Currituck County, North Carolina

{{Infobox U.S. county

| ex image = Currituck County Courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Currituck County Courthouse

| county = Currituck County

| state = North Carolina

| seal = Currituck County Seal.png

| founded = 1668

| named for = Algonquin term meaning "The Land of the Wild Geese"{{Cite web |last=Mazzocchi |first=Jay |year=2006 |editor-last=Powell |editor-first=William S. |title=Currituck County |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/currituck |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=NCpedia |publisher=University of North Carolina Press}}

| seat wl = Currituck

| largest city wl = Moyock

| city type = community

| area_total_sq_mi = 526.43

| area_land_sq_mi = 261.91

| area_water_sq_mi = 264.52

| area percentage = 50.25

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 28100

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 31593 {{gain}}

| population_density_sq_mi = 107.29

| coordinates = {{coord|36.37|-75.94|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}

| web = https://currituckcountync.gov/

| district = 1st

| time zone = Eastern

| flag = Currituck County Flag.gif

}}

Currituck County ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ʊr|ɪ|t|ʌ|k}})[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html Talk Like A Tarheel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622041633/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html |date=June 22, 2013 }}, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 5, 2013. is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the northeasternmost county in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,100. Its county seat is Currituck.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} The county was formed in 1668 as a precinct of Albemarle County and later gained county status in 1739.{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies|work=North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2009|access-date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115449/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}} The name is "traditionally said to be an indigenous word for wild geese; Coratank."{{cn|date=February 2025}} Currituck County is included in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=United States Office of Management and Budget}} It is in the northeastern section of the state and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Currituck Sound, Camden County, Dare County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currituck Court House, mentioned as early as 1755, was the name of the county seat. Today the words "Court House" have been dropped and only Currituck is used as the community name.

History

File:Old Currituck jail - Stierch.jpg in Currituck]]

Currituck County was created in 1668 from Albemarle County. The largest community is Moyock, with a current population of 5,670, and the county seat is Currituck.

Geography

{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q511761|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Currituck County}}

File:MackayIslandPines.wmg.jpg

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|526.43|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|261.91|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|264.52|sqmi}} (50.25%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Currituck County includes the northern communities of North Carolina's Outer Banks, separated from mainland Currituck County by the Currituck Sound.

=National protected areas=

=State and local protected areas/sites=

Currituck Banks Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve{{Cite web |title=Currituck Banks Reserve |url=https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/reserve-sites/currituck-banks-reserve |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=deq.nc.gov}}
Currituck Banks Game Land{{Cite web |title=Currituck Banks Game Land and National Wildlife Refuge - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Avenza Maps |url=https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/1187119/currituck-banks-game-land-and-national-wildlife-refuge |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=www.avenzamaps.com}}
Currituck Banks Reserve
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Currituck Outer Banks Preserve Dedicated Nature Preserve{{Cite web |title=Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve - OuterBanks.com |url=https://www.outerbanks.com/currituck-banks-coastal-estuarine-reserve.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=www.outerbanks.com}}
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Monkey Island
North River Game Land (part)
Northwest River Marsh Game Land{{Cite web |title=Coastal Game Land Maps |url=https://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/Where-To-Hunt-Shoot/Public-Places/Coastal-Game-Land-Maps |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=www.ncwildlife.org}}

=Major water bodies=

Albemarle Sound
Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
Currituck Sound
Intracoastal Waterway
North River
Northwest River{{Cite web |title=Northwest River (in Currituck County, NC) |url=https://northcarolina.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,1,fid,1025587,n,northwest%20river.cfm |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=northcarolina.hometownlocator.com}}

=Adjacent counties=

City of Chesapeake, Virginia – north
City of Virginia Beach, Virginia – north
Dare County – south
Tyrrell County – southwest
Camden County – southwest

=Major highways=

{{Jct|state=NC|US|158}}
{{Jct|state=NC|NC|12}}
{{Jct|state=NC|NC|34}}
{{jct|state=NC|NC|136}}
{{Jct|state=NC|NC|168}}
{{Jct|state=NC|NC|615}}

=Major infrastructure=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1790= 5220

|1800= 6928

|1810= 6985

|1820= 8098

|1830= 7655

|1840= 6703

|1850= 7236

|1860= 7415

|1870= 5131

|1880= 6476

|1890= 6747

|1900= 6529

|1910= 7693

|1920= 7268

|1930= 6710

|1940= 6709

|1950= 6201

|1960= 6601

|1970= 6976

|1980= 11089

|1990= 13736

|2000= 18190

|2010= 23547

|2020= 28100

|estyear=2023

|estimate=31593

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 18, 2013}}
2010–2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/currituckcountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Currituck County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" \|+Currituck County racial composition{{Cite web\|title=Explore Census Data\|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37053&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2\|access-date=December 21, 2021\|website=data.census.gov}} !scope="col"\| Race !scope="col"\| Number !scope="col"\| Percentage
scope="row"\| White (non-Hispanic) \| 23,505 \| 83.65%
scope="row"\| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) \| 1,377 \| 4.9%
scope="row"\| Native American \| 98 \| 0.35%
scope="row"\| Asian \| 265 \| 0.94%
scope="row"\| Pacific Islander \| 22 \| 0.08%
scope="row"\| Other/Mixed \| 1,615 \| 5.75%
scope="row"\| Hispanic or Latino \| 1,218 \| 4.33%

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Currituck County racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37053&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 21, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 23,505

| 83.65%

scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 1,377

| 4.9%

scope="row"| Native American

| 98

| 0.35%

scope="row"| Asian

| 265

| 0.94%

scope="row"| Pacific Islander

| 22

| 0.08%

scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 1,615

| 5.75%

scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 1,218

| 4.33%

As of the 2020 census, there were 28,100 people, 10,522 households, and 7,467 families residing in the county.

=2010 census=

At the 2010 census,{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 23,547 people, 6,902 households, and 5,204 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|70|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 10,687 housing units at an average density of {{convert|41|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.3% White, 5.8% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 3.0% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 6,902 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,822, and the median income for a family was $46,382. Males had a median income of $32,619 versus $22,641 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,908. 10.70% of the population and 8.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.10% are under the age of 18 and 8.90% are 65 or older.

Government and politics

Politically Currituck is a typical "Solid South" county. It voted more than eighty percent for every Democratic candidate between 1920 and 1948. Currituck never voted Republican until, after voting for American Independent George Wallace in 1968, turning decisively to Richard Nixon in 1972. Since then, Currituck has become a powerfully Republican county. The last Democrat to carry Currituck has been Jimmy Carter in 1980, and at the 2016 election Hillary Clinton received less than a quarter of the county's vote.

The county is run by elected county commissioners, and Currituck County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments. Currituck has recently paced all other counties in growth throughout North Carolina, as commuters from the Hampton Roads metro of Virginia as well as work-from-home employees have flocked to the county.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncacc.org/growingpains/#:~:text=Currituck%20and%20Brunswick%20Counties%20are,year%20can%20change%20the%20dynamic. |title=Spring 2022 CountyQuarterly Research Pulse: Growing Pains|date=June 30, 2022|work=NCACC.ORG|access-date=June 30, 2022}} The Currituck County Board of Commissioners placed a moratorium on solar farms in February 2017, but have since rescinded it with two new solar projects in the works as of 2023.{{cite web|url= http://pilotonline.com/news/government/currituck-county-bans-solar-farm-development/article_a81d9768-0529-59b8-bf10-5d2a050dc8c1.html |title=Currituck County bans solar farm development|date=February 21, 2017|work=Virginian-Pilot|access-date=February 24, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyadvance.com/news/local/currituck-oks-100-megawatt-solar-farm-in-moyock/article_ba1ddff8-3e00-5b82-b8e5-0f8b009cf0ca.html |title=Currituck oks 100 megawatt solar farm|date=November 28, 2020|work=DailyAdvance|access-date=November 28, 2020}}

{{PresHead|place=Currituck County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|363|738|1,471|North Carolina}}

Education

Currituck County Schools are governed by a five-member, elected Board of Education. The following schools are located in the county:

Central Elementary School
Currituck County High School
Currituck County Middle School
J.P. Knapp Early College High School
Jarvisburg Elementary School
Knotts Island Elementary School
Moyock Elementary School
Moyock Middle School
Shawboro Elementary School
W.T. Griggs Elementary School
Jarvisburg Christian Academy

Communities

File:Map of Currituck County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG

=Census-designated places=

Moyock (largest community)
Coinjock
Grandy

=Townships=

Crawford
Fruitville
Moyock
Poplar Branch

=Other unincorporated communities=

Notable people

Dennis Anderson, former driver, and creator, of the Grave Digger monster truck
Linda Carter Brinson, American journalist
Macon Brock, founder of Dollar Tree had a beach house in the Corolla community
Richard Thurmond Chatham, once owned the hunt club Dews Island in Jarvisburg
Emerson Etheridge, congressman and Southern Unionist
John Gibbs, leader of colonial rebellion, Gibbs Rebellion, and name sake of Gibbs Woods, NC
Thomas Jarvis, Colonial Governor of North Carolina
Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Governor of North Carolina
Joseph P. Knapp, publisher, philanthropist and namesake of the J.P. Knapp Early College High School
Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Justice, had a beach house in the Corolla community
Henry Marchmore Shaw, Congressman and Confederate officer

References

External links

{{osmrelation|1232243}}
{{Official website|https://currituckcountync.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Currituck County, North Carolina

|North = Chesapeake, Virginia and Virginia Beach, Virginia

|Northeast =

|East = Atlantic Ocean

|Southeast = Dare County

|South =

|Southwest =

|West = Camden County

|Northwest =

}}

Category:Outer Banks

Category:1739 establishments in North Carolina

Category:Populated places established in 1739