Hertford, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Hertford is a town in Perquimans County
, North Carolina
, United States. The population was 2,185 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat
of Perquimans County
. Hertford is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
region and is part of the Elizabeth City
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. It is named after the county town of Hertford
, England.
Through the first part of the 20th century, Hertford thrived as a lumber town, making good use of the nearby river. The original bridge that spanned the river was a floating bridge, made of steel and wood. When a boat came near and wanted passage, the bridge would be unhooked from one bank and allowed to float out of the way. Then, when the boat had passed, lines were used to haul the free end of the bridge in and reconnect it. Today, an S-shaped swing bridge is in use, the only one of its kind in the United States.
Hertford is the hometown of baseball pitcher Catfish Hunter
. Disc jockey Wolfman Jack
is buried in Hertford and the record company he started is still located there.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.74%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,070 people, 877 households, and 556 families residing in the town. The population density
was 768.5 people per square mile (297.1/km²). There were 1,041 housing units at an average density of 386.5 per square mile (149.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.16% White, 50.39% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples
living together, 24.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 78.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,681, and the median income for a family was $24,524. Males had a median income of $24,803 versus $17,938 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,502. About 33.6% of families and 39.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.6% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.
Grades PK-2 and 6-8 are served by the county schools located in Winfall.
The CIA
counter terrorism training facility known as Harvey Point
is located near Hertford.
Perquimans County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 13,453 people, 4,645 households, and 3,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 6,043 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States. The population was 2,185 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Perquimans County
Perquimans County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 13,453 people, 4,645 households, and 3,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 6,043 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
. Hertford is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
Inner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
region and is part of the Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Elizabeth City micropolitan area
The Elizabeth City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in the Inner Banks region of eastern North Carolina, anchored by the city of Elizabeth City....
. It is named after the county town of Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
, England.
History
Hertford was originally incorporated in 1758 as the county seat for Perquimans County, first inhabited by the Yeopim Indians. County records show that the Yeopim chief, Kalcacenin, sold land to a George Durant at the river mouth in March 1662, adjacent to land he had already sold to Samuel Pricklove. The area was settled soon afterwards, and its first building, the Newbold White House, is thought to be the oldest structure in the state.Through the first part of the 20th century, Hertford thrived as a lumber town, making good use of the nearby river. The original bridge that spanned the river was a floating bridge, made of steel and wood. When a boat came near and wanted passage, the bridge would be unhooked from one bank and allowed to float out of the way. Then, when the boat had passed, lines were used to haul the free end of the bridge in and reconnect it. Today, an S-shaped swing bridge is in use, the only one of its kind in the United States.
Hertford is the hometown of baseball pitcher Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
. Disc jockey Wolfman Jack
Wolfman Jack
Robert Weston Smith, known commonly as Wolfman Jack was a gravelly voiced US disc jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early career:...
is buried in Hertford and the record company he started is still located there.
Geography
Hertford is located at 36°11′14"N 76°28′20"W (36.187292, -76.472345).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.74%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,070 people, 877 households, and 556 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 768.5 people per square mile (297.1/km²). There were 1,041 housing units at an average density of 386.5 per square mile (149.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.16% White, 50.39% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 24.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 78.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,681, and the median income for a family was $24,524. Males had a median income of $24,803 versus $17,938 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $13,502. About 33.6% of families and 39.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.6% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
- Perquimans County SchoolsPerquimans County SchoolsPerquimans County Schools is the public school district responsible for Perquimans County, North Carolina.The district consists of four schools:*Perquimans County Central School in Winfall serving grades PK-2...
- Hertford Grammar School serving grades 3-5
- Perquimans County High SchoolPerquimans County High SchoolPerquimans County High School is a public high school located in Hertford, North Carolina. It is the only high school in Perquimans County. Perquimans County High School's enrollment as of 2010 is 519 students. The student body is 59% White; 39% Black; 1% Hispanic; and 1% Asian.-Alumni:*Catfish...
serving grades 9-12
Grades PK-2 and 6-8 are served by the county schools located in Winfall.
Industry
Agriculture is the chief industry of the area.The CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
counter terrorism training facility known as Harvey Point
Harvey Point
The Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity facility, owned by the Department of Defense, is located on a peninsula in Perquimans County, North Carolina, along the Albemarle Sound, near the city of Hertford, NC. Established in World War II as an operating base for sea planes conducting anti-submarine...
is located near Hertford.