Hyde County, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hyde County
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Lake Mattamuskeet Pump Station at the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge near Swan Quarter.
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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
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 North Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  North Carolina |
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| Founded | 1739 | |
| Named for | Edward Hyde | |
| Seat | Swan Quarter | |
| Largest community | Ocracoke | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,424 sq mi (3,690 km2) | |
| • Land | 613 sq mi (1,590 km2) | |
| • Water | 811 sq mi (2,100 km2) 57%% | |
| Population | ||
| • Estimate
(2021)
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4,508 | |
| • Density | 7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 3rd | |
Hyde County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 4,589, making it the second-least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Swan Quarter. The county was created in 1705 as Wickham Precinct. It was renamed Hyde Precinct in 1712 and gained county status in 1739.
Contents
History
The county was formed December 3, 1705, as Wickham Precinct, one of three precincts within Bath County. The name "Wickham" was derived from the manor of "Temple Wycombe" in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, the family home of John Archdale, Governor of North and South Carolina from 1695 to 1696. In 1712 it was renamed Hyde Precinct, for Edward Hyde, Governor of North Carolina from 1711 to 1712. In 1739 Bath County was abolished, and Hyde Precinct became Hyde County.
Various boundary adjustments followed. In 1745 Lake Mattamuskeet and its adjoining territory were transferred from Currituck County to Hyde County. In 1819 the part of Hyde County west of the Pungo River was annexed to Beaufort County. In 1823 the part of Currituck County south of New Inlet was annexed to Hyde County. This area included the present day Hatteras Island. In 1845 Ocracoke Island was transferred from Carteret County to Hyde County. In 1870 Hyde County was reduced to its present dimensions, when its northeastern part was combined with parts of Currituck County and Tyrrell County to form Dare County. Since its creation, the boundaries of Hyde County have changed more than those of any other county in North Carolina.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,424 square miles (3,690 km2), of which 613 square miles (1,590 km2) is land and 811 square miles (2,100 km2) (57%) is water. It is the second-largest county in North Carolina by total area. Hyde County's in-land is part of the Inner Banks. Ocracoke Island is part of the Outer Banks.
Adjacent counties
- Tyrrell County - north
- Dare County - northeast
- Carteret County - southwest
- Beaufort County - west
- Washington County - northwest
Bodies of water
- Pamlico Sound - East
- Atlantic Ocean - South
National protected areas
- Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore (part)
- Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
- Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge
Major highways
US 264
NC 12
NC 45
NC 94
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 4,204 | — | |
| 1800 | 4,829 | 14.9% | |
| 1810 | 6,029 | 24.8% | |
| 1820 | 4,967 | −17.6% | |
| 1830 | 6,184 | 24.5% | |
| 1840 | 6,458 | 4.4% | |
| 1850 | 7,636 | 18.2% | |
| 1860 | 7,732 | 1.3% | |
| 1870 | 6,445 | −16.6% | |
| 1880 | 7,765 | 20.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,903 | 14.7% | |
| 1900 | 9,278 | 4.2% | |
| 1910 | 8,840 | −4.7% | |
| 1920 | 8,386 | −5.1% | |
| 1930 | 8,550 | 2.0% | |
| 1940 | 7,860 | −8.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,479 | −17.6% | |
| 1960 | 5,765 | −11.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,571 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,873 | 5.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,411 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 5,826 | 7.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,810 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,589 | −21.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 4,508 | −22.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,928 | 63.8% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,152 | 25.1% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 146 | 3.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 347 | 7.56% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,589 people, 1,947 households, and 1,378 families residing in the county.
Communities
Hyde County has no incorporated municipalities.
Census-designated places
- Engelhard
- Fairfield
- Ocracoke
- Swan Quarter (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Germantown
- Last Chance
- Nebraska
- Scranton
Townships
- Currituck
- Fairfield
- Lake Landing
- Ocracoke
- Swan Quarter
A sixth township, Mattamuskeet, is now "unorganized territory" occupied by the federally controlled Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.
Education
Hyde County is home to the smallest public school system in North Carolina. The Hyde County Schools comprises two schools.
- Mattamuskeet School, K-12 serves the mainland
- Ocracoke School, K-12 serves Ocracoke Island
The only private school in Hyde County is a small Mennonite school located in the northwest section of the county. This school serves the county's Mennonite population.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Hyde (Carolina del Norte) para niños
