Arapahoe, North Carolina

Arapahoe is a town in Pamlico County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2004 census, the town population was 434. Arapahoe shares many of its roles and duties with Minnesott Beach, North Carolina. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Arapahoe, North Carolina
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =
postal_code_type = ZIP Code
postal_code = 28510


imagesize = 230px
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Arapahoe, North Carolina


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = North Carolina
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Pamlico
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Dale Kitchen
established_title = Founded
established_date = Circa 1714
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1921
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude = 5.7
area_total_km2 = 5.7
area_land_km2 = 5.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.2
latd = 35 |latm = 1 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 49 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 434
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 2.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 22.9
elevation_ft = 75
website =
area_code = 252
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 37-01640GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1018839GR|3
footnotes =

History

Arapahoe was founded a few years after New Bern, North Carolina by settlers leaving the New Bern colony. The running date of Arapahoe's founding was 1714. Arapahoe was incorporated into a town in 1921, when its post office opened.

Arapahoe has 2 different versions of town's name. One version was that it came from a tribe of Native Americans living in the area. This tribe was a branch from the local Pampticoe. The second version was that the name Arapahoe came from a prized race horse of one of the local inhabitants.

Government

Arapahoe government is headed by the mayor of the town. Along with the mayor, there are several town commissoners, a planning board, and a volunteer fire department. The mayor and commissoners are elected to two year terms. The town hall is a small building located along the main street in Arapahoe, NC Highway 306.

Education

Public Education
Arapahoe has education opportunities available for children grades Kindergarten through Jr High. [http://www.arapahoe.charter.k12.nc.us/ Arapahoe Charter School] was opened in 1997 to replace Arapahoe Elementary School. There are currently 360 students enrolled, with 23 teachers available. Arapahoe Charter School has a student:teacher ratio of 16:1.

For High School opportunities, residents of Arapahoe as well as the entire of Pamlico County attend Pamlico County High School in Bayboro, North Carolina.

Higher Education
For Higher Education, Pamlico Community College (PCC) allows for Associate degrees in many areas. From PCC, one can transfer to East Carolina University to complete a bachelors and graduates degree. PCC is located only minutes from Arapahoe along NC Highway 306.

Businesses and Business Opportunities

Arapahoe is the home of several small businesses. The largest industries in Arapahoe is agriculture. Other businesses include seafood management, home improvement, florist, food service, and other service industries. Another industry that appears to be growing in the Arapahoe area is bio-diesel production.

Another large business located in the Arapahoe area are summer camps. Within the Arapahoe area, there are four camps: [http://www.seagull-seafarer.org/ Camp Sea Gull for boys (YMCA affiliated), Camp Seafarer for girls (YMCA affiliated)] , [http://www.donleecenter.org/ Camp Don Lee (Methodist)] , and [http://www.campcaroline.org/ Camp Caroline] . All camps run from April to September.

Opportunities for businesses in Arapahoe are plentiful. Business not currently available include the hotel industry, entertainment services, gas/convenient stations, and several others. As stated in an article from New Bern's Sun Journal, the hotel business opportunities lost from Arapahoe (and subsequently relished by New Bern) can be equated to millions of dollars during the camp season due to the high proportion of camp families, events, and visitors to the recreational opportunities.

Geography

Arapahoe is located at coor dms|35|1|33|N|76|49|44|W|city (35.025914, -76.828860).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.

Arapahoe is located near the mouth of the Neuse River at the Pamlico Sound. From Arapahoe (and through Minnesott Beach), the North Carolina Ferry System has a 20 minute ferry ride from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch. This ferry ride leads to Havelock, North Carolina, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and Beaufort, North Carolina.

A project currently under consideration is a bridge that would span the Neuse River connecting Minnesott Beach to Havelock. This project, on the state of North Carolina transportation hotspots, was recently pushed back into holding status while other projects are re-arranged to better use the new revised budget.

Though not within the city limits, there are sub-regions of Arapahoe. These areas include Holt's Chapel, Kershaw, Janerio, Dawson's Creek, Taylor's Neck, and Cash Corner. Dawson's Creek area is the basis for Kevin Williamson's WB television show.

Transportation

The major means for transportation in Arapahoe is by car. There are currently no taxi service, mass transportation, or airline service within the Araphoe geographic district. The closest airport to Arapahoe is Craven Regional Airport, serviced by US Airways Express with eight times daily service to Charlotte. Delta Connection has service to Atlanta with twice daily service (three times daily summer service). Ferry service is also available from the North Carolina Ferry System with service from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch / Havelock every 20 minutes.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 436 people, 188 households, and 128 families residing in the town. The population density was 199.4 people per square mile (76.9/km²). There were 214 housing units at an average density of 97.9/sq mi (37.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.91% White, 6.19% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 2.52% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.50% of the population.

There were 188 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,073. About 7.6% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over. Arapahoe currently has a tax rate of $0.05/$100.

New Developments

New Developments in Arapahoe include the following:1. Shareheart Community developments along the Neuse River and Dawsons Creek ( [http://www.cribbscove.com/ Cribbs Cove] ). These developments are private, small communities built on the comforts that the Neuse River can provide.

2. A new housing community located at Dawson's Creek called [http://www.shinelanding.com/ Shine Landing] . This development contains 96 lots with several being waterfront. This development is currently selling and nearly sold out.

3. A new housing community located at Dawson's Creek called Dawsons Landing. This development is currently in pre-sale with over 100 lots available.

4. A new housing community located on Hwy 306S in Arapahoe. The development, called [http://www.arlingtonplace.com/ Arlington Place] , is located on the Burts Farm Development and will contain as many as 1200 homes, boat docks, and a community center. Currently Phase 1 of Arlington Place has been sold to the 80% mark.

5. A water path has been developed for kayakers and paddlers to traverse the rivers, streams, and sounds of Pamlico County. [http://www.pamlicopaddle.com/ Pamlico Paddle] recently announced a fall event on October 20, 2007 where paddlers enjoy the paddle paths around Pamlico County. During the 2005 event, over 75 paddlers joined the event.

6. A Medical and Retail center is being developed at the old Arapahoe Elementary School building.

7. Other current developments include a gas/convenience store and a hotel in Minnesott Beach.

8. A new residential community located on Baird Creek (also known as Beards Creek) called [http://www.bairdcreekpoint.com/ Baird Creek Point] . This development has approximately 40 home sites including waterfront and interior lots, a ten slip community marina and a community center. Most waterfront lots are currently sold.

References

External links