Perquimans County, North Carolina

Perquimans County (/pɜːrˈkwɪmənz/ pur-KWIM-unz)^[2] is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,005.^[3] Its county seat is Hertford.^[4] The Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity facility is located in Perquimans County.

Perquimans County
County
Perquimans County Courthouse
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36.18°N 76.40°W / 36.18; -76.40
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
Founded	1668
Named after	Yeopim word meaning “The land of beautiful women”[1]
Seat	Hertford
Largest community	Hertford
Area
• Total	328.93 sq mi (851.9 km2)
• Land	247.17 sq mi (640.2 km2)
• Water	81.76 sq mi (211.8 km2)  24.86%
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,005
• Estimate  (2023)	13,377
• Density	52.62/sq mi (20.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.perquimanscountync.gov

History

The county was originally created as Berkeley Precinct. It was renamed Perquimans Precinct around 1684 and gained county status in 1739.^[5] The largest community and county seat is Hertford.

• 
  Courthouse and the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Memorial
• 
  The Perquimans River and the "S" Bridge.

Geography

Interactive map of Perquimans County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 328.93 square miles (851.9 km²), of which 247.17 square miles (640.2 km²) is land and 81.76 square miles (211.8 km²) (24.86%) is water.^[6]

Major water bodies

• Albemarle Sound
• Little River
• Perquimans River

Adjacent counties

• Gates County – northwest
• Pasquotank County – east
• Tyrrell County – south
• Washington County – south
• Chowan County – southwest

Major highways

• 
  Future I-87
• US 17
• 
  US 17 Bus.
• NC 37

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	5,439		—
1800	5,708		4.9%
1810	6,052		6.0%
1820	6,857		13.3%
1830	7,419		8.2%
1840	7,346		−1.0%
1850	7,332		−0.2%
1860	7,238		−1.3%
1870	7,945		9.8%
1880	9,466		19.1%
1890	9,293		−1.8%
1900	10,091		8.6%
1910	11,054		9.5%
1920	11,137		0.8%
1930	10,668		−4.2%
1940	9,773		−8.4%
1950	9,602		−1.7%
1960	9,178		−4.4%
1970	8,351		−9.0%
1980	9,486		13.6%
1990	10,447		10.1%
2000	11,368		8.8%
2010	13,453		18.3%
2020	13,005		−3.3%
2023 (est.)	13,377	[3]	2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[3]

2020 census

Perquimans County racial composition^[12]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	9,333	71.76%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,686	20.65%
Native American	35	0.27%
Asian	36	0.28%
Pacific Islander	7	0.05%
Other/Mixed	599	4.61%
Hispanic or Latino	309	2.38%

As of the 2020 census, there were 13,005 people, 5,936 households, and 4,023 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[13] there were 11,368 people, 4,645 households, and 3,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 6,043 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.82% White, 27.99% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,645 households, of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.

23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.

The median household income was $29,538 and the median family income was $35,212. Males had a median income of $27,251 compared with $18,728 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,728. About 13.90% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Perquimans County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.

United States presidential election results for Perquimans County, North Carolina^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,278	68.85%	2,269	29.60%	119	1.55%
2020	4,903	65.51%	2,492	33.30%	89	1.19%
2016	4,177	62.27%	2,319	34.57%	212	3.16%
2012	3,822	57.46%	2,759	41.48%	71	1.07%
2008	3,678	56.58%	2,772	42.64%	51	0.78%
2004	2,965	59.80%	1,971	39.75%	22	0.44%
2000	2,230	51.79%	2,033	47.21%	43	1.00%
1996	1,561	38.88%	2,069	51.53%	385	9.59%
1992	1,429	36.85%	1,818	46.88%	631	16.27%
1988	1,781	53.32%	1,543	46.20%	16	0.48%
1984	1,939	57.28%	1,441	42.57%	5	0.15%
1980	1,210	42.40%	1,560	54.66%	84	2.94%
1976	909	35.23%	1,666	64.57%	5	0.19%
1972	1,299	62.57%	723	34.83%	54	2.60%
1968	468	15.37%	1,023	33.60%	1,554	51.03%
1964	941	39.22%	1,458	60.78%	0	0.00%
1960	637	30.38%	1,460	69.62%	0	0.00%
1956	709	40.96%	1,022	59.04%	0	0.00%
1952	644	34.09%	1,245	65.91%	0	0.00%
1948	135	12.74%	849	80.09%	76	7.17%
1944	266	21.70%	960	78.30%	0	0.00%
1940	228	16.24%	1,176	83.76%	0	0.00%
1936	161	14.24%	970	85.76%	0	0.00%
1932	225	14.93%	1,280	84.94%	2	0.13%
1928	600	49.63%	609	50.37%	0	0.00%
1924	295	34.58%	550	64.48%	8	0.94%
1920	487	31.85%	1,042	68.15%	0	0.00%
1916	288	30.84%	645	69.06%	1	0.11%
1912	228	24.81%	647	70.40%	44	4.79%

Education

The county is served by Perquimans County Schools, the only school district in the county.^[15]

Communities

Map of Perquimans County with municipal and township labels

Towns

• Hertford (county seat and largest community)
• Winfall

Unincorporated communities

• Belvidere
• Woodville
• New Hope

Townships

• Belvidere
• Bethel
• Hertford
• New Hope
• Parkville

Notable people

• Janice Cole, U.S. Attorney
• Catfish Hunter, professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City/Oakland A's and New York Yankees
• Wolfman Jack, radio personality

See also

• List of counties in North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Perquimans County, North Carolina