Hertford County, North Carolina

County in North Carolina, United States

"Hertford County" redirects here. For the county in England, see Hertfordshire.

Not to be confused with Hertford, North Carolina.

County in North Carolina

Hertford County

County

Chowan College Administration Building in Murfreesboro

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Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina

North Carolina's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 36°22′N 76°59′W﻿ / ﻿36.36°N 76.98°W﻿ / 36.36; -76.98
Country|  United States
State|  North Carolina
Founded| 1759
Named for| Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford
Seat| Winton
Largest community| Ahoskie
Area

• Total| 360.40 sq mi (933.4 km2)
• Land| 353.16 sq mi (914.7 km2)
• Water| 7.24 sq mi (18.8 km2)  2.01%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 21,552
• Estimate

(2023)

| 19,453
• Density| 61.03/sq mi (23.56/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.hertfordcountync.gov

Hertford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,552.[1] Its county seat is Winton.[2] It is classified within the region known in the 21st century as the Inner Banks.

## History

[edit]

Hertford County is home of the Meherrin Indian Tribe, descendants of indigenous people who had inhabited the region for many centuries. After decades of encroachment by English colonists, the Tribe moved south from Virginia, where they settled in 1706 on a reservation abandoned by the Chowanoke. This six-square-mile reservation was at Parker's Ferry near the mouth of the Meherrin River. It was confirmed by a treaty of 1726.[3] However, they were not able to keep the reservation lands.

The Tribe today has approximately 900 enrolled members, most living within 10–15 miles of the former reservation.[3] The tribe is recognized by the state and is seeking Federal recognition. The Meherrin have an annual Pow Wow at the end of October.

The county was formed in 1759 from parts of Bertie County, Chowan County, and Northampton County. It was named for Francis Seymour-Conway, Marquess of Hertford.[4] The county court convened at Cotton's Ferry until the town of Winton was incorporated and designated the seat of government in 1766.[5] In 1779, parts of Hertford County were combined with parts of Chowan County and Perquimans County to form Gates County.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

Interactive map of Hertford County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 360.40 square miles (933.4 km2), of which 353.16 square miles (914.7 km2) is land and 7.24 square miles (18.8 km2) (2.01%) is water.[7]

### State and local protected area

[edit]

* Chowan Swamp Game Land (part)[8]

### Major water bodies

[edit]

* Ahoskie River
* Cutawhiskie Creek
* Chowan River
* Indian Creek
* Meherrin River
* Panther Creek
* Potecasi Creek
* Tukey Creek
* Wiccacon River

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Southampton County, Virginia – north
* Gates County – east
* Chowan County – southeast
* Bertie County – south
* Northampton County – west

### Major highways

[edit]

* US 13
* US 158

US 158 Bus.
* US 258
* NC 11
* NC 35
* NC 42
* NC 45
* NC 305
* NC 461
* NC 561

### Major infrastructure

[edit]

* Parker's Ferry, river ferry across the Meherrin River

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 5,949| | —
1800| 6,701| | 12.6%
1810| 6,052| | −9.7%
1820| 7,712| | 27.4%
1830| 8,537| | 10.7%
1840| 7,484| | −12.3%
1850| 8,142| | 8.8%
1860| 9,504| | 16.7%
1870| 9,273| | −2.4%
1880| 11,843| | 27.7%
1890| 13,851| | 17.0%
1900| 14,294| | 3.2%
1910| 15,436| | 8.0%
1920| 16,294| | 5.6%
1930| 17,542| | 7.7%
1940| 19,352| | 10.3%
1950| 21,453| | 10.9%
1960| 22,718| | 5.9%
1970| 23,529| | 3.6%
1980| 23,368| | −0.7%
1990| 22,523| | −3.6%
2000| 22,601| | 0.3%
2010| 24,669| | 9.2%
2020| 21,552| | −12.6%
2023 (est.)| 19,453| [1]| −9.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Hertford County racial composition[14] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 6,721  | 31.19%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 12,215  | 56.68%
Native American | 188  | 0.87%
Asian | 113  | 0.52%
Pacific Islander | 3  | 0.01%
Other/Mixed | 733  | 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,579  | 7.33%

As of the 2020 census, there were 21,552 people, 8,845 households, and 5,419 families residing in the county.

### 2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census,[15] there were 24,669 people, 8,953 households, and 6,240 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25 people/km2). There were 9,724 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.5% Black or African American, 35.6% White, 1.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,953 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 19.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,422, and the median income for a family was $32,002. Males had a median income of $26,730 versus $20,144 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,641. About 15.90% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 21.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and politics

[edit]

Hertford County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

As of October 2022, 66 percent of registered voters in Hertford County are Democrats—the highest Democratic registration rate statewide—while Republicans have their lowest county registration rate.[16]

Rivers Correctional Institution, a private prison operated by the GEO Group which operates under contract from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and houses many felons who committed crimes in Washington, DC, is 1 mile (1.6 km) from Winton.[17]

United States presidential election results for Hertford County, North Carolina[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 3,479  | 32.72%  | 7,097  | 66.74% | 58  | 0.55%
2016 | 3,099  | 30.42%  | 6,910  | 67.84% | 177  | 1.74%
2012 | 3,007  | 27.54%  | 7,843  | 71.84% | 68  | 0.62%
2008 | 3,089  | 29.00%  | 7,513  | 70.54% | 48  | 0.45%
2004 | 2,942  | 36.18%  | 5,141  | 63.22% | 49  | 0.60%
2000 | 2,382  | 30.16%  | 5,484  | 69.44% | 31  | 0.39%
1996 | 1,823  | 25.86%  | 4,856  | 68.89% | 370  | 5.25%
1992 | 2,208  | 28.78%  | 4,609  | 60.08% | 855  | 11.14%
1988 | 2,977  | 37.54%  | 4,943  | 62.33% | 10  | 0.13%
1984 | 3,176  | 41.27%  | 4,498  | 58.45% | 21  | 0.27%
1980 | 1,854  | 30.59%  | 4,102  | 67.69% | 104  | 1.72%
1976 | 1,517  | 27.53%  | 3,986  | 72.34% | 7  | 0.13%
1972 | 2,794  | 58.34% | 1,928  | 40.26%  | 67  | 1.40%
1968 | 1,125  | 17.04%  | 3,275  | 49.60% | 2,203  | 33.36%
1964 | 994  | 20.09%  | 3,953  | 79.91% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 781  | 20.10%  | 3,105  | 79.90% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 729  | 21.21%  | 2,708  | 78.79% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 579  | 16.84%  | 2,859  | 83.16% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 196  | 8.04%  | 2,165  | 88.80% | 77  | 3.16%
1944 | 125  | 5.89%  | 1,996  | 94.11% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 92  | 3.60%  | 2,464  | 96.40% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 84  | 3.48%  | 2,327  | 96.52% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 88  | 4.56%  | 1,835  | 95.08% | 7  | 0.36%
1928 | 393  | 27.62%  | 1,030  | 72.38% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 164  | 14.92%  | 932  | 84.80% | 3  | 0.27%
1920 | 221  | 16.68%  | 1,104  | 83.32% | 0  | 0.00%
1916 | 209  | 17.61%  | 977  | 82.31% | 1  | 0.08%
1912 | 61  | 6.72%  | 742  | 81.72% | 105  | 11.56%

## Economy

[edit]

Several large employers are located in Hertford County, including a privately run federal prison, Chowan University, a Nucor steel mill, several Perdue poultry processing facilities, an aluminum extrusion facility in Winton, and a lumber-processing facility in Ahoskie. These industries, combined with a typical range of local retail, restaurant and service businesses, combine to give Hertford County one of the lowest unemployment rates in Northeastern North Carolina. The larger area has historically lagged behind the rest of the state in terms of economic development.

## Education

[edit]

Hertford County Public Schools has seven schools ranging from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. These include three high schools (the main high school being Hertford County High School), one middle school, and three elementary schools.[19] The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.[20]

## Media

[edit]

Hertford County is served by the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald newspaper. There are five radio stations in Hertford County: WDLZ FM 98.3, an Adult Contemporary radio station and WWDR AM 1080, an Adult Urban Contemporary radio station, are located in Murfreesboro. WQDK FM 99.3, a Country Music radio station and WRCS AM 970, an Urban Gospel radio station, are located in Ahoskie. WBKU FM 91.7, a non-commercial, Contemporary Christian Music radio station which also broadcasts programming from the American Family Radio network, is located in Ahoskie.

## Communities

[edit]

Map of Hertford County with municipal and township labels

### Towns

[edit]

* Ahoskie (largest community)
* Como
* Harrellsville
* Murfreesboro
* Winton (county seat)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Cofield

### Townships

[edit]

* Ahoskie
* Harrellsville
* Maneys Neck
* Murfreesboro
* St. John's
* Winton

## See also

[edit]

* List of counties in North Carolina
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Hertford County, North Carolina

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Hertford County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ a b Brenda Linton and Leslie S. Stewart, Economic Development Assessment for the Meherrin Tribe, University of North Carolina, Jul 2003, accessed 26 Oct 2009
4. ^ Corbitt 2000, p. 122.
5. ^ "History and Location". Hertford County, North Carolina. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
6. ^ Corbitt 2000, p. 123.
7. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
8. ^ "NCWRC Game Lands". ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
12. ^ "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 17, 2015.
13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. ^ Gong, Phillip Joonbae (October 26, 2022). "Who are North Carolina's Registered Democrats? A 2022 update". Carolina Demography. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
17. ^ Pierre, Robert E. "N.C. Prison Doesn't Serve D.C. Inmates Well, Critics Say". Washington Post. October 14, 2007. p. 1" (Archive). Retrieved on February 5, 2016.
18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
19. ^ "Hertford County Schools". North Carolina's School Report Cards. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
20. ^ Taylor, Holly (September 13, 2022). "Local "report cards" show mixed results". The Roanoke-Chowan Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.

## Works cited

[edit]

* Corbitt, David Leroy (2000). The formation of the North Carolina counties, 1663-1943 (reprint ed.). Raleigh: North Carolina Division of Archives and History. OCLC 46398241.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hertford County, North Carolina.

* Geographic data related to Hertford County, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
* Official website

Places adjacent to Hertford County, North Carolina

|  | Southampton County, Virginia |

|
|

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Hertford County, North Carolina

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County seat: Winton

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Hertford County map

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