Hertford County, North Carolina

Hertford County
Hertford County
County
	Chowan College Administration Building in Murfreesboro
	Flag Seal
	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
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

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, 1st Earl of Hertford, later 1st Marquess of Hertford.^[4]

In 1779 the northeastern part of Hertford County was combined with parts of Chowan County and Perquimans County to form Gates County.

Geography

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.^[5]

State and local protected area

Chowan Swamp Game Land (part)^[6]

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

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

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Parker's Ferry, river ferry across the Meherrin River

Demographics

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^[7] 1790–1960^[8] 1900–1990^[9] 1990–2000^[10] 2010^[11] 2020^[1]

2020 census

Hertford County racial composition^[12]
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

At the 2010 census,^[13] 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

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

United States presidential election results for Hertford County, North Carolina^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	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

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

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.^[17] The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.^[18]

Media

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

Towns

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

Census-designated place

Cofield

Townships

Ahoskie
Harrellsville
Maneys Neck
Murfreesboro
St. John's
Winton

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "QuickFacts: Hertford County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ ^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
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^ "NCWRC Game Lands". ncpaws.org. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
^ "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
^ "Hertford County Schools". North Carolina's School Report Cards. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
^ Taylor, Holly (September 13, 2022). "Local "report cards" show mixed results". The Roanoke-Chowan Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.