Tyrrell County, North Carolina

Tyrrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,245,[2] making it the least populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Columbia.[3] The county was created in 1729 as Tyrrell Precinct and gained county status in 1739.[4] 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.

Tyrrell County
County
Tyrrell County Courthouse in Columbia
Tyrrell County Courthouse in Columbia
Flag of Tyrrell County
Flag
Official seal of Tyrrell County
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Nature's buffer zone, sprawled between the urban mainland and the popular stretch of North Carolina's Outer Banks."
Map of North Carolina highlighting Tyrrell 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: 35°52′N 76°10′W
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1729
Named forSir John Tyrrell[1]
SeatColumbia
Largest townColumbia
Area
 • Total594 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Land389 sq mi (1,010 km2)
 • Water205 sq mi (530 km2)  35%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,245
 • Estimate 
(2022)
3,365
 • Density8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitetyrrellcounty.org

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.[5]

National protected area

State and local protected areas
  • Alligator River Game Land[6]
  • Alligator River Area Outstanding Resource Water (part)
  • Buckridge Coastal Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve
  • Buckridge Game Land[7]
  • Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Coastal Reserve
  • Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve (part)
  • J. Morgan Futch Game Land[8]
  • Lantern Acres Game Land (part)[9]
  • New Lake Game Land[10]
  • Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
  • Pettigrew State Park (part)
  • Texas Plantation Game Land[11]

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17904,826—
18003,395−29.7%
18103,364−0.9%
18204,31928.4%
18304,7329.6%
18404,657−1.6%
18505,13310.2%
18604,944−3.7%
18704,173−15.6%
18804,5458.9%
18904,225−7.0%
19004,98017.9%
19105,2194.8%
19204,849−7.1%
19305,1646.5%
19405,5567.6%
19505,048−9.1%
19604,520−10.5%
19703,806−15.8%
19803,9754.4%
19903,856−3.0%
20004,1497.6%
20104,4076.2%
20203,245−26.4%
2022 (est.)3,365[12]3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2013[17]
2020[18]

2020 census
Tyrrell County racial composition[19]
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[20] 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 (4.2 people/km2). There were 2,032 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/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.

Government and politics

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.

In 2022, Tyrell County is represented by Edward Goodwin Burnham in the 1st district in the North Carolina House of Representatives and Bobby Hanig in the 1st district in the North Carolina State Senate.

United States presidential election results for Tyrrell County, North Carolina[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
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 proximity to the Outer Banks, has been designated [22] 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.[23]

The community is serviced by the Inner Banks Hotline, a non-profit women's community shelter.

Communities
Map of Tyrrell County with municipal and township labels

Town

Unincorporated communities

Townships
  • Alligator
  • Columbia
  • Gum Neck
  • Scuppernong
  • South Fork

See also

References
  1. "Tyrrell County". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "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.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  9. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  11. "NCWRC Game Lands". www.ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  17. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  18. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tyrrell County, North Carolina". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  19. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20060701181129/http://www.newsobserver.com/1233/
  23. http://tyrrell.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=home
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tyrrell County, North Carolina.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.