Hyde County, North Carolina

Hyde County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,810,^[1] making it the second-least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Swan Quarter.^[2] The county was created in 1705 as Wickham Precinct. It was renamed Hyde Precinct in 1712 and gained county status in 1739.^[3]^[4]

History

The county was formed December 3, 1705, as Wickham Precinct, one of three precincts within Bath County. The name "Wickham" was derived from the manor of "Temple Wycombe" in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, the family home of John Archdale, Governor of North and South Carolina from 1695 to 1696. In 1712 it was renamed Hyde Precinct, for Edward Hyde,^[5] Governor of North Carolina from 1711 to 1712. In 1739 Bath County was abolished, and Hyde Precinct became Hyde County.

Various boundary adjustments followed. In 1745 Lake Mattamuskeet and its adjoining territory were transferred from Currituck County to Hyde County. In 1819 the part of Hyde County west of the Pungo River was annexed to Beaufort County. In 1823 the part of Currituck County south of New Inlet was annexed to Hyde County. This area included the present day Hatteras Island. In 1845 Ocracoke Island was transferred from Carteret County to Hyde County. In 1870 Hyde County was reduced to its present dimensions, when its northeastern part was combined with parts of Currituck County and Tyrrell County to form Dare County. Since its creation, the boundaries of Hyde County have changed more than those of any other county in North Carolina.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,424 square miles (3,690 km²), of which 613 square miles (1,590 km²) is land and 811 square miles (2,100 km²) (57%) is water.^[6] It is the second-largest county in North Carolina by total area. Hyde County's in-land is part of the Inner Banks. Ocracoke Island is part of the Outer Banks.

Adjacent counties

Tyrrell County - north
Dare County - northeast
Carteret County - southwest
Beaufort County - west
Washington County - northwest

Bodies of water

Pamlico Sound - East
Atlantic Ocean - South

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	4,204		—
1800	4,829		14.9%
1810	6,029		24.8%
1820	4,967		−17.6%
1830	6,184		24.5%
1840	6,458		4.4%
1850	7,636		18.2%
1860	7,732		1.3%
1870	6,445		−16.6%
1880	7,765		20.5%
1890	8,903		14.7%
1900	9,278		4.2%
1910	8,840		−4.7%
1920	8,386		−5.1%
1930	8,550		2.0%
1940	7,860		−8.1%
1950	6,479		−17.6%
1960	5,765		−11.0%
1970	5,571		−3.4%
1980	5,873		5.4%
1990	5,411		−7.9%
2000	5,826		7.7%
2010	5,810		−0.3%
Est. 2014	5,676	^[7]	−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2013^[1]

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 5,826 people, 2,185 households, and 1,433 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 3,302 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.65% White, 35.07% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.84% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 2.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,185 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 13.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 30.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.40% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 112.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,444, and the median income for a family was $35,558. Males had a median income of $25,216 versus $20,482 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,164. About 10.30% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 23.00% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Hyde County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.

Hyde County is served by six volunteer fire departments: Engelhard, Fairfield, Ocracoke, Scranton, Ponzer, and Swan Quarter.

Politics

Hyde County is located within North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. In the 2008 Presidential election, the county was narrowly divided, much like the rest of the state of North Carolina, with Barack Obama winning 1,241 votes, John McCain winning 1,212 votes, and other candidates winning 16 votes.^[13]

Education

Hyde County is home to the smallest public school system in North Carolina. The Hyde County Schools comprises two schools.

Mattamuskeet School, K-12 serves the mainland
Ocracoke School, K-12 serves Ocracoke Island

The only private school in Hyde County is a small Mennonite school located in the northwest section of the county. This school serves the county's Mennonite population.

Media

Hyde County is home to two full power radio stations, WYND 97.1 FM and WCMS 94.5 FM. These stations are licensed to Hatteras, NC but maintain transmitter facilities outside of Engelhard.

Ocracoke Island is home WOVV 90.1 FM, a low power non-commercial station. WOVV is currently under construction.

WHYC 88.5 FM is located on the campus of Mattamuskeet School in Swan Quarter. WHYC is one of only two high school operated stations in North Carolina.

Communities

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

Hyde County has no incorporated municipalities.

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Currituck
Fairfield
Lake Landing
Ocracoke
Swan Quarter

A sixth township, Mattamuskeet, is now "unorganized territory" occupied by the federally controlled Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.

References

1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
↑ "North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
↑ "Hyde County". NCpedia. State Library of North Carolina. January 1, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 164.
↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
↑ "Presidential General Election Results - Hyde County, NC." Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved 2010-04-10.