Tyrrell County, North Carolina

Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Tyrrell County 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. The county was created in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct and gained county status in 1739. Tyrrell County is included in the Kill Devil Hills, NC, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.
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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (34.56%) is water. Tyrrell County, due to its proximity to the Outer Banks, has been designated as part of the Inner Banks.
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
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
Intracoastal Waterway
Lake Phelps
Scuppernong River
Adjacent counties
Perquimans County – northwest
Camden County – north
Pasquotank County – north
Currituck County – northeast
Washington County – west
Dare County – east
Hyde County – south
Major highways
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 3,245 people in Tyrrell, making it North Carolina's least-populous county.
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. 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. 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.
In 2022, Tyrell 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.
In the 2020 elections in Hyde County, Republicans took more votes than Democrats in federal and statewide contests.
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. It suffers from high poverty and food insecurity rates.
Communities
Town
Columbia (county seat and largest community)
Townships
Alligator
Columbia
Gum Neck
Scuppernong
South Fork
Unincorporated communities
Fort Landing
Frying Pan
Jerry
Pleasant View
Kilkenny
See also
List of counties in North Carolina
National Register of Historic Places listings in Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Roanoke Colony, first attempted permanent English settlement in the Americas, now located in Dare County
References
External links
NCGenWeb Tyrrell County, genealogy resources for the county
1739 establishments in North Carolina
Populated places established in 1739