Welcome to Pamlico County
"I wasn't born here, but I got here as quick as I could!"
Pamlico County was named for Pamlico Sound, which in turn was named for an Indian tribe that once inhabited the northern fringes of the county. Perhaps four to five hundred Indians occupied the area during the time of exploration and early settlement. Belonging mainly to the Algonquians, the tribes were the Pamlico. Neuse, Bay River, Coree and possibly the Secotan, Pamouick, Tuscarora and Woccon. Until smallpox hit them around 1686, the Pamlico were the most numerous.
The Pamlico Sound provided an entry point for the English explorers who "discovered" the area in the
late 1500s. Some have theorized that the ships of Sir Walter Raleigh's first expedition may have touched the shores of Pamlico County in 1584 or 1585. But their large vessels found the shallow sound difficult to navigate, so settlement didn't begin in earnest for another century.
The first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1700s. At Nottingham Point near Arapahoe, the earliest known gravestone in the county is dated 1745. But historians know the area was settled long before that: Land records still exist of grants made by the King of England to colonial farmers and many residents can trace their roots back to those days.
Initial relations between European settlers and Indians were good. As more settlers made their home at the mouths of rivers and creeks and along the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, tensions increased and resulted in the Tuscarora War of 1711-1713. Four tribes united against the encroaching settlers and were defeated. By the middle of the 18th century no distinct tribes remained in the area. Colonization forged ahead and, in 1872, Pamlico County was formed from parts of Beaufort and Caven counties.
COUNTY STATISTICS
Climate: The county is largely bordered by water with Goose Creek and the Pamlico River on the north; the Upper Broad Creek forms the county's western boundary with Craven County; Pamlico Sound lies to the east; and the Neuse River to the south. All this water has a moderating effect on the climate. My favorite site for local weather is www.captainsweather.com (type in "Oriental, NC").
- Average annual temperature: 62 degrees
- January average: 45 degrees
- June average: 80 degrees with about 40 days a year when the temperature exceeds 90
- Average rainfall: 50" per year with a mean relative humidity of 75%
- Average snow: Perhaps one snowfall a year with about 2" and a good excuse to stay home from school!
Population: Approximately 12,785 countywide. Best site for Pamlico County statistics is www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/37/37137.html.
Topography: The area now known as Pamlico County was formed in 1872 from parts of Beaufort and Craven counties. Pamlico County is a destination for those who love wide-open spaces and soothing expanses of water. As a matter of fact, it is made up of about 340 square miles of land and about 225 square miles of water.
Agriculture & Manufacturing: Primary farm production is Pamlico County consists of corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, cotton and forestry. Seafood processing and marine services account for most of the county's manufacturing output. Estimates vary, but as much as 10% of Pamlico County's total population is directly or indirectly involved in the commercial fishing industry. Some common seafood manufactured and harvested in Pamlico County are Flounder, Grouper, King Mackeral, Sea Bass, Sea Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Striped Bass, Croaker, Blue Fish, Red Drum, Black Drum, Mullet, Catfish, Common Eeel, Crabs (Blue hard and soft), Shrimp (Brown, Pink, White and Rock), Conch, Octopus, Oysters, Sea Scallops and Squid.
OUR COMMUNITIES
Alliance: Settled in the 1890s and named for the Farmers Alliance Movement.
Arapahoe: First known as "Cross Roads." The name was later changed to "Arapahoe" -- some say it was named after the Indians and others after a racehorse of the same name. The Corsa Indians lived at Core Point near the mouth of the Pamlico River and blazed the trail that became the first road to Wilkerson's Point. This community was settled early in the 18th century, not long after New Bern (which settled in 1710). Arapahoe's post office was established in 1886. The town was incorporated in 1920.
Bayboro: Named for the Bay River and settled long before it was incorporated in 1881. It's the oldest incorporated town in the county and was the first to have town water. It became the county seat in 1876. The following year, the courthouse was relocated here from Stonewall. Although narrow, the Bay River is navigable all the way to the town.
Hobucken & Lowland: "Goose Creek Island" was formerly part of the Beaufort County. In 1874, Hobucken and Lowland citizens voted to become part of Pamlico County. Around 1900, a post office was established for the area. The island is a magnet for fisherman and duck hunters and is home to a unit of the U.S. Coast Guard, which is located on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Minnesott Beach: Developed as a resort area on the Neuse River by the Hardison family after World War I, the town's name is derived from an Indian word said to mean, "land of sky-tinted water." Older residents remember it as a community that flourished on the shores of the Neuse in the 1920s. Today, it is home to many retired military families and a place where younger visitors come to enjoy one of its several riverfront summer camps.
FERRY FACTS: North Carolina boasts one of the largest ferry systems in the United States. The NC Ferry Division operates 21 vessels, one dredge and numerous support vessels. There are 7 routes in the system. The shortest crossing is between Minnesott Beach (pictured above) and Cherry Branch (2.3 miles, 20 minutes) and the longest is between Swan Quarter and Ocracoke Island (27 miles, 2.5 hours). Ferries operate at an average speed of 10 knots and can operate in as little as five feet of water.
Oriental: Nestled amid five creeks along the Neuse River and connected to the Intracoastal Waterway via a 10-foot deep channel. A post office was first established here back in 1886. Lou Midyette was named postmaster of what was then known as Smith's Creek. But his wife thought the village needed a better name. She had found the nameplate from the sunken ship "Oriental" on the beaches of the Outer Banks (other stories say she just saw it in a Manteo home -- but either way the name "Oriental" made an impression on her). The town of Oriental was officially incorporated in 1899. Today, with more power and sailboats in residence than people, it has earned its reputation as being The Sailing Capitol of North Carolina. Online at www.visitoriental.com.
Reelsboro: No one seems to know how Reelsboro got its name, but it seems likely that it was named for the Reel families. Reelsboro is situated in a very sandy area. Before the hard-surfaced roads were built, cars had to wind (or perhaps "reel") around to keep from getting stuck in it! When the railroad came to Pamlico County, one of the stops was named "Reelsboro"; Its post office was established in 1891.
Vandemere: At one time, the Indian village of "Secotan" was located here. Later, it was renamed by the wife of a former Union Army surgeon who settled here in the 1870s. Its new name was derived from the words "van" (the Dutch word for "village") and "De Mere"; (French for "by the sea"). Vandemere is situated on a point where Vandemere Creek flows into the Bay River. It was incorporated in 1874 and was the county seat from 1872 (when Pamlico County was formed) to 1876. Online at www.pamlico-nc.com/vandemere.
