Oriental, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oriental, North Carolina
Town
Town dock
Location of Oriental, North Carolina
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Pamlico
Area
• Total	1.65 sq mi (4.26 km2)
• Land	1.43 sq mi (3.70 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	880
• Density	615.38/sq mi (237.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28571
Area code(s)	252
FIPS code	37-49380
GNIS feature ID	2407053
Website	www.townoforiental.com

Oriental is a small town located in Pamlico County, North Carolina, in the United States. It's one of nine towns in this county. According to the 2020 United States census, about 880 people live there. Oriental is part of the New Bern Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Oriental

The area where Oriental is now was first settled by Native Americans. They lived there long ago, fishing in the creeks and rivers and farming the land. Later, European settlers arrived. Some families living in Oriental today can trace their history back to these early colonial times.

Pirates and Early Settlers

In the early days of European settlement, this area was a popular spot for pirates. The famous pirate Blackbeard even lived nearby in a town called Bath, which is north of Oriental. Later, in the late 1800s, families like the Midgettes (also spelled Midyettes) moved to the area. Many of their descendants still live in Oriental today.

How Oriental Got Its Name

The town of Oriental was named after a ship called the Sailing Steamer Oriental. This ship was built in Philadelphia in 1861. It was used by the Federal government during the American Civil War to transport goods. Sadly, the ship was wrecked in May 1862, just a year after it was built. It ran aground off Bodie Island, which is north of Cape Hatteras. Luckily, all the passengers and crew were saved.

In 1886, the United States Post Office opened a post office in the area, which was then known as Smith's Creek. Lou Midyette became the first postmaster. His wife, Rebecca Midyette, thought the village needed a better name. One story says she found the nameplate from the wrecked Sailing Steamer Oriental on the beaches of the Outer Banks. Another story says she saw the nameplate in a home in Manteo. Either way, the name "Oriental" stuck with her. A few years after the post office opened, the village became known as Oriental. It officially became a town in 1899.

Oriental's Economy Over Time

In the early 1900s, Oriental's economy relied on lumber, fishing, and farming. Train service to the town stopped in the 1950s. The last sawmill closed in the early 1960s. Today, the town's economy is mainly supported by fishing, farming, some tourism, and businesses related to boats and the water. Fishing boats still come into the harbor, bringing in shrimp, crab, or flounder, depending on the season.

Things to Do in Oriental

Oriental has some interesting places to visit and fun events throughout the year.

Oriental History Museum

The original nameplate from the Sailing Steamer Oriental ship is now lost. However, a porthole (a round window) from the ship can be seen at the Oriental History Museum. The museum has cool exhibits that show what Oriental was like in its early years. You can also take a 1.2-mile historical walking tour. This tour covers 37 different historical spots around the town.

Local Festivals and Events

Oriental hosts two main festivals that bring in many visitors:

• Spirit of Christmas: This event is held in early December. Local businesses open their doors, offering hot cider and treats. Churches put on Nativity plays and Christmas music concerts. Sometimes, there's even a boat parade in the harbor, where people decorate their yachts with Christmas lights!
• The Croaker Festival: This is a big arts and vendor event that helps local non-profit groups. It ends with a fireworks show during the first weekend of July.

Other fun events include:

• The Oriental Rotary Club holds an annual catch-and-release tarpon fishing tournament in late July.
• On New Year's Eve, the famous Oriental dragon runs through town twice, once at 8 p.m. and again at midnight!
• The Oriental Cup Regatta, a boat race, takes place on the third Saturday of September.
• There are boat races most Saturdays from May through September, and even informal races most Wednesdays.
• Oriental also has a Celebration of the Arts festival in mid-September, plus other art festivals throughout the year.
• The town sponsors free evening concerts once a month during the summer.

Oriental is also a popular place for weddings, with many venues and services available.

Geography of Oriental

Oriental covers a total area of about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), is water.

Population and Demographics

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States census counted 880 people living in Oriental. There were 522 households (groups of people living together in one home) and 284 families (groups of related people living together).

2010 Census Information

In the census of 2010, there were 900 people in Oriental. The entire Pamlico County had 13,074 people. Oriental had 477 households at that time.

Notable Person

• Kevin Williamson – a famous screenwriter who created movies like Scream and TV shows like Dawson's Creek.

See also

In Spanish: Oriental (Carolina del Norte) para niños