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Currituck County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 36°22′N 75°56′W / 36.37°N 75.94°W / 36.37; -75.94
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"Currituck County" redirects here. For the musical artist, see Currituck Co.

Currituck County
County
Currituck County Courthouse
Currituck County Courthouse
Flag of Currituck County
Flag
Official seal of Currituck County
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Currituck County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°22′N 75°56′W / 36.37°N 75.94°W / 36.37; -75.94
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1668
Named forAlgonquin term meaning "The Land of the Wild Geese"[1]
SeatCurrituck
Largest communityMoyock
Area
 • Total526.43 sq mi (1,363.4 km2)
 • Land261.91 sq mi (678.3 km2)
 • Water264.52 sq mi (685.1 km2)  50.25%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,100
 • Estimate 
(2023)
31,593
 • Density107.29/sq mi (41.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.co.currituck.nc.us

Currituck County (/ˈkʊrɪtʌk/)[2] is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,100.[3] Its county seat is Currituck.[4] The county was formed in 1668 as a precinct of Albemarle County and later gained county status in 1739.[5] The name is "traditionally said to be an indigenous word for wild geese; Coratank." Currituck County is included in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.[6] 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

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The Old Currituck County Courthouse and Jail in Currituck

Currituck County was created in 1668 from Albemarle County. The largest community is Moyock and the county seat is Currituck.

Geography

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Map
Interactive map of Currituck County
Pine trees in Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. Pine trees are common in Currituck County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 526.43 square miles (1,363.4 km2), of which 261.91 square miles (678.3 km2) is land and 264.52 square miles (685.1 km2) (50.25%) is water.[7]

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

National protected areas

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State and local protected areas/sites

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Major water bodies

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Major infrastructure

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17905,220—
18006,92832.7%
18106,9850.8%
18208,09815.9%
18307,655−5.5%
18406,703−12.4%
18507,2368.0%
18607,4152.5%
18705,131−30.8%
18806,47626.2%
18906,7474.2%
19006,529−3.2%
19107,69317.8%
19207,268−5.5%
19306,710−7.7%
19406,7090.0%
19506,201−7.6%
19606,6016.5%
19706,9765.7%
198011,08959.0%
199013,73623.9%
200018,19032.4%
201023,54729.5%
202028,10019.3%
2023 (est.)31,593[3]12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
2010–2020[3]

2020 census

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Currituck County racial composition[14]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 23,505 83.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,377 4.9%
Native American 98 0.35%
Asian 265 0.94%
Pacific Islander 22 0.08%
Other/Mixed 1,615 5.75%
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

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At the 2010 census,[15] there were 23,547 people, 6,902 households, and 5,204 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile (27 people/km2). There were 10,687 housing units at an average density of 41 units per square mile (16 units/km2). 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

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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.[16] 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.[17][18]

United States presidential election results for Currituck County, North Carolina[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 11,657 72.19% 4,195 25.98% 295 1.83%
2016 9,163 72.33% 2,913 22.99% 593 4.68%
2012 7,496 66.31% 3,562 31.51% 246 2.18%
2008 7,234 65.16% 3,737 33.66% 131 1.18%
2004 6,013 66.99% 2,909 32.41% 54 0.60%
2000 4,095 60.77% 2,595 38.51% 49 0.73%
1996 2,569 45.51% 2,277 40.34% 799 14.15%
1992 2,188 41.31% 1,935 36.53% 1,174 22.16%
1988 2,443 60.98% 1,555 38.82% 8 0.20%
1984 2,885 63.24% 1,668 36.56% 9 0.20%
1980 1,668 44.06% 1,980 52.30% 138 3.65%
1976 954 32.12% 1,999 67.31% 17 0.57%
1972 1,578 66.67% 718 30.33% 71 3.00%
1968 363 14.11% 738 28.69% 1,471 57.19%
1964 741 33.74% 1,455 66.26% 0 0.00%
1960 464 21.94% 1,651 78.06% 0 0.00%
1956 488 25.51% 1,425 74.49% 0 0.00%
1952 414 21.96% 1,471 78.04% 0 0.00%
1948 130 9.50% 1,144 83.63% 94 6.87%
1944 231 18.05% 1,049 81.95% 0 0.00%
1940 102 6.24% 1,532 93.76% 0 0.00%
1936 128 7.30% 1,625 92.70% 0 0.00%
1932 69 3.77% 1,759 96.02% 4 0.22%
1928 166 11.70% 1,253 88.30% 0 0.00%
1924 52 7.07% 670 91.16% 13 1.77%
1920 86 7.92% 1,000 92.08% 0 0.00%
1916 87 8.42% 945 91.48% 1 0.10%
1912 6 0.94% 622 97.80% 8 1.26%

Education

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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

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Map of Currituck County with municipal and township labels

Census-designated places

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Townships

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  • Crawford
  • Fruitville
  • Moyock
  • Poplar Branch

Other unincorporated communities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mazzocchi, Jay (2006). Powell, William S. (ed.). "Currituck County". NCpedia. University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Talk Like A Tarheel Archived June 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Currituck County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "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" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  7. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Currituck Banks Reserve". deq.nc.gov. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Currituck Banks Game Land and National Wildlife Refuge - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Avenza Maps". www.avenzamaps.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve - OuterBanks.com". www.outerbanks.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "Coastal Game Land Maps". www.ncwildlife.org. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "Northwest River (in Currituck County, NC)". northcarolina.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "Spring 2022 CountyQuarterly Research Pulse: Growing Pains". NCACC.ORG. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "Currituck County bans solar farm development". Virginian-Pilot. February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  18. ^ "Currituck oks 100 megawatt solar farm". DailyAdvance. November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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