History of Beaufort County

Similar to many other coastal counties, Beaufort County (then known as Pamptecough Precinct) was formed out of the larger Bath County in 1705. By 1712, the County received its formal name, which is attributed to Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, and one of North Carolina's Lords Proprietors.

Although Beaufort was formally recognized in the early 18th century, the area's history predates the County's establishment. English explorers trekked across what is now Beaufort County, encountering the Tuscarora Indians and establishing permanent settlements by the 1690s. One such settlement grew into Bath, the state's first incorporated town. Over time, the settlements became towns, burgeoning largely because of access to navigable waters.

Numerous towns, some of historic notability, can be found in Beaufort County. Washington, the county seat, is named in honor of President George Washington. It once had a thriving shipbuilding trade and a busy port. Washington remains the cultural and economic center of the county. Bath, established in 1705, is the state's oldest town, first capital, and was a port of entry during the early-eighteenth century. The town of Chocowinity served as the railroad hub of the Norfolk Southern Railway starting in 1910. Other towns located in Beaufort County include Aurora, Belhaven, Pantego, River Road, and Washington Park.

A few notable people have called Beaufort County home. Col. James Bonner, the man who donated the land that became Washington, spent most of his adult years developing the city. He died there in 1782. Although sparsely populated, town of Aurora has been home for more notables. Willie Williams, Vice-President and Chief Information Officer of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Richard Coffey, a former NBA player, and John Decatur Messick, fifth President of East Carolina University, all have called Aurora home.

The flatland's and bodies of water that characterize most of North Carolina's Coastal Plains region exist in Beaufort County as well. Washington is located at the intersection of two rivers, the Tar and the Pamlico. The county's entire eastern border is shared with the Pamlico Sound, one of two sounds that separate the state's mainland from its Outer Banks region.

Content Source: North Carolina History Project: Beaufort County