport
• Peletier
• Pine Knoll Shores

Census-designated places

• Atlantic
• Broad Creek
• Davis
• Gloucester
• Harkers Island
• Marshallberg

Unincorporated communities

• Bettie
• Cedar Island
• Gales Creek
• Harlowe
• Lola
• Merrimon
• Mill Creek
• North River
• Ocean
• Otway
• Salter Path
• Sea Gate
• Sea Level
• Stacy
• Stella
• Straits
• Smyrna
• Wildwood
• Williston
• Wiregrass

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Carteret County, North Carolina
• List of townships in North Carolina

References

External links

• {{official website|http://www.carteretcountygov.org}}
• Carteret County News-Times
• Carteret County Chamber of Commerce
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041205113312/http://thehistoryplace.org/ Carteret County Historical Society]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130529211857/http://carteretcounty.net/ History and Events]
• Carteret Health Care

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