Beaufort County, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Beaufort County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofNorth Carolina | |
 North Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°29′N76°50′W / 35.48°N 76.84°W /35.48; -76.84 | |
| 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 |
Beaufort County (/ˈboʊfərt/BOH-fərt) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofNorth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 44,652.[1] Itscounty seat isWashington.[2] The county was founded in 1705 as Pamptecough Precinct. Originally included inBath County, it was renamed Beaufort Precinct in 1712 and became Beaufort County in 1739.[3][4]
Beaufort County comprises the Washington, NCMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theGreenville-Washington, NCCombined Statistical Area.
Beaufort County was first called Pamptecough. The name was changed about 1712 to Beaufort, named forHenry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (1684–1714), who became one of Carolina'sLords Proprietor around 1709.
Beaufort County was the site of a proposedNavyoutlying landing field. This practice airfield would have allow pilots to simulate landings on anaircraft carrier. Construction was controversial due to its potentialecological impact.[5]
According to theU.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 thePamlico River.
| 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] | |||
| 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 orLatino | 3,433 | 7.69% |
As of the2020 census, there were 44,652 people, 19,701 households, and 12,638 families residing in the county.
At the2000 census,[15] there were 44,958 people, 18,319 households, and 12,951 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.16%Native American, 0.22%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.42% fromother races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.24% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $16,722. About 15.20% of families and 19.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Beaufort County were:[16]
| Ancestry | Percent (2010) |
|---|---|
English | 14.4% |
| American | 11.9% |
German | 6.6% |
Irish | 6.0% |
Scottish | 2.5% |
French | 1.6% |
Italian | 1.5% |
Beaufort is a typical “Solid South” county in its voting patterns. It voted Democratic consistently up through 1964, even resisting the lure of voting againstAl Smith’s Catholic faith and opposition toProhibition 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 toGeorge Wallace in 1968 and overwhelmingly toRichard Nixon againstGeorge McGovern four years later. Since then, Beaufort has been a strongly Republican county, with the last Democrat to carry it beingJimmy Carter in 1976.
Beaufort County is a member of theMid-East Commission regional council of governments.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 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% |
Beaufort County Schools is the local public school system.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Beaufort County.[18]
† =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 |
Geographic data related toBeaufort County, North Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Beaufort County, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofBeaufort County, North Carolina,United States | ||
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