Nixonton, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nixonton
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Lane House on State Route 1137 in the town
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 Nixonton
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Pasquotank |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1025582 |
Nixonton is a small community in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, in the United States. It is called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Nixonton was once a proper town, becoming official in 1758.
Contents
History of Nixonton
Early Beginnings
Nixonton started as a small port in the 1740s. It was a busy place for Quakers, a religious group, to trade goods. In 1746, a man named Zachariah Nixon (III) decided that 161.5 acres of his land should become a town. This land was located north of the Little River, near Albemarle Sound.
Becoming a Town
When Zachariah Nixon passed away in 1752, he left a lot of land to his sons, Francis and Zachariah IV. This land included the area known as "Nixon town." On December 5, 1758, the community officially became a town. Over 50 acres were divided into small lots, and about 70 people lived there. It was named "Nixon's town," and Francis Nixon was one of the people chosen to help develop it.
A Center for the County
By 1770, Nixonton was the only town in Pasquotank County. In 1784, the county's courthouse was built there. Nixonton even served as the county seat (the main town for county government) from 1785 to 1800. During this time, a prison was also built in the town. However, in 1800, a new town called Elizabeth City took over as the county seat.
Education in Nixonton
Even after losing its status as county seat, Nixonton had a school called Nixonton Academy. This school operated from 1804 until the 1830s.
Modern Day Nixonton
Today, Nixonton is part of the larger Elizabeth City micropolitan area. This means it's connected to the economic and social life of Elizabeth City, even though it's a smaller community itself.
See also
- In Spanish: Nixonton para niños
