# Perquimans County, North Carolina

Perquimans County (/pɜːrˈkwɪmənz/ pur-KWIM-unz) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,005. Its county seat is Hertford. The Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity facility is located in Perquimans County.

## History

The county was originally created as Berkeley Precinct. It was renamed Perquimans Precinct around 1684 and gained county status in 1739. The largest community and county seat is Hertford.
* Courthouse and the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial
* The Perquimans River and the "S" Bridge.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 328.93 square miles (851.9 km$^2$), of which 247.17 square miles (640.2 km$^2$) is land and 81.76 square miles (211.8 km$^2$) (24.86%) is water.

### Major water bodies

* Albemarle Sound
* Little River
* Perquimans River

### Adjacent counties

* Gates County – northwest
* Pasquotank County – east
* Tyrrell County – south
* Washington County – south
* Chowan County – southwest

### Major highways

* Future I-87
* US 17
* US 17 Bus.
* NC 37

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Perquimans County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 9,333 | 71.76% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,686 | 20.65% |
| Native American | 35 | 0.27% |
| Asian | 36 | 0.28% |
| Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 599 | 4.61% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 309 | 2.38% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 13,005 people, 5,936 households, and 4,023 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 11,368 people, 4,645 households, and 3,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18 people/km$^2$). There were 6,043 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 70.82% White, 27.99% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,645 households, of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% 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 2.86.
23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median household income was $29,538 and the median family income was $35,212. Males had a median income of $27,251 compared with $18,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,728. About 13.90% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and politics

Perquimans County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.
United States presidential election results for Perquimans County, North Carolina :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,278 | 68.85% | 2,269 | 29.60% | 119 | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 4,903 | 65.51% | 2,492 | 33.30% | 89 | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 4,177 | 62.27% | 2,319 | 34.57% | 212 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | 3,822 | 57.46% | 2,759 | 41.48% | 71 | 1.07% |
| 2008 | 3,678 | 56.58% | 2,772 | 42.64% | 51 | 0.78% |
| 2004 | 2,965 | 59.80% | 1,971 | 39.75% | 22 | 0.44% |
| 2000 | 2,230 | 51.79% | 2,033 | 47.21% | 43 | 1.00% |
| 1996 | 1,561 | 38.88% | 2,069 | 51.53% | 385 | 9.59% |
| 1992 | 1,429 | 36.85% | 1,818 | 46.88% | 631 | 16.27% |
| 1988 | 1,781 | 53.32% | 1,543 | 46.20% | 16 | 0.48% |
| 1984 | 1,939 | 57.28% | 1,441 | 42.57% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1980 | 1,210 | 42.40% | 1,560 | 54.66% | 84 | 2.94% |
| 1976 | 909 | 35.23% | 1,666 | 64.57% | 5 | 0.19% |
| 1972 | 1,299 | 62.57% | 723 | 34.83% | 54 | 2.60% |
| 1968 | 468 | 15.37% | 1,023 | 33.60% | 1,554 | 51.03% |
| 1964 | 941 | 39.22% | 1,458 | 60.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 637 | 30.38% | 1,460 | 69.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 709 | 40.96% | 1,022 | 59.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 644 | 34.09% | 1,245 | 65.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 135 | 12.74% | 849 | 80.09% | 76 | 7.17% |
| 1944 | 266 | 21.70% | 960 | 78.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 228 | 16.24% | 1,176 | 83.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 161 | 14.24% | 970 | 85.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 225 | 14.93% | 1,280 | 84.94% | 2 | 0.13% |
| 1928 | 600 | 49.63% | 609 | 50.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 295 | 34.58% | 550 | 64.48% | 8 | 0.94% |
| 1920 | 487 | 31.85% | 1,042 | 68.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 288 | 30.84% | 645 | 69.06% | 1 | 0.11% |
| 1912 | 228 | 24.81% | 647 | 70.40% | 44 | 4.79% |

## Education

The county is served by Perquimans County Schools.

## Communities
### Towns

* Hertford (county seat and largest community)
* Winfall

### Unincorporated communities

* Belvidere
* Woodville
* New Hope

### Townships

* Belvidere
* Bethel
* Hertford
* New Hope
* Parkville

## Notable people

* Janice Cole, U.S. Attorney
* Catfish Hunter, professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland A's and New York Yankees
* Wolfman Jack, radio personality