Beaufort County, North Carolina

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]

Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina or Beaufort County, South Carolina.

Beaufort County
County
Beaufort County Courthouse
Beaufort County Courthouse
Flag of Beaufort County
Flag
Official seal of Beaufort County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Beaufort County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°29′N 76°50′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1712
Named forHenry, Duke of Beaufort
SeatWashington
Largest communityWashington
Area
 • Total962.85 sq mi (2,493.8 km2)
 • Land832.74 sq mi (2,156.8 km2)
 • Water130.11 sq mi (337.0 km2)  13.51%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total44,652
 • Estimate 
(2022)
44,272
 • Density53.62/sq mi (20.70/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.beaufort.nc.us

Beaufort County comprises the Washington, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greenville-Washington, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

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

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

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17905,405—
18006,24215.5%
18107,20315.4%
18209,85036.7%
183010,96911.4%
184012,22511.5%
185013,81613.0%
186014,7666.9%
187013,011−11.9%
188017,47434.3%
189021,07220.6%
190026,40425.3%
191030,87716.9%
192031,0240.5%
193035,02612.9%
194036,4314.0%
195037,1341.9%
196036,014−3.0%
197035,980−0.1%
198040,35512.2%
199042,2834.8%
200044,9586.3%
201047,7596.2%
202044,652−6.5%
2022 (est.)44,272[1]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[1]

2020 census
Beaufort County racial composition[13]
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, there were 44,652 people, 19,701 households, and 12,638 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[14] 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

As of 2010, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Beaufort County were:[15]

AncestryPercent
(2010)
English England14.4%
American United States11.9%
German Germany6.6%
Irish Republic of Ireland6.0%
Scottish Scotland2.5%
French France1.6%
Italian Italy1.5%

Government and politics
Washington Municipal Building

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.

United States presidential election results for Beaufort County, North Carolina[16]
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%

Education

Beaufort County Schools is the local public school system.

Communities
Map of Beaufort County with municipal and township labels

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Townships
  • Bath
  • Chocowinity
  • Long Acre
  • Pantego
  • Richland
  • Washington

Other unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking is based on a 2023 estimate of Beaufort County.[17]

† = county seat

Rank Name Type Population
(2023 estimate)
1 † Washington City 9,610
2 River Road CDP 3,900
3 Belhaven Town 1,407
4 Chocowinity Town 716
5 Aurora Town 470
6 Washington Park Town 393
7 Bayview CDP 292
8 Bath Town 232
9 Pantego Town 193
10 Pinetown CDP 146

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "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.
  4. "Beaufort County". NCpedia. State Library of North Carolina. January 1, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  5. "No Outlying Landing Field for Washington County". Southern Environmental Law Center. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  6. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  7. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  11. "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.
  12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  17. "Beaufort County NC - Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods, & Subdivisions". northcarolina.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
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