Hatteras, North Carolina

Hatteras is an unincorporated village and census-designated place (CDP) in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, on the Outer Banks island of Hatteras, at its extreme southwestern tip. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 504.^[2] Immediately to the west of the village of Hatteras is Hatteras Inlet which separates Hatteras Island from the neighboring Ocracoke Island. North Carolina Highway 12 passes through the community linking it to Frisco to the east and Ocracoke to the west (via a ferry across Hatteras Inlet).

Hatteras
Census-designated place
Location in Dare County and the state of North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°13′10″N 75°41′25″W
Country	United States of America
State	North Carolina
County	Dare
Named after	Hatteras Indians
Area [1]
• Total	2.47 sq mi (6.40 km2)
• Land	1.58 sq mi (4.08 km2)
• Water	0.89 sq mi (2.31 km2)
Elevation	3 ft (0.9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	577
• Density	365.88/sq mi (141.27/km2)
ZIP code	27943
FIPS code	37-30100

The residents of Hatteras are governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Hatteras is part of District 4, along with Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	577		—
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

2020 census

Hatteras racial composition^[4]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	540	93.59%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2	0.35%
Native American	1	0.17%
Asian	1	0.17%
Other/Mixed	21	3.64%
Hispanic or Latino	12	2.08%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 577 people, 207 households, and 130 families residing in the CDP.

Attractions and recreation

Pamlico Sound, which separates Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, is one of the largest estuarine systems in the world and offers a variety of fishing opportunities.^[5]

Climate

Hatteras has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Hatteras experiences hot summers, somewhat moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, and some of the mildest winters in the state, with no month having an average low temperature below 40 °F (4.4 °C). Because of its location many miles off the coast of Mainland USA in the direct path of the gulf stream, Hatteras experiences year round low temperatures similar to the northern gulf of Florida or southern coastal Georgia, despite being much farther north.^[6]

Climate data for Hatteras, North Carolina (1981–2010 normals),[a]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	54.4 (12.4)	55.5 (13.1)	60.5 (15.8)	67.9 (19.9)	75.3 (24.1)	81.9 (27.7)	85.7 (29.8)	85.7 (29.8)	82 (28)	73.5 (23.1)	65.4 (18.6)	58 (14)	70.5 (21.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	40.6 (4.8)	42.8 (6.0)	47.4 (8.6)	55.4 (13.0)	63.5 (17.5)	71.1 (21.7)	75.1 (23.9)	74.8 (23.8)	71.2 (21.8)	62.5 (16.9)	53.5 (11.9)	45.9 (7.7)	58.7 (14.8)
Source: NOAA (North Carolina Observed Climate Normals)[7]

History

Hatteras was named after the Hatteras Indians.^[8]

Hatteras Village was cut off from the rest of the island on September 18, 2003,^[9] when Hurricane Isabel washed a 3,000-foot-wide (910 m) and 30-foot-deep (9.1 m) channel called Isabel Inlet at the north end of Hatteras village. The tear was subsequently repaired and restored by sand dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers.^[10]

The Ellsworth and Lovie Ballance House and Hatteras Weather Bureau Station are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[11]

Transportation

Hatteras is served by Billy Mitchell Airport.

The Village is also home to the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry terminal which is the only way for people to access Ocracoke Island from Hatteras Village other than air travel.

Education

Residents are zoned to Dare County Schools. Zoned schools are Cape Hatteras Elementary School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School.^[12] The schools are located on NC 12 in Buxton.^[13]

Dare County Library has a branch in Hatteras.^[14]

Gallery

• 
  View of Pamlico Sound, near Hatteras Inlet from a home in Hatteras on a windy day in June 2007
• 
  View of homes along oceanfront in Hatteras in June 2007
• 
  Busy Hatteras Ferry Lines on a Wednesday in June 2007
• 
  Ferries making trip from Ocracoke to Hatteras, June 2007
• 
  Water tower
• 
  Historical US Weather Bureau office

Notes

1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.