Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Tyrrell County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°52′N 76°10′W / 35.87°N 76.17°W | |
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
Founded | 1739 |
Named for | Sir John Tyrrell |
Seat | Columbia |
Largest town | Columbia |
Area | |
• Total | 594 sq mi (1,540 km2) |
• Land | 389 sq mi (1,010 km2) |
• Water | 205 sq mi (530 km2) 35% |
Population | |
• Estimate (2021) | 3,254 |
• Density | 8.4/sq mi (3.2/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | tyrrellcounty |
Tyrrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 3,245,[1] making it the least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Columbia.[2] The county was created in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct and gained county status in 1739.[3] 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 594 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 389 square miles (1,010 km2) is land and 205 square miles (530 km2) (35%) is water.[4]
National protected area
State and local protected areas
- Alligator River Game Land
- Alligator River Area Outstanding Resource Water (part)
- Buckridge Coastal Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
- Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve
- Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve (part)
- New Lake Game Land (part)
- Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
- Pettigrew State Park, (mostly in Washington county)
Adjacent counties
- Washington County - west
- Dare County - east
- Hyde County - south
Major water-bodies
Major highways
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 4,826 | — | |
1800 | 3,395 | −29.7% | |
1810 | 3,364 | −0.9% | |
1820 | 4,319 | 28.4% | |
1830 | 4,732 | 9.6% | |
1840 | 4,657 | −1.6% | |
1850 | 5,133 | 10.2% | |
1860 | 4,944 | −3.7% | |
1870 | 4,173 | −15.6% | |
1880 | 4,545 | 8.9% | |
1890 | 4,225 | −7.0% | |
1900 | 4,980 | 17.9% | |
1910 | 5,219 | 4.8% | |
1920 | 4,849 | −7.1% | |
1930 | 5,164 | 6.5% | |
1940 | 5,556 | 7.6% | |
1950 | 5,048 | −9.1% | |
1960 | 4,520 | −10.5% | |
1970 | 3,806 | −15.8% | |
1980 | 3,975 | 4.4% | |
1990 | 3,856 | −3.0% | |
2000 | 4,149 | 7.6% | |
2010 | 4,407 | 6.2% | |
2020 | 3,245 | −26.4% | |
2021 (est.) | 3,254 | [5] | 0.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10] |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 1,879 | 57.9% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 934 | 28.78% |
Native American | 5 | 0.15% |
Asian | 43 | 1.33% |
Other/Mixed | 112 | 3.45% |
Hispanic or Latino | 272 | 8.38% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,245 people, 1,594 households, and 1,035 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 4,149 people, 1,537 households, and 1,055 families residing in the county. However, the North Carolina Department of Commerce 2015 County Economic Development Tier Rankings place the current population at 3,653. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 2,032 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.47% White, 39.43% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 2.05% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.
There were 1,537 households, of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 16.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 114.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,684, and the median income for a family was $32,468. Males had a median income of $26,227 versus $18,403 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,326. About 19.10% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.50% of those under age 18 and 20.80% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
Tyrrell County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.
Tyrrell County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners. The elections for County Commissioners are partisan and at large. In 2013, the County became the last county in North Carolina to adopt the County Manager form of government.
Tyrell County is represented by Bob Steinburg in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Tyrrell County is well known as a "speed trap" to vacationers heading for the Outer Banks. The Tyrrell County Sheriffs Department takes advantage of a bottleneck in U.S. Highway 64 combined with a low imposed speed limit to generate revenue for the county. Numerous law firms in the region and state cater to victims of this predatory behavior.
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 1,044 | 57.46% | 758 | 41.72% | 15 | 0.83% |
2016 | 975 | 56.07% | 720 | 41.40% | 44 | 2.53% |
2012 | 930 | 52.16% | 837 | 46.94% | 16 | 0.90% |
2008 | 960 | 50.26% | 933 | 48.85% | 17 | 0.89% |
2004 | 855 | 53.77% | 731 | 45.97% | 4 | 0.25% |
2000 | 706 | 45.08% | 849 | 54.21% | 11 | 0.70% |
1996 | 488 | 32.25% | 908 | 60.01% | 117 | 7.73% |
1992 | 553 | 33.03% | 928 | 55.44% | 193 | 11.53% |
1988 | 637 | 44.70% | 785 | 55.09% | 3 | 0.21% |
1984 | 774 | 48.89% | 807 | 50.98% | 2 | 0.13% |
1980 | 466 | 34.01% | 887 | 64.74% | 17 | 1.24% |
1976 | 403 | 30.88% | 900 | 68.97% | 2 | 0.15% |
1972 | 676 | 59.30% | 459 | 40.26% | 5 | 0.44% |
1968 | 291 | 22.61% | 581 | 45.14% | 415 | 32.25% |
1964 | 374 | 27.30% | 996 | 72.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 349 | 27.37% | 926 | 72.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 420 | 40.58% | 615 | 59.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 385 | 29.59% | 916 | 70.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 336 | 30.19% | 732 | 65.77% | 45 | 4.04% |
1944 | 281 | 31.50% | 611 | 68.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 415 | 26.69% | 1,140 | 73.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 304 | 22.47% | 1,049 | 77.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 258 | 22.69% | 873 | 76.78% | 6 | 0.53% |
1928 | 505 | 51.53% | 475 | 48.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 442 | 40.89% | 638 | 59.02% | 1 | 0.09% |
1920 | 532 | 42.56% | 718 | 57.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 392 | 48.51% | 416 | 51.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
1912 | 224 | 35.84% | 297 | 47.52% | 104 | 16.64% |
Economy
Tyrrell County, due to its close proximity to the Outer Banks, has been designated [1] as part of the IBX -Inner Banks.
The North Carolina State University (NCSU) Tyrrell County Extension Center provides the county residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NCSU and NC A&T State University.[2]
The community is serviced by the Inner Banks Hotline, a non-profit women's community shelter.
Communities
Town
- Columbia (county seat and largest town)
Unincorporated communities
Townships
- Alligator
- Columbia
- Gum Neck
- Scuppernong
- South Fork
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Tyrrell County, North Carolina
- Roanoke Colony, infamous first colony in the Americas located in Dare county.
References
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "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 25, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
External links
- NCGenWeb Tyrrell County - free genealogy resources for the county