Editing Arapahoe, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Arapahoe, North Carolina
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 28510
|image_skyline            = Arapahoe.JPG
|imagesize                = 230px
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = NCMap-doton-Arapahoe.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Arapahoe, North Carolina
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[North Carolina]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Ken Heath
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = Circa 1714
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1921
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|area_total_km2           = 5.62
|area_land_km2            = 5.62
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.17
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|01|17|N|76|49|33|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 416
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Eastern Time Zone#About its name|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.17
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 43
|website                  = 
|area_code                = [[Area code 252|252]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 37-01640<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2405159<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405159}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 191.62
|population_density_km2 = 73.98
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|population_footnotes = 
}}

'''Arapahoe''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|r|æ|p|ə|h|oʊ}} {{respelling|uh|RAP|uh|hoh}})<ref name="North Carolina Collection">[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html  Talk Like A Tarheel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622041633/http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/resources/tlth.html |date=June 22, 2013 }}, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]. Retrieved January 31, 2013.</ref> is a town in [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]], [[North Carolina]],  United States. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 416. Arapahoe shares many of its roles and duties with [[Minnesott Beach, North Carolina]]. It is part of the [[New Bern, North Carolina]] [[New Bern micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

== History ==
Arapahoe was founded a few years after [[New Bern, North Carolina]] by settlers leaving the New Bern colony. This area was settled in 1703 on the old Indian trail from the big bend in the river heading west to Core Point. The community was called “Bethany Crossroads”. That Indian trail is still in use today but is now called [[North Carolina Highway 306]]. In 1886 Bob Hardison, after discussing it with his friend Bob Bowden decided to apply to the U.S. Postal Department for a Post office to be located at “Bethany Crossroads” in Pamlico County. They filled out an application and both signed it. When it was returned to them it was addressed to “Bob’s Town”, the reason being that there was already a “Bethany Crossroads” in the vicinity of [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]]. Neither of the Bobs liked “Bob’s Town” so they had to come up with a different name. After a lengthy discussion Bob Hardison said “Well if you have no objection, we will name it after my old white horse, Arapahoe.” So it was decided and a new application filed. It was likely a year or longer before all paperwork was completed, but “Bethany Crossroads” was no more and there by named the Town of Arapahoe. [[Arapahoe]] is a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe whose historic territory spanned regions of present-day [[Wyoming]] and [[Colorado]].

== Government ==
Arapahoe government is headed by the mayor of the town. Along with the mayor, there are several town commissioners, a planning board, and a volunteer fire department. The mayor and commissioners are elected to two year terms. The town hall is a small building located along the main street ([[North Carolina Highway 306|NC 306]]) in Arapahoe.

== Education ==
'''Public Education'''<br>
Arapahoe has education opportunities available for children grades Kindergarten through High School. [http://www.arapahoecharter.org Arapahoe Charter School] was opened in 1997 to replace Arapahoe Elementary School. There are currently 560 students enrolled, with 40 teachers available. Arapahoe Charter School has a student:teacher ratio of 14:1.

Arapahoe Charter School is currently a K-12 school housed in a new $9 million facility opening for the 2018-19 school year.

Arapahoe is also home to the Don Lee Center,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.donleecenter.org/ |title=Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center &#124; School Groups &#124; Summer Camp &#124; Retreats |publisher=Donleecenter.org |date= |accessdate=January 30, 2016}}</ref> a Methodist founded center for camping and recreation as well as for renowned public environmental education.

'''Higher Education'''<br>
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.

==Media==
The Pamlico News (http://www.thepamliconews.com)
Pamlico Ink: [https://web.archive.org/web/20090209073954/http://pamlicoink.com/ The Newspaper of the Pamlico Sound]

== Business ==
Arapahoe is the home of several small businesses. The largest industry 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

Another large business located in the Arapahoe area is 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]. Most of these camps have their largest programs in the summer months, but also hold other events throughout the year. For example, Camp Seafarer and Camp Seagull offer a Spring Break camp, Mother-Daughter weekends, and Father-Son weekends among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.seagull-seafarer.org/sessions/fall-spring-sessions|title = Fall & Spring Sessions|website = Camp Sea Gull Camp Seafarer|access-date = March 4, 2016}}</ref>

Opportunities for businesses in Arapahoe are plentiful. Business not currently available include the hotel industry, entertainment services, gas stations/convenience stores, and several others. As stated in an article from New Bern's Sun Journal{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}, 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|2.2|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

Arapahoe is located near the mouth of the Neuse River at 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, North Carolina|Cherry Branch]]. This ferry ride leads to [[Havelock, North Carolina|Havelock]], [[Atlantic Beach, North Carolina|Atlantic Beach]], [[Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point|Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station]], and [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]].

== 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 [[American Airlines]] 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, North Carolina|Havelock]] every 20 minutes.
[[Image:Arapahoe TownHall.JPG|thumb|right| Arapahoe Town Hall and Fire Department]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 290
|1940= 307
|1950= 273
|1960= 274
|1970= 212
|1980= 467
|1990= 430
|2000= 436
|2010= 556
|2020= 416
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 436 people, 188 households, and 128 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|199.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 214 housing units at an average density of {{convert|97.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 89.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.52% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 $44,167. 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 ==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2023}}
New Developments in Arapahoe include the following:
[[Image:Neuse River Arapahoe.JPG|thumb|Neuse River in Arapahoe near Camp Don Lee]]
#Shareheart Community developments along the Neuse River and Dawsons Creek.  These developments are private, small communities built on the comforts that the Neuse River can provide.
#A new housing community located at Dawson's Creek called Shine Landing. This development contains 96 lots with several being waterfront. This development is currently selling and nearly sold out.
#A new housing community located at Dawson's Creek called Dawsons Landing. This development is currently in pre-sale with over 100 lots available.
#A new housing community located on Hwy 306S in Arapahoe. The development, called 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.
#A water path has been developed for kayakers and paddlers to traverse the rivers, streams, and sounds of Pamlico County.  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.
#A Medical and Retail center is being developed at the old Arapahoe Elementary School building.
#Other current developments include a gas/convenience store and a hotel in Minnesott Beach.
#A new residential community located on Baird Creek (also known as Beards Creek) called 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.
#The largest of developments in the area is called Dawson Creek Subdivision with over 200 lots sold with many waterfront lots under construction. The development has a pool, clubhouse as well as plans for a private members dock and launch ramp in the future.

==References==
<references />

{{Pamlico County, North Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in Pamlico County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1714]]
[[Category:New Bern micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1714 establishments in North Carolina]]