# Pamlico County, North Carolina

Pamlico County (/ˈpæmlɪkoʊ/ PAM-lik-oh) is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,276. Its county seat is Bayboro.
Pamlico County is part of the New Bern, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

The area eventually comprising Pamlico County was first settled by European colonists in the early 1700s. As its swampy land proved hostile to agriculture, population in the land grew slowly and early residents relied heavily on the naval stores trade. The first communities coalesced in the early 1800s. The area experienced economic growth during the Reconstruction era.
Pamlico County was formed by white supremacists in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1872 from eastern portions of Beaufort and Craven counties to further their political interests. It was named for the Pamlico Sound, which adjoins it, which itself was named for a Native American tribe. According to David Leroy Corbitt, the county court convened at a store Vandemere until 1876, when the town of Bayboro was designated the county seat. Historian Joe Mobley states that the court's location varied until Bayboro was designated. Portions of Beaufort County were annexed by Pamlico in 1874, 1875, and 1891, while a portion of Craven was annexed in 1875. The county court met in rented facilities in Bayboro until the county's first purpose built courthouse was constructed in 1893. The present courthouse was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939.
The completion of the Pamlico, Oriental & Western Railroad connecting New Bern in Craven County and the Pamlico town of Oriental in 1906 facilitated growth. The county is anchored on the east by Oriental, a popular waystation for boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway, and by unincorporated Lowland. New Bern across the county line in Craven County to the west, is the primary trade area for Pamlico County. The unincorporated community of Olympia is in the western portion of the county.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 561.63 square miles (1,454.6 km$^2$), of which 336.52 square miles (871.6 km$^2$) is land and 225.11 square miles (583.0 km$^2$) (40.08%) is water.

### State and local protected areas

* Goose Creek Game Land (part)
* Neuse River Game Land (part)
* Light Ground Pocosin Game Land

### Major water bodies

* Bay River
* Goose Creek
* Intracoastal Waterway
* Neuse River
* Pamlico River

### Adjacent counties

* Beaufort County – north
* Hyde County – northeast
* Carteret County – southeast
* Craven County – southwest

### Major highways

* NC 33
* NC 55
* NC 304
* NC 306
* NC 307

### Major infrastructure

* Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach Ferry (to Craven County)

## Demographics

Census reports show a marked drop of nearly 10 percent in county population from 1910 to 1920, the period of the Great Migration of African Americans from rural areas of the South to northern and midwestern industrial cities offering more economic and social opportunities. Workers were recruited by northern industries, including the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was rapidly expanding at the time.

### 2020 census

Pamlico County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 9,104 | 74.16% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,055 | 16.74% |
| Native American | 58 | 0.47% |
| Asian | 50 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 508 | 4.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 496 | 4.04% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 12,276 people, 5,416 households, and 3,589 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 12,934 people, 5,178 households, and 3,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km$^2$). There were 6,781 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 73.17% White, 24.57% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,178 households, out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.10% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,084, and the median income for a family was $41,659. Males had a median income of $31,806 versus $21,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,005. About 11.80% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.20% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and politics

The county is a member of the regional Eastern Carolina Council of Governments.
Pamlico County is governed by an elected, seven-member Board of Commissioners.
United States presidential election results for Pamlico County, North Carolina :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,229 | 65.56% | 2,676 | 33.55% | 71 | 0.89% |
| 2020 | 4,849 | 63.54% | 2,713 | 35.55% | 69 | 0.90% |
| 2016 | 4,258 | 61.98% | 2,448 | 35.63% | 164 | 2.39% |
| 2012 | 4,051 | 59.91% | 2,647 | 39.15% | 64 | 0.95% |
| 2008 | 3,823 | 56.96% | 2,838 | 42.28% | 51 | 0.76% |
| 2004 | 3,679 | 60.93% | 2,335 | 38.67% | 24 | 0.40% |
| 2000 | 2,999 | 57.21% | 2,188 | 41.74% | 55 | 1.05% |
| 1996 | 2,270 | 47.39% | 2,204 | 46.01% | 316 | 6.60% |
| 1992 | 1,929 | 38.77% | 2,229 | 44.80% | 817 | 16.42% |
| 1988 | 2,297 | 50.98% | 2,188 | 48.56% | 21 | 0.47% |
| 1984 | 2,554 | 54.14% | 2,152 | 45.62% | 11 | 0.23% |
| 1980 | 1,504 | 39.55% | 2,224 | 58.48% | 75 | 1.97% |
| 1976 | 1,068 | 33.28% | 2,113 | 65.85% | 28 | 0.87% |
| 1972 | 1,847 | 66.11% | 919 | 32.89% | 28 | 1.00% |
| 1968 | 745 | 21.46% | 1,280 | 36.87% | 1,447 | 41.68% |
| 1964 | 1,036 | 35.72% | 1,864 | 64.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,061 | 38.47% | 1,697 | 61.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 954 | 40.94% | 1,376 | 59.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 903 | 38.74% | 1,428 | 61.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 685 | 31.18% | 1,370 | 62.36% | 142 | 6.46% |
| 1944 | 719 | 35.70% | 1,295 | 64.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 730 | 33.52% | 1,448 | 66.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 860 | 34.58% | 1,627 | 65.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 665 | 29.35% | 1,526 | 67.34% | 75 | 3.31% |
| 1928 | 1,099 | 55.59% | 878 | 44.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 459 | 36.52% | 798 | 63.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 1,008 | 43.94% | 1,286 | 56.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 527 | 41.99% | 710 | 56.57% | 18 | 1.43% |
| 1912 | 74 | 6.62% | 694 | 62.13% | 349 | 31.24% |

## Communities
### Towns

* Alliance
* Arapahoe
* Bayboro (county seat and largest community)
* Grantsboro
* Mesic
* Minnesott Beach
* Oriental
* Stonewall
* Vandemere

### Census-designated place

* Hobucken

### Unincorporated communities

* Florence
* Janerio
* Lowland
* Maribel
* Merritt
* Olympia
* Reelsboro
* Whortonsville

### Townships

By the requirements of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, the county was divided into 5 townships, which are only numbered:
* Township 1
* Township 2
* Township 3
* Township 4
* Township 5

## Notable people

* David B. Mintz, Methodist circuit rider minister for Pamlico in 1804