Beaufort County, North Carolina

Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina or Beaufort County, South Carolina.

Beaufort County, North Carolina
County
Beaufort County Courthouse
Beaufort County Courthouse
Flag of Beaufort County, North Carolina
Flag
Official seal of Beaufort County, North Carolina
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Beaufort County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map
Interactive map of Beaufort County, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°29′N 76°50′W / 35.48°N 76.84°W / 35.48; -76.84
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1712
Named afterHenry, Duke of Beaufort
SeatWashington
Largest communityWashington
Area
 • Total
962.85 sq mi (2,493.8 km2)
 • Land832.74 sq mi (2,156.8 km2)
 • Water130.11 sq mi (337.0 km2)  13.51%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
44,652
 • Estimate 
(2024)
44,576 Decrease
 • Density53.62/sq mi (20.70/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.beaufort.nc.us

Beaufort County (/ˈboʊfərt/ BOH-fərt) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,652.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The county was founded in 1705 as Pamptecough Precinct. Originally included in Bath County, it was renamed Beaufort Precinct in 1712 and became Beaufort County in 1739.[3][4]

Beaufort County comprises the Washington, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greenville-Washington, NC Combined Statistical Area.

History

Beaufort County was first called Pamptecough. The name was changed about 1712 to Beaufort, named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (1684–1714), who became one of Carolina's Lords Proprietor around 1709.

Beaufort County was the site of a proposed Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would have allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier. Construction was controversial due to its potential ecological impact.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 962.85 square miles (2,493.8 km2), of which 832.74 square miles (2,156.8 km2) is land and 130.11 square miles (337.0 km2) (13.51%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-largest county in North Carolina by total area. The county split in half by the Pamlico River.

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17905,405—
18006,24215.5%
18107,20315.4%
18209,85036.7%
183010,96911.4%
184012,22511.5%
185013,81613.0%
186014,7666.9%
187013,011−11.9%
188017,47434.3%
189021,07220.6%
190026,40425.3%
191030,87716.9%
192031,0240.5%
193035,02612.9%
194036,4314.0%
195037,1341.9%
196036,014−3.0%
197035,980−0.1%
198040,35512.2%
199042,2834.8%
200044,9586.3%
201047,7596.2%
202044,652−6.5%
2024 (est.)44,576[8]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[1]

2020 census

Beaufort County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[14] Pop 2010[15] Pop 2020[16] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 30,051 31,705 29,431 66.84% 66.38% 65.91%
Black or African American alone (NH) 13,021 12,105 10,195 28.96% 25.35% 22.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 69 116 90 0.15% 0.24% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 98 158 164 0.22% 0.33% 0.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 8 2 16 0.02% 0.00% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 29 40 122 0.06% 0.08% 0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 227 467 1,201 0.50% 0.98% 2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,455 3,166 3,433 3.24% 6.63% 7.69%
Total 44,958 47,759 44,652 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, the county had 44,652 people living in 19,430 households, including 12,638 families. The median age was 48.5 years; 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.1 males.[17]

The racial makeup of the county was 66.8% White, 23.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.3% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.7% of the population.[18]

Of the 19,430 households in the county, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.8% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]

There were 24,090 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.8% were owner-occupied and 28.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.[17]

37.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.0% lived in rural areas.[19]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[20] there were 44,958 people, 18,319 households, and 12,951 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 22,139 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.44% White, 29.03% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 3.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,319 households, out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,066, and the median income for a family was $37,893. Males had a median income of $30,483 versus $21,339 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,722. About 15.20% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 19.30% of those age 65 or over.

Ancestry

As of 2010, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Beaufort County were:[21]

Ancestry Percent
(2010)
English England 14.4%
American United States 11.9%
German Germany 6.6%
Irish Republic of Ireland 6.0%
Scottish Scotland 2.5%
French France 1.6%
Italian Italy 1.5%

Government and politics

Washington Municipal Building

Beaufort is a typical “Solid South” county in its voting patterns. It voted Democratic consistently up through 1964, even resisting the lure of voting against Al Smith’s Catholic faith and opposition to Prohibition in 1928 when North Carolina went Republican for the only time between 1876 and 1964. However, the increasing social and racial liberalism of the Democratic Party turned its electorate to George Wallace in 1968 and overwhelmingly to Richard Nixon against George McGovern four years later. Since then, Beaufort has been a strongly Republican county, with the last Democrat to carry it being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

United States presidential election results for Beaufort County, North Carolina[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 295 11.76% 1,605 63.97% 609 24.27%
1916 1,274 39.42% 1,957 60.55% 1 0.03%
1920 2,266 39.15% 3,522 60.85% 0 0.00%
1924 1,502 32.35% 3,048 65.65% 93 2.00%
1928 2,521 41.64% 3,533 58.36% 0 0.00%
1932 839 13.05% 5,552 86.33% 40 0.62%
1936 964 13.58% 6,133 86.42% 0 0.00%
1940 936 14.48% 5,528 85.52% 0 0.00%
1944 1,133 19.40% 4,706 80.60% 0 0.00%
1948 1,055 17.50% 4,675 77.53% 300 4.98%
1952 2,404 30.69% 5,429 69.31% 0 0.00%
1956 2,277 28.44% 5,730 71.56% 0 0.00%
1960 2,694 30.85% 6,039 69.15% 0 0.00%
1964 3,595 37.12% 6,090 62.88% 0 0.00%
1968 2,669 23.03% 3,232 27.89% 5,686 49.07%
1972 6,915 69.65% 2,901 29.22% 112 1.13%
1976 4,677 44.68% 5,728 54.72% 62 0.59%
1980 6,773 51.95% 6,024 46.21% 240 1.84%
1984 9,284 60.66% 5,987 39.12% 33 0.22%
1988 8,190 60.35% 5,352 39.44% 28 0.21%
1992 7,337 45.91% 6,445 40.33% 2,198 13.75%
1996 8,154 53.59% 6,172 40.57% 889 5.84%
2000 10,531 60.83% 6,634 38.32% 148 0.85%
2004 12,432 63.68% 7,025 35.99% 65 0.33%
2008 13,460 58.50% 9,454 41.09% 96 0.42%
2012 13,977 59.17% 9,435 39.94% 208 0.88%
2016 14,543 60.75% 8,764 36.61% 631 2.64%
2020 16,437 62.46% 9,633 36.61% 245 0.93%
2024 17,296 65.09% 9,049 34.05% 227 0.85%

Education

Beaufort County Schools is the local public school system.

Communities

Map of Beaufort County with municipal and township labels

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Townships

  • Bath
  • Chocowinity
  • Long Acre
  • Pantego
  • Richland
  • Washington

Other unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Beaufort County.[23]

† = county seat

Rank Name Type Population
(2020 census)
1 † Washington City 9,875
2 River Road CDP 4,048
3 Belhaven Town 1,410
4 Chocowinity Town 722
5 Aurora Town 455
6 Washington Park Town 392
7 Bayview CDP 298
8 Bath Town 245
9 Pantego Town 164
10 Pinetown CDP 147

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts: Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ Peter, Bangma (2006). Powell, William S. (ed.). "Beaufort County". NCpedia. University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  5. ^ "No Outlying Landing Field for Washington County". Southern Environmental Law Center. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Beaufort County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  23. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_NC_Micropolitan_Statistical_Area