Tyrrell County, North Carolina

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Tyrrell County

| state = North Carolina

| seal = Tyrrell County seal.jpg

| founded = 1729

| named for = Sir John Tyrrell{{Cite web |last=Bangma |first=Peter |year=2006 |editor-last=Powell |editor-first=William S. |title=Tyrrell County |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/tyrrell |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=NCpedia |publisher=University of North Carolina Press}}

| seat wl = Columbia

| largest city wl = Columbia

| city type = community

| area_total_sq_mi = 597.18

| area_land_sq_mi = 390.78

| area_water_sq_mi = 206.40

| area percentage = 34.56

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 3245

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 3461 {{gain}}

| population_density_sq_mi = 8.30

| coordinates = {{coord|35.87|-76.17|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}

| district = 1st

| time zone = Eastern

| ex image = Tyrrell County Historic Courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Tyrrell County Courthouse in Columbia

| flag = Tyrrell County Flag.gif

| website = {{URL|tyrrellcounty.org/en/|tyrrellcounty.org}}

}}

Tyrrell County ({{IPAc-en|'|t|ɛər|ɪ|l}} {{respell|TAIR|il}}){{cite web|title=NC Pronunciation Guide|url=https://www.wral.com/lifestyles/travel/blogpost/10331495/|publisher=WRAL|accessdate=August 16, 2023}}[https://library.unc.edu/wilson/ncc/talk-like-a-tar-heel/ 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 website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved August 16, 2023. is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,245, making it the least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Columbia.{{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}} The county was created in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct and 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 25, 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}}

History

The county was formed in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct of Albemarle County, from parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct. It was named for Sir John Tyrrell, one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.

With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became counties. In 1774, the western part of Tyrrell County was combined with part of Halifax County to form Martin County. In 1799, the western third of what remained of Tyrrell County became Washington County. In 1870, the half of Tyrrell County east of the Alligator River was combined with parts of Currituck County and Hyde County to form Dare County In modern times Tyrrell County has taken on the moniker of "The Taint of the Carolinas".

Geography

{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507918|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Tyrrell County}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|597.18|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|390.78|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|206.40|sqmi}} (34.56%) 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 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Tyrrell County, due to its proximity to the Outer Banks, has been designated as part of the Inner Banks.{{cite news |date=July 31, 2006 |title=Series: The New Waterfront |publisher=News and Observer |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/1233/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701181129/http://www.newsobserver.com/1233/ |archive-date=July 1, 2006}}

Wildlife in the county includes bears, red wolves, and pitcher plants.

=National protected area=

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (part)

=State and local protected areas=

Alligator River Game Land{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}
Alligator River Area Outstanding Resource Water (part)
Buckridge Coastal Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
Buckridge Game Land
Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve
Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve (part)
J. Morgan Futch Game Land
Lantern Acres Game Land (part)
New Lake Game Land
Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
Pettigrew State Park (part)
Texas Plantation Game Land

=Major water bodies=

Albemarle Sound
Alligator River
The Frying Pan{{Cite web |last=Fuss |first=J. David |date=October 11, 2001 |title=Restoration And Management Plan For The Emily And Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve, Tyrrell County, North Carolina |url=https://www.deq.nc.gov/coastal-management/coastal-reserve/sites/buckridge/buck-restoration-and-management-plan/download |access-date=September 12, 2023 |website=www.deq.nc.gov |page=4}}
Intracoastal Waterway
Lake Phelps
Scuppernong River

=Adjacent counties=

Perquimans County – north
Pasquotank County – north
Camden County – north
Currituck County – northeast
Dare County – east
Hyde County – south
Washington County – west
Chowan County – northwest

=Major highways=

{{Jct|state=NC|US|64}}
{{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|64|dab1=Columbia}}
{{Jct|state=NC|NC|94}}{{cite web| url = https://coastalreview.org/2019/05/increased-flooding-plagues-tyrrell-county/| title = Increased Flooding Plagues Tyrrell County| last = Kozak| first = Catherine| date = April 28, 2019| website = Coastal Review| publisher = North Carolina Coastal Federation| access-date = September 13, 2023}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1790= 4826

|1800= 3395

|1810= 3364

|1820= 4319

|1830= 4732

|1840= 4657

|1850= 5133

|1860= 4944

|1870= 4173

|1880= 4545

|1890= 4225

|1900= 4980

|1910= 5219

|1920= 4849

|1930= 5164

|1940= 5556

|1950= 5048

|1960= 4520

|1970= 3806

|1980= 3975

|1990= 3856

|2000= 4149

|2010= 4407

|2020= 3245

|estyear=2023

|estimate=3461

|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=January 20, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 20, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 20, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 20, 2015}} 2010{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37177.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2013}} 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/tyrrellcountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" \|+Tyrrell County racial composition{{Cite web\|title=Explore Census Data\|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37177&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) \| 1,879 \| 57.9%
scope="row"\| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) \| 934 \| 28.78%
scope="row"\| Native American \| 5 \| 0.15%
scope="row"\| Asian \| 43 \| 1.33%
scope="row"\| Other/Mixed \| 112 \| 3.45%
scope="row"\| Hispanic or Latino \| 272 \| 8.38%

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

|+Tyrrell County racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37177&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)

| 1,879

| 57.9%

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

| 934

| 28.78%

scope="row"| Native American

| 5

| 0.15%

scope="row"| Asian

| 43

| 1.33%

scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 112

| 3.45%

scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 272

| 8.38%

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,245 people in Tyrrell, making it North Carolina's least-populous county.{{cite news| last = Tester| first = Brandon| title = 2020 Census: Beaufort County's population decreased by 6.5%| newspaper = Washington Daily News| date = August 12, 2021| url = https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/2021/08/12/2020-census-beaufort-countys-population-decreased-by-6-5/| access-date = September 8, 2023}}

=Demographic change=

Tyrrell County's population peaked in 1940 with 5,556 residents. The population subsequently declined to about 4,000 residents, where it remained for several decades before shrinking further due to outmigration fueled by diminished job opportunities.{{cite news| last = Campbell| first = Colin| title = Tiny Tyrrell County wants to grow| newspaper = Business North Carolina| date = October 31, 2021| url = https://businessnc.com/tiny-tyrrell-county-wants-to-grow/| access-date = September 13, 2023}} Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Tyrrell's population dropped by 26 percent, the largest population drop by percentage in the state.

Government and politics

Tyrrell County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners. The elections for County Commissioners are partisan and at large.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://tyrrellcounty.org/en/about-tyrrell |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=tyrrellcounty.org}} To save money, some of Tyrrell's government services are consolidated with other neighboring rural counties such as Hyde and Washington.

Tyrrell County is a member of the Albemarle Commission, a regional economic development organization which serves several counties in eastern North Carolina.{{cite web| url = https://coastalreview.org/2019/02/report-cog-director-had-conflict-of-interest/| title = Report: COG Director Had Conflict of Interest| date = February 1, 2019| website = Coastal Review| publisher = North Carolina Coastal Federation| access-date = September 13, 2023}}

In 2022, Tyrrell County is represented by Ed Goodwin in the 1st district in the North Carolina House of Representatives and Bobby Hanig in the 1st district in the North Carolina Senate.

{{PresHead|place=Tyrrell 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 17, 2018}}}}

In the 2020 elections in Tyrrell County, Republicans took more votes than Democrats in federal and statewide contests.{{cite news| last = McClees| first = Ray| title = Republicans led Tyrrell vote results| newspaper = Washington Daily News| date = November 10, 2020| url = https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/2020/11/10/republicans-led-tyrrell-vote-results/| access-date = September 13, 2023}}

Economy

Tyrrell County's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture—with its largest crop being potatoes — as well as forestry and fishing. The county also hosts a small tourism industry centered around hunting, fishing, and bird watching. The main economic driver for the county is predatory actions by its police force, mainly in the utilization of speed traps. Taking advantage of tourists on their way to the Outer Banks. It suffers from high poverty and food insecurity rates.{{cite web| url = https://carolinapublicpress.org/48410/changing-climate-poses-burden-as-people-count-on-fishing/| title = Changing climate poses burden as people count on fishing| last = Igelman| first = Jack| date = September 15, 2021| publisher = Carolina Public Press| access-date = September 13, 2023}}

Communities

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

=Town=

Columbia (county seat and largest community)

=Townships=

Alligator
Columbia
Gum Neck
Scuppernong
South Fork

=Unincorporated communities=

References

External links

{{osmrelation|2528749}}
{{Official website|http://tyrrellcounty.org/en/}}
[http://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/TYRRELL.HTM NCGenWeb Tyrrell County], genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Tyrrell County, North Carolina

|North = Albemarle Sound

|Northeast =

|East = Dare County

|Southeast =

|South = Hyde County

|Southwest =

|West = Washington County

|Northwest =

}}

Category:1739 establishments in North Carolina