Editing Carteret County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Carteret County
 | state                = North Carolina
 | seal                 = Carteret County Seal.png
 | founded year         = 1722
 | named for            = [[Sir George Carteret]]
 | leader_title         = County Manager
 | leader_name          = Sharon Griffin
 | seat wl              = Beaufort
 | largest city wl      = Morehead City
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1330.41
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 507.60
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 822.81
 | area percentage      = 61.85
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 67686
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 69615 {{gain}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = 133.35
 | coordinates          = {{coord|34.86|-76.54|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | web                  = www.carteretcountync.gov
 | ex image             = Carteret County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Carteret County Courthouse
 | district             = 3rd
 | flag                 = Carteret County Flag.gif
}}

'''Carteret County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|ɑr|.|t|ə|'|r|ɛ|t|}} {{respell|KAR|tuh|RET}} or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|ɑr|.|t|ɜr|'|ɛ|t|}} {{respell|KAR|tur|ET}})<ref>{{cite web|title=NC Pronunciation Guide|url=https://www.wral.com/lifestyles/travel/blogpost/10331495/|publisher=WRAL|accessdate=August 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name="North Carolina Collection">[https://library.unc.edu/wilson/ncc/talk-like-a-tar-heel/ 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 website at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]. Retrieved August 16, 2023.</ref> is a [[United States county|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 67,686.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was created in 1722 as Carteret Precinct and gained county status in 1739.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=North Carolina: Individual County Chronologies|work=North Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2009|access-date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115449/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/NC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was named for [[Sir George Carteret]], one of the 17th century [[English people|English]] [[Lords Proprietor]], or for his descendant and heir [[John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville]].

Carteret County comprises the [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]], NC [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[New Bern Metropolitan Statistical Area|New Bern-Morehead City, NC Combined Statistical Area]]. Most of the county is part of the [[Crystal Coast]].

==History==
The first male of English parents born in the current area of North Carolina was John Fulford. He was born in 1629 in what is now Carteret County. He settled in this area and died in 1729. An article dated September 18, 1893, in ''The New Bern Daily Journal'', identified Fulford's grave in a cemetery outside the county seat of [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]], in an area called the Straits. It was described as "bricked up with English brick." In 1971 a survey by the Carteret County Historical Society found such a grave in the Fulford Cemetery off Piper Lane in [[Gloucester, North Carolina|Gloucester]]. The unmarked, bricked-up grave matching this description survives today.<ref>North Carolina, Division of Archives and History, ''The Correspondence of William Tryon and Other Selected Papers, Volume II, 1768-1818'', p. 549</ref>

One of the more prominent families from Carteret County was the Dennis family. William Dennis Sr. (b.1720 - d.1800) was an extremely colorful landowner, Revolutionary War officer, and defender of the county. In 1747, he assisted with the successful defense of the county during the [[War of Jenkins' Ear]] (fighting against Spanish pirates). During the [[American Revolution|Revolutionary War]] he served as a 2nd Major in the [[Carteret County Regiment]] of the North Carolina militia. In 1782, he fought alongside Lieutenant Colonel John Easton to drive the British from Carteret County. Dennis once owned the Hammock House, which became well known as the house owned by the pirate Blackbeard. His son, William Dennis Junior was a captain in the [[8th North Carolina Regiment]] (1777-1778), was present at Valley Forge and also fought in the Carteret County Regiment (1781-1782). In the [[1790 United States census|1790 U.S. census]], Dennis was one of the largest land owners in the county. Branches of the Dennis family include the Bells, Watsons and Pelletiers, many of whom continued to live in the area for many years. In a typical pattern of following the availability of new lands in the Deep South, some branches of this family later migrated to Mississippi and Texas in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriots_nc_capt_william_dennis_jr.html|title=Captain William Dennis, Jr.|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina|author=Lewis, J.D.|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/nc_carteret_county_regiment.html|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina|title=Carteret County Regiment|author=Lewis, J.D.|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>

In 2024, [[real estate]] developers in [[Cedar Point, North Carolina|Cedar Point]] disturbed the site of an ancient Native American settlement. The discovery led to controversy over the continuance of the housing development and calls for new regulations to protect historical sites. Several [[North Carolina General Assembly|state lawmakers]] pushed for construction to resume, with one [[legislator]] receiving campaign contributions from the project's developers in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doran |first=Will |date=June 11, 2024 |title=NC builders unearth major archeological find. Lawmakers want to help them build over it |url=https://www.wral.com/story/nc-builders-unearth-major-archeological-find-lawmakers-want-to-help-them-build-over-it/21476977/ |access-date=November 20, 2024 |website=WRAL News}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q497817|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Carteret County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1330.41|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|507.60|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|822.81|sqmi}} (61.85%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the third-largest county in North Carolina by total area.

===National protected areas/sites===
* [[Cape Lookout Lighthouse]]
* [[Cape Lookout National Seashore]]
* [[Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Croatan National Forest]] (part)
* [[Pocosin Wilderness]] (part)

===State and local protected areas/sites===
* [[Carteret County Game Land]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCWRC Game Lands |url=https://www.ncpaws.org/ncwrcmaps/gamelands |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=www.ncpaws.org}}</ref>
* [[Croatan Game Land]] (part)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NC Game lands – Croatan National Forest and Game Land |url=http://www.ncfishandgame.com/north-carolina/croatan.php |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=www.ncfishandgame.com}}</ref>
* [[Fort Macon State Park]]
* [[North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores]]
* [[North Carolina Maritime Museum#North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort|North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort]]
* [[Rachel Carson Reserve]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rachel Carson Reserve |url=https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/reserve-sites/rachel-carson-reserve |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=deq.nc.gov}}</ref>
* [[Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area]]

Outstanding water sources and protected areas:<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2021 |title=List of Tier 3 Waters for the PGP (Outstanding National Resource Waters) |url=https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-09/list-of-tier-3-waters-2021pgp.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918193026/https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-09/list-of-tier-3-waters-2021pgp.pdf |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=EPA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6e125ad7628f494694e259c80dd64265 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps for Current Rules |url=https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits/rules/maps-current-rules#anadromous-fish-spawning-areas |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=deq.nc.gov}}</ref>
* [[Back Bay Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[Back Sound Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[Back Sound Outstanding Resource Water]]
* [[Bardens Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary]]
* [[Bear Island Area Outstanding Resource Water]] (part)
* [[Bogue Sound Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[Bogue Sound Outstanding Resource Water]]
* [[Core Sound, Neuse River Basin Outstanding Resource Water]]
* [[Core Sound, White Oak River Basin Outstanding Resource Water]]
* [[Drum Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary]]
* [[Neuse-Southeast Pamlico Sound Area Outstanding Resource Water]] (part)
* [[Newport River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[North Bay Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[North River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[Ocracoke Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary]] (part)
* [[Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve Dedicated Nature Preserve]]
* [[The Straits Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]]
* [[White Oak River Mechanical Harvesting of Oysters Prohibited Area]] (part)

===Major water bodies===
* [[Adams Creek (Carteret County)|Adams Creek]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://southrivernc.com/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=southrivernc.com}}</ref>
* [[Atlantic Ocean]] (North Atlantic Ocean)
* [[Back Sound]]
* [[Barden Inlet]]
* [[Barry Bay (North Carolina)|Barry Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barry Bay Fishing near Harkers Island, North Carolina {{!}} HookandBullet.com |url=https://www.hookandbullet.com/fishing-barry-bay-harkers-island-nc/ |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=www.hookandbullet.com}}</ref>
* [[Bogue Sound]]
* [[Calico Bay]]
* [[Cedar Island Bay (North Carolina)|Cedar Island Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Advertising |first=Balefire Marketing + |title=Cedar Island Bay - Full Hookup, Back In RV Site |url=https://roadville.com/cedar-island/site/cedar-island-bay-full-hookup/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=Cedar Island Ranch |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Core Sound]]
* [[Drum Inlet]]
* [[Harlowe Creek (North Carolina)|Harlowe Creek]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nickens |first=T. Edward |date=March 30, 2021 |title=Safe Passage for Dreams |url=https://www.ourstate.com/safe-passage-for-dreams/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=Our State |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Intracoastal Waterway]]
* [[Jarrett Bay (North Carolina)|Jarrett Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Michael |date=September 15, 2020 |title=Jarrett Bay Near Davis And Williston NC {{!}} Discussions And Information |url=https://ccountync.com/jarrett-bay-nc-davis-williston-down-east/ |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=Carteret County NC Project |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Long Bay (North Carolina)|Long Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Long Bay |url=https://www.fishingworks.com/north-carolina/carteret-nc/bay/long-bay-10/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=FishingWorks |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Nelson Bay (North Carolina)|Nelson Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Michael |date=September 22, 2020 |title=Nelson Bay And Down East NC Discussions |url=https://ccountync.com/nelson-bay-nc-stacy-sea-level-core-sound-carteret-county/ |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=Carteret County NC Project |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Newport River]]
* [[Neuse River]]
* [[North River (North Carolina)|North River]]
* [[Ocracoke Inlet]]
* [[Onslow Bay]]
* [[Pamlico Sound]]
* [[Raleigh Bay]]
* [[South River (Carteret County)|South River]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Taylor's Creek (North Carolina)|Taylor's Creek]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Michael |date=July 28, 2019 |title=Taylor's Creek Near The Rachel Carson Reserve {{!}} Tourism |url=https://ccountync.com/taylors-creek-rachel-carson-reserve-discussions-kayaking-wild-horses-tourism/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Carteret County NC Project |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Thorofare Bay (North Carolina)|Thorofare Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Michael |date=October 18, 2020 |title=Thorofare Bay NC Discussions In Carteret County |url=https://ccountync.com/thorofare-bay-nc-carteret-county-local-information-core-cedar/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=Carteret County NC Project |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Turnagain Bay (North Carolina)|Turnagain Bay]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[West Bay (North Carolina)|West Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2013 |title=Descriptive Boundaries for Costal-Joint-Inland Waters |url=https://deq.nc.gov/media/20213/download |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=deq.nc.gov}}</ref>
* [[West Thorofare Bay (North Carolina)|West Thorofare Bay]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fishing reports, best baits and forecast for fishing in West Thorofare Bay |url=https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/vtUMVH1F/west-thorofare-bay |access-date=January 30, 2023 |website=Fishbrain |language=en}}</ref>
* [[White Oak River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]] – north
* [[Craven County, North Carolina|Craven County]] – north
* [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]] – north
* [[Hyde County, North Carolina|Hyde County]] – northeast
* [[Onslow County, North Carolina|Onslow County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=NC|I-Future|42}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|70}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|12}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|24}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|58}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|101}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Amtrak Thruway#East|Amtrak Thruway]] (Morehead City)
* [[Carteret County Speedway]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Carteret County Speedway |url=https://www.carteretspeedway.com/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Carteret County Speedway |language=en}}</ref>
* [[North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division#Routes|Cedar Island–Ocracoke Ferry]] (to Hyde County)
* [[Michael J. Smith Field]]
* Ferries to the uninhabited islands in Cape Lookout National Seashore<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isl |first=Mailing Address: 131 Charles St Harkers |last2=Us |first2=NC 28531 Phone: 252 728-2250 Contact |title=List of Authorized Ferry Services - Cape Lookout National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/ferry.htm |access-date=May 16, 2022 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>
* [[North Carolina State Ports Authority#Port of Morehead City|Port of Morehead City]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 3734
|1800= 4399
|1810= 4823
|1820= 5609
|1830= 6597
|1840= 6591
|1850= 6939
|1860= 8186
|1870= 9010
|1880= 9784
|1890= 10825
|1900= 11811
|1910= 13776
|1920= 15384
|1930= 16900
|1940= 18284
|1950= 23059
|1960= 30940
|1970= 31603
|1980= 41092
|1990= 52556
|2000= 59383
|2010= 66469
|2020= 67686
|estyear=2023
|estimate=69615
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37031.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234913/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37031.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/carteretcountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Carteret County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Carteret County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37031&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 24, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 57,538
| 85.01%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,208
| 4.74%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 252
| 0.37%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 584
| 0.86%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 63
| 0.09%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 2,922
| 4.32%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 3,119
| 4.61%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 67,686 people, 28,962 households, and 18,292 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 59,383 people, 25,204 households, and 17,365 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|114|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 40,947 housing units at an average density of {{convert|79|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.28% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 6.99% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.54% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.60% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 25,204 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.70% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94 males.

The median income for a household in Carteret County in 2009 was $49,711, and the median income for a family was $45,499. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $22,126 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,260. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
Carteret County is a member of the regional [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Eastern Carolina Council of Governments]]. It includes 16 of [[List of townships in North Carolina|North Carolina's townships]].

Carteret County operates under a [[Council–manager government|council–manager form of government]]. The interim county manager is Sharon Griffin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Administration |url=https://www.carteretcountync.gov/136/Administration |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=www.carteretcountync.gov}}</ref>

A voting machine malfunction in the county resulted in the [[2004 U.S. election voting controversies|loss of 4,438 ballots]] cast during early voting for the November 2, 2004, general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-04-votes-lost_x.htm|title=More than 4,500 North Carolina votes lost because of mistake in voting machine capacity|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|access-date=October 23, 2008 | date=November 5, 2004}}</ref>  Since the number of lost ballots exceeded the lead held (by [[Steve Troxler]] over [[Britt Cobb]]) in the statewide race for [[agriculture]] commissioner, the State Board of Elections decided to hold a special election on January 11, 2005, open only to the 18,500 voters in the county who either failed to vote or whose votes were lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/98054/E_voting_Woes_Force_New_Election_in_N.C._County|title=E-voting Woes Force New Election in N.C. County|publisher=[[Computerworld]]|access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1090736/|title=New Ag Commissioner Election To Be Held In Carteret County|publisher=[[WRAL-TV]]|access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> Both candidates filed legal challenges contesting the format of the new election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/114521/|title=Lawyers For Both State Ag Candidates Head To Court Over Special Election|publisher=[[WRAL-TV]]|access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/115340/|title=Cobb Concedes Ag Commissioner Race To Troxler|publisher=[[WRAL-TV]]|access-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Carteret County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|32,508|12,813|496|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|30,028|12,093|574|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|26,569|9,939|1,273|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|24,775|10,301|441|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|23,131|11,130|336|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|17,716|7,732|127|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|17,381|8,839|241|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,721|7,566|1,589|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|10,334|8,028|3,457|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,076|6,859|59|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,637|5,882|38|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,733|6,485|549|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,786|7,080|73|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,463|2,805|147|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,593|3,762|3,061|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,289|6,231|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,493|5,264|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,804|3,875|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,967|4,280|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,520|3,491|149|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,566|3,489|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,789|3,896|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,889|3,780|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,765|3,455|55|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,133|2,045|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,854|2,261|15|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,315|2,070|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,246|1,165|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|218|1,153|537|North Carolina}}

==Education==
===Primary and secondary education===
The county is served by the [[Carteret County Public Schools]]. Carteret County Public Schools has 16 schools ranging from [[pre-kindergarten]] to [[twelfth grade]]. Those 16 schools are separated into three [[High school (North America)|high schools]], four [[Middle school#Canada and the United States|middle schools]], and nine [[Elementary school#United States|elementary schools]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Carteret County Public Schools|url=http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/search.jsp?pYear=2011-2012&pList=1&pListVal=160%3ACarteret+County+Public+Schools&GO2=GO|work=NC School Report Cards|publisher=North Carolina Department of Public Instruction|access-date=December 29, 2012}}</ref>

In addition the county is home to a public [[Charter schools in the United States|charter school]] and three [[Private school#United States|private schools]]:
* [[Tiller School]] is a grade K-5 public charter school in Beaufort<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.tillerschool.org/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=www.tillerschool.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Saint Egbert School]] is a grade K-5 Catholic school in Morehead City<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Egbert Catholic School |url=https://www.stegbert.org/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=www.stegbert.org}}</ref>
* [[Grace Christian School Newport NC|Grace Christian School]] is a grade K-8 school in Newport<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Grace Christian School |url=https://www.niche.com/k12/grace-christian-school-newport-nc/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Niche |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Gramercy Christian School Newport NC|Gramercy Christian School]] is a grade K-12 school in Newport<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.gramercychristian.org/ |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Gramercy Christian School |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Higher learning===
* [[Carteret Community College]] (CCC)
* [[UNC-Chapel Hill]] Institute of Marine Sciences (UNC-IMS)
* [[NCSU]] Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST)
* [[Duke University Marine Laboratory]]

==Media==
{{anchor|Carteret County News-Times}}
The ''Carteret County News-Times'' is a community newspaper based in [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]] that serves Carteret County and nearby areas.<ref name="Starkey2019-06-15">{{cite news |last=Starkey |first=Jackie |date=June 15, 2019 |title=News-Times moves print production to Greenville |url=http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_fd44ef1a-8fb1-11e9-bdd5-9b177d7784a9.html |newspaper=Carteret County News-Times |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902011944/http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_fd44ef1a-8fb1-11e9-bdd5-9b177d7784a9.html |archive-date=September 2, 2019 }}</ref> Its predecessors were ''The Beaufort News'', a newspaper founded in 1912, and the ''Twin City Daily Times'', a newspaper founded in 1936.<ref name="ESC1959">{{cite magazine |date=1959 |title=The ESC Quarterly, Volumes 14-17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tx_mAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Carteret+Publishing%22+News-Times |magazine=The ESC Quarterly |publisher=Employment Security Commission of North Carolina |access-date=September 2, 2019 }}</ref> The Phillips family purchased and merged the two newspapers together to form ''Carteret County News-Times''.<ref name="Smith2019-06-18">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=J.J. |date=June 18, 2019 |title=Support local journalism or find yourself in a news desert |url=http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/sports/article_ddbbb6f4-921f-11e9-8e77-374e6617b882.html |newspaper=The Carteret County News-Times |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902011820/http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/sports/article_ddbbb6f4-921f-11e9-8e77-374e6617b882.html |archive-date=September 2, 2019 }}</ref> The ''Carteret County News-Times''{{'}}s earliest printing was on May 18, 1948.<ref name="Starkey2019-06-15" /> Beginning in 1981, the newspaper has published three editions a week: Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.<ref name="Starkey2019-06-15" /> According to the 2010 book ''North Carolina's Central Coast and New Bern'', the newspaper is "a good source of information for vacationers who want to know the schedules of tours, festivals, kids' programs, seminars, exhibits and events of all types within the county and the surrounding area".<ref name="BridgesWeigand2010">{{cite book |last1=Bridges |first1=Neva Dail |last2=Weigand |first2=Janice |date=2010 |title=North Carolina's Central Coast and New Bern |edition=19 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780762759910/page/210 |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |publisher=[[Globe Pequot Press]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780762759910/page/210 210] |isbn=978-0-7627-5991-0 |access-date=September 2, 2019 }}</ref>

==Military==
[[Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue]] is located in the western section of Carteret County along Bogue Sound. It comprises an {{convert|875|acre|km2}} landing field located on Bogue Sound that serves as the Marine Corps’ only East Coast site for Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP).<ref>[[Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue]]</ref>

[[Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic]] is a training field in Atlantic. The USMC manages the Navy's Dumpling Creek Transmission Station in Merrimon. BT-11 Piney Island in [[Davis, North Carolina|Davis]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jimenez|first=Lance Cpl. Jason|date=July 9, 2015|title=PINEY ISLAND REPLENISHES LIVE-FIRE TARGETS|url=https://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil/News/Article/607736/piney-island-replenishes-live-fire-targets/|website=MCAS CHERRY POINT NEWS}}</ref> and Cat Island in Bogue Sound are former Marine Corps bombing ranges.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anne V. Stokes, Travis Fulk, Brenda Swann, Bryan Harrell, Debra J. Wells, Bruce J. Larson, & Carmen Lombardo|date=Oct 2008|title=Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point - Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan - FY 2008 – 2013|url=https://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil/portals/86/docs/gamewarden/Final%20Cherry%20Point%20ICRMP%202008_Copy%20for%20public%20distribution.pdf#page=10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107103041/http://www.cherrypoint.marines.mil/portals/86/docs/gamewarden/Final%20Cherry%20Point%20ICRMP%202008_Copy%20for%20public%20distribution.pdf |archive-date=November 7, 2016 }}</ref>

The Marine Corps also has a facility in Beaufort, at the southern tip of Radio Island<ref>{{Cite web|title=Morehead City|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/morehead-city.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011113024412/http://www.globalsecurity.org:80/military/facility/morehead-city.htm |archive-date=November 13, 2001 }}</ref> (between the NC State Port in Morehead City, and the marine science laboratories on Pivers Island in Beaufort). It is military property, but is only manned during military port operations.

The US Navy has a Port Control Office and the US Army has a Reserve Center, both in the eastern part of Morehead City. The NC National Guard has an Armory in Morehead City.

The US Coast Guard operates a Sector Office at [[Fort Macon State Park|Fort Macon]], as well as a USCG Station at [[Emerald Isle, North Carolina|Emerald Isle]] and [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]].

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Carteret County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|300px|Map of Carteret County with municipal and township labels]]
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]] (largest community)
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Atlantic Beach, North Carolina|Atlantic Beach]]
* [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]] (county seat)
* [[Bogue, North Carolina|Bogue]]
* [[Cape Carteret, North Carolina|Cape Carteret]]
* [[Cedar Point, North Carolina|Cedar Point]]
* [[Emerald Isle, North Carolina|Emerald Isle]]
* [[Indian Beach, North Carolina|Indian Beach]]
* [[Newport, North Carolina|Newport]]
* [[Peletier, North Carolina|Peletier]]
* [[Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina|Pine Knoll Shores]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
* Atlantic
* Beaufort
* Cedar Island
* Davis
* Harkers Island
* Harlowe
* Marshallberg
* Merrimon
* Morehead
* Newport
* Portsmouth
* Sea Level
* Smyrna
* Stacy
* Straits
* White Oak

===Census-designated places===
* [[Atlantic, North Carolina|Atlantic]]
* [[Brandywine Bay, North Carolina|Brandywine Bay]]
* [[Broad Creek, North Carolina|Broad Creek]]
* [[Davis, North Carolina|Davis]]
* [[Gloucester, North Carolina|Gloucester]]
* [[Harkers Island, North Carolina|Harkers Island]]
* [[Marshallberg, North Carolina|Marshallberg]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bettie, North Carolina|Bettie]]
* [[Cape Lookout, North Carolina (unincorporated community)|Cape Lookout]]
* [[Cedar Island, North Carolina|Cedar Island]]
* [[Core Creek, Carteret County, North Carolina|Core Creek]]
* [[Gales Creek, North Carolina|Gales Creek]]
* [[Harlowe, North Carolina|Harlowe]]
* [[Lola, North Carolina|Lola]]
* [[Merrimon, North Carolina|Merrimon]]
* [[Mill Creek, North Carolina|Mill Creek]]
* [[North River, North Carolina|North River]]
* [[Ocean, North Carolina|Ocean]]
* [[Otway, North Carolina|Otway]]
* [[Salter Path, North Carolina|Salter Path]]
* [[Sea Gate, North Carolina|Sea Gate]]
* [[Sea Level, North Carolina|Sea Level]]
* [[Smyrna, North Carolina|Smyrna]]
* [[South River (Carteret County, North Carolina)|South River]]
* [[Stacy, North Carolina|Stacy]]
* [[Stella, North Carolina|Stella]]
* [[Straits, North Carolina|Straits]]
* [[Wildwood, North Carolina|Wildwood]]
* [[Williston, North Carolina|Williston]]
* [[Wiregrass, North Carolina|Wiregrass]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Carteret County, North Carolina]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528682}}
* {{official website|http://www.carteretcountync.gov}}
* [http://www.nccoastchamber.com/ Carteret County Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Carteret County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Craven County, North Carolina|Craven County]] and [[Pamlico County, North Carolina|Pamlico County]]
|Northeast = [[Hyde County, North Carolina|Hyde County]]
|East      = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southwest = [[Onslow County, North Carolina|Onslow County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Jones County, North Carolina|Jones County]]
}}
{{Carteret County, North Carolina}}
{{North_Carolina}}
{{Outer Banks}}
{{Crystal Coast}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Carteret County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1739 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1739]]