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Currituck County, North Carolina facts for kids

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Currituck County
Currituck County Courthouse
Currituck County Courthouse
Official seal of Currituck County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Currituck 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.
Country  United States
State  North Carolina
Founded 1739
Named for Algonquin term meaning "The Land of the Wild Goose"
Seat Currituck
Largest community Moyock
Area
 • Total 527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land 262 sq mi (680 km2)
 • Water 265 sq mi (690 km2)  50%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2021)
29,653
 • Density 113.2/sq mi (43.7/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Currituck County is the northeastern most county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,100. Its county seat is Currituck. The county was formed in 1668 as a precinct of Albemarle County and later gained county status in 1739. The name is "traditionally said to be an indigenous word for wild geese; Coratank." Currituck County is included in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Area. It is in the northeastern section of the state and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Currituck Sound, Camden County, Dare County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currituck Court House, mentioned as early as 1755, was the name of the county seat. Today the words "Court House" have been dropped and only Currituck is used as the town name.

Geography

MackayIslandPines.wmg
Pine trees are common in Currituck County, like these in Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Old Currituck jail - Stierch
The Old Currituck Jail

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 262 square miles (680 km2) is land and 265 square miles (690 km2) (50%) is water.

Currituck County includes the northern communities of North Carolina's Outer Banks, separated from mainland Currituck County by the Currituck Sound.

Adjacent counties and cities

National protected areas

Major highways

  • US 158
  • NC 12
  • NC 34
  • NC 168
  • NC 615

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 5,220
1800 6,928 32.7%
1810 6,985 0.8%
1820 8,098 15.9%
1830 7,655 −5.5%
1840 6,703 −12.4%
1850 7,236 8.0%
1860 7,415 2.5%
1870 5,131 −30.8%
1880 6,476 26.2%
1890 6,747 4.2%
1900 6,529 −3.2%
1910 7,693 17.8%
1920 7,268 −5.5%
1930 6,710 −7.7%
1940 6,709 0.0%
1950 6,201 −7.6%
1960 6,601 6.5%
1970 6,976 5.7%
1980 11,089 59.0%
1990 13,736 23.9%
2000 18,190 32.4%
2010 23,547 29.5%
2020 28,100 19.3%
2021 (est.) 29,653 25.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
2018 Estimate

2020 census

Currituck County racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 23,505 83.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,377 4.9%
Native American 98 0.35%
Asian 265 0.94%
Pacific Islander 22 0.08%
Other/Mixed 1,615 5.75%
Hispanic or Latino 1,218 4.33%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,100 people, 10,522 households, and 7,467 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 23,547 people, 6,902 households, and 5,204 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile (27/km2). There were 10,687 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.3% White, 5.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 3.0% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 6,902 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,822, and the median income for a family was $46,382. Males had a median income of $32,619 versus $22,641 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,908. 10.70% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.10% are under the age of 18 and 8.90% are 65 or older.

Communities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Map of Currituck County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Currituck County with municipal and township labels

Education

Currituck County Schools are governed by a five-member, elected Board of Education. The following schools are located in the county:

  • Central Elementary School
  • Currituck County High School
  • Currituck County Middle School
  • J.P. Knapp Early College High School
  • Jarvisburg Elementary School
  • Knotts Island Elementary School
  • Moyock Elementary School
  • Moyock Middle School
  • Shawboro Elementary School
  • W.T. Griggs Elementary School
  • Jarvisburg Christian Academy

Notable people

  • Dennis Anderson, driver of the Grave Digger monster truck.
  • Emerson Etheridge, congressman and Southern Unionist
  • Joseph P. Knapp, publisher, philanthropist and namesake of the J.P. Knapp Early College High School
  • Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice, had a beach house in the Corolla community
  • Linda Carter Brinson, American journalist
  • Macon Brock, Founder of Dollar Tree had a beach house in the Corolla community
  • Richard Thurmond Chatham, once owned the hunt club Dews Island in Jarvisburg,
  • Thomas Jarvis, Colonial Governor of North Carolina
  • Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Governor of North Carolina
  • Henry Marchmore Shaw, Congressman and Confederate officer
  • Capt John Gibbs, leader of colonial rebellion, Gibbs Rebellion, and name sake of Gibbs Woods, NC

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Currituck para niños

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