Dare County, North Carolina

Dare County, North Carolina
Seal
Location in the state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1870
Seat	Manteo
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,562 sq mi (4,046 km²) 384 sq mi (995 km²) 1,178 sq mi (3,051 km²), 75.44%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	33,920 78/sq mi (30/km²)
Website	www.darenc.com

Dare County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 33,920. Its county seat is Manteo.^[1] It is named after Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to English parents, who was born in what is now Dare County. At one time, the now-abandoned town of Buffalo City was the largest community in the county.^[2] Because it includes much of Pamlico Sound, Dare County is the largest county in North Carolina by total area.

Law and government

Dare County is governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Dare County is a part of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,562 square miles (4,045.6 km²), of which 384 square miles (994.6 km²) is land and 1,178 square miles (3,051.0 km²) (75.44%) is water.

Dare County includes the northern half of the Outer Banks.

Adjacent counties

• Currituck County (north)
• Hyde County (southwest)
• Tyrrell County (west)

National protected areas

• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore (part)
• Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
• Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Wright Brothers National Memorial

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 33,920 people, 12,690 households, and 8,450 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 26,671 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,690 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,411, and the median income for a family was $49,302. Males had a median income of $31,240 versus $24,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,614. About 5.50% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Map of Dare County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

• Duck
• Kill Devil Hills
• Kitty Hawk
• Manteo
• Nags Head
• Southern Shores

Unincorporated communities

• Avon
• Buxton
• Colington
• East Lake
• Frisco
• Hatteras
• Manns Harbor
• Roanoke Island
• Rodanthe
• Salvo
• Wanchese
• Waves

Lighthouses

Dare County is home to two popular lighthouses: The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. There is also a beacon atop the Wright Brothers Memorial. A third lighthouse was built by the Town of Manteo and dedicated on September 25, 2004. The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is an exterior recreation of the 1877 screwpile lighthouse of the same name and is located on the Manteo waterfront. It serves as exhibit space for the N.C. Maritime Museum on Roanoke Island.

Transportation

Dare County Regional Airport, a general aviation airport, is located in Dare County.

Public schools

Public education is run by Dare County Schools:

• Manteo High School
• Manteo Middle School [1]
• Manteo Elementary School [2]
• First Flight High School [3]
• First Flight Middle School [4]
• First Flight Elementary School [5]
• Kitty Hawk Elementary School [6]
• Dare County Alternative School
• Cape Hatteras Secondary School [7]
• Cape Hatteras Elementary School [8]
• Nags Head Elementary School [9]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dare County, North Carolina

Coordinates: 35°41′N 75°44′W / 35.69°N 75.73°W / 35.69; -75.73

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ Degregory, Lane (1994-10-02). "Buffalo City". The Virginian-Pilot. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp941002/09300159.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-06. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.