Beaufort County, North Carolina - Wikipedia
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| Beaufort County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
| County | |
 Beaufort County Courthouse | |
 Flag Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina | |
 Interactive map of Beaufort County, North Carolina | |
| Coordinates: 35°29′N 76°50′W / 35.48°N 76.84°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| Founded | 1712 |
| Named after | Henry, Duke of Beaufort |
| Seat | Washington |
| Largest community | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 962.85 sq mi (2,493.8 km2) |
| • Land | 832.74 sq mi (2,156.8 km2) |
| • Water | 130.11 sq mi (337.0 km2) 13.51% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 44,652 |
| • Estimate (2024) | 44,576  |
| • Density | 53.62/sq mi (20.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www.co.beaufort.nc.us |
Beaufort County (/ˈboʊfərt/ BOH-fərt) 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]
Beaufort County comprises the Washington, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greenville-Washington, NC Combined Statistical Area.
History
[edit]Beaufort County was first called Pamptecough. The name was changed about 1712 to Beaufort, named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (1684–1714), who became one of Carolina's Lords Proprietor around 1709.
Beaufort County was the site of a proposed Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would have allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier. Construction was controversial due to its potential ecological impact.[5]
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 962.85 square miles (2,493.8 km2), of which 832.74 square miles (2,156.8 km2) is land and 130.11 square miles (337.0 km2) (13.51%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. The county split in half by the Pamlico River.
State and local protected areas/sites
[edit]- Goose Creek Game Land (part)[7]
- Goose Creek State Park
- Historic Bath
- Van Swamp Game Lands (part)[7]
- Voice of America Game Land (part)[7]
Major water bodies
[edit]- Goose Creek
- Intracoastal Waterway
- Pamlico River
- Pungo River
- Blounts Creek
- Tar River
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Martin County – north
- Washington County – northeast
- Hyde County – east
- Pamlico County – south
- Craven County – southwest
- Pitt County – west
Major highways
[edit]
US 17
US 17 Bus.
US 264- US 264 Bus.
NC 32
NC 33
NC 45
NC 92
NC 99
NC 102
NC 171
NC 306
Major infrastructure
[edit]- Bayview–Aurora Ferry
- Washington-Warren Field Airport
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 44,652 | −6.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 44,576 | [8] | −0.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9]1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[1] | |||
2020 census
[edit]| 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 census, the county had 44,652 people living in 19,430 households, including 12,638 families. The median age was 48.5 years; 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.1 males.[15]
The racial makeup of the county was 66.8% White, 23.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.3% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.7% of the population.[14]
Of the 19,430 households in the county, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.8% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 24,090 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.8% were owner-occupied and 28.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.[15]
37.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
2000 census
[edit]At the 2000 census,[17] 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 people/km2). There were 22,139 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10 units/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.
Ancestry
[edit]As of 2010, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Beaufort County were:[18]
| Ancestry | Percent(2010) |
|---|---|
English  | 14.4% |
| American | 11.9% |
German  | 6.6% |
Irish  | 6.0% |
Scottish  | 2.5% |
French  | 1.6% |
Italian  | 1.5% |
Government and politics
[edit]
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.
Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 295 | 11.76% | 1,605 | 63.97% | 609 | 24.27% |
| 1916 | 1,274 | 39.42% | 1,957 | 60.55% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1920 | 2,266 | 39.15% | 3,522 | 60.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1,502 | 32.35% | 3,048 | 65.65% | 93 | 2.00% |
| 1928 | 2,521 | 41.64% | 3,533 | 58.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 839 | 13.05% | 5,552 | 86.33% | 40 | 0.62% |
| 1936 | 964 | 13.58% | 6,133 | 86.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 936 | 14.48% | 5,528 | 85.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 1,133 | 19.40% | 4,706 | 80.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,055 | 17.50% | 4,675 | 77.53% | 300 | 4.98% |
| 1952 | 2,404 | 30.69% | 5,429 | 69.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,277 | 28.44% | 5,730 | 71.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,694 | 30.85% | 6,039 | 69.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,595 | 37.12% | 6,090 | 62.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,669 | 23.03% | 3,232 | 27.89% | 5,686 | 49.07% |
| 1972 | 6,915 | 69.65% | 2,901 | 29.22% | 112 | 1.13% |
| 1976 | 4,677 | 44.68% | 5,728 | 54.72% | 62 | 0.59% |
| 1980 | 6,773 | 51.95% | 6,024 | 46.21% | 240 | 1.84% |
| 1984 | 9,284 | 60.66% | 5,987 | 39.12% | 33 | 0.22% |
| 1988 | 8,190 | 60.35% | 5,352 | 39.44% | 28 | 0.21% |
| 1992 | 7,337 | 45.91% | 6,445 | 40.33% | 2,198 | 13.75% |
| 1996 | 8,154 | 53.59% | 6,172 | 40.57% | 889 | 5.84% |
| 2000 | 10,531 | 60.83% | 6,634 | 38.32% | 148 | 0.85% |
| 2004 | 12,432 | 63.68% | 7,025 | 35.99% | 65 | 0.33% |
| 2008 | 13,460 | 58.50% | 9,454 | 41.09% | 96 | 0.42% |
| 2012 | 13,977 | 59.17% | 9,435 | 39.94% | 208 | 0.88% |
| 2016 | 14,543 | 60.75% | 8,764 | 36.61% | 631 | 2.64% |
| 2020 | 16,437 | 62.46% | 9,633 | 36.61% | 245 | 0.93% |
| 2024 | 17,296 | 65.09% | 9,049 | 34.05% | 227 | 0.85% |
Education
[edit]Beaufort County Schools is the local public school system.
Communities
[edit]
City
[edit]- Washington (county seat and largest community)
Towns
[edit]- Aurora
- Bath
- Belhaven
- Chocowinity
- Pantego
- Washington Park
Census-designated places
[edit]- Bayview
- Cypress Landing
- Pinetown
- River Road
Townships
[edit]- Bath
- Chocowinity
- Long Acre
- Pantego
- Richland
- Washington
Other unincorporated communities
[edit]- Blounts Creek
- Edward
- Royal
Population ranking
[edit]The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Beaufort County.[20]
† = county seat
| Rank | Name | Type | Population(2020 census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Washington | City | 9,875 |
| 2 | River Road | CDP | 4,048 |
| 3 | Belhaven | Town | 1,410 |
| 4 | Chocowinity | Town | 722 |
| 5 | Aurora | Town | 455 |
| 6 | Washington Park | Town | 392 |
| 7 | Bayview | CDP | 298 |
| 8 | Bath | Town | 245 |
| 9 | Pantego | Town | 164 |
| 10 | Pinetown | CDP | 147 |
See also
[edit]- List of counties in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, North Carolina
References
[edit]- ^ a b "QuickFacts: Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Peter, Bangma (2006). Powell, William S. (ed.). "Beaufort County". NCpedia. University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "No Outlying Landing Field for Washington County". Southern Environmental Law Center. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beaufort County, North Carolina. 
Geographic data related to Beaufort County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap- Official website
- Life on the Pamlico: A Publication of Beaufort County Community College
- The Beaufort Sun
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