Pamlico County, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pamlico County
U.S. county
Pamlico County Courthouse in Bayboro
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1872
Named for	Pamlico Sound
Seat	Bayboro
Largest community	Bayboro
Area
• Total	561.63 sq mi (1,454.6 km2)
• Land	336.52 sq mi (871.6 km2)
• Water	225.11 sq mi (583.0 km2)  40.08%
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,276
• Estimate  (2023)	12,423
• Density	36.45/sq mi (14.07/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Pamlico County (/ˈpæmlɪkoʊ/ PAM-lik-oh) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,276. Its county seat is Bayboro.

Pamlico County is part of the New Bern, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed in 1872 from parts of Beaufort and Craven counties. It was named for Pamlico Sound, which adjoins it. Vernacular usage in the area, especially in Craven County, refers to Pamlico County as being "down in the county." Prior to 1872, it was a part of Craven County and has a very low elevation. Most of the county, according to FRIS, North Carolina Flood Risk Information System, is subject to flooding in storm surges. After it was separated from Craven, the old nickname survives. Pamlico County remains rural in character and flavor, although the last decade has brought a good deal of residential development, largely the result of northern retirees and investors attracted to the many miles of waterfront property.

The county is anchored on the east by the town of Oriental, a popular waystation for boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway, and by unincorporated Lowland. New Bern across the county line in Craven County to the west, is the primary trade area for Pamlico County. The unincorporated community of Olympia is in the western portion of the county.

Geography

A section of the Intracoastal Waterway in Pamlico County crossed by the Hobucken Bridge.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561.63 square miles (1,454.6 km²), of which 336.52 square miles (871.6 km²) is land and 225.11 square miles (583.0 km²) (40.08%) is water.

State and local protected areas

• Goose Creek Game Land (part)
• Neuse River Game Land (part)
• Light Ground Pocosin Game Land

Major water bodies

• Bay River
• Goose Creek
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Neuse River
• Pamlico River

Adjacent counties

• Beaufort County – north
• Hyde County – northeast
• Carteret County – southeast
• Craven County – southwest

Major highways

• NC 33
• NC 55
• NC 304
• NC 306
• NC 307

Major infrastructure

• Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach Ferry (to Craven County)

Demographics

Census reports show a marked drop of nearly 10 percent in county population from 1910 to 1920, the period of the Great Migration of African Americans from rural areas of the South to northern and midwestern industrial cities offering more economic and social opportunities. Workers were recruited by northern industries, including the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was rapidly expanding at the time.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 12,276 people, 5,416 households, and 3,589 families residing in the county.

Communities

Map of Pamlico County with municipal and township labels

Towns

Census-designated place

• Hobucken

Unincorporated communities

• Florence
• Janerio
• Lowland
• Maribel
• Merritt
• Olympia
• Reelsboro
• Whortonsville

Townships

By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, the county was divided into 5 townships, which are only numbered:

• Township 1
• Township 2
• Township 3
• Township 4
• Township 5

Notable people

• David B. Mintz, Methodist circuit rider minister for Pamlico in 1804

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Pamlico para niños