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Bertie County ( , with both syllables stressed) is a
county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
located in the northeast area of the U.S. state of
North Carolina North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...
. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,934. Its
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
is Windsor. The county was created in 1722 as Bertie Precinct and gained county status in 1739. The
Sans Souci Ferry The Sans Souci Ferry is a cable ferry that provides access across the Cashie River in Bertie County, North Carolina. Since the 1930s, the ferry has been operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The ferry is located on SR 1500 ...
, providing access across the
Cashie River This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of North Carolina. By drainage basin This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries alphabetically indented under each larger stream's name. Atlantic Ocean * North Landing R ...
, is the county's only ferry.


History

The county was formed as Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County lying west of the
Chowan River The Chowan River (cho-WAHHN)
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the James Bertie James Bertie (13 March 1674 – 18 October 1735) of Stanwell and Westminster, Middlesex, was a British Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons for 34 years between 1695 and 1734. Early life and marriage Bertie was born ...
, his brother Henry Bertie, or perhaps both, each having been one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. In 1729 parts of Bertie Precinct, Chowan Precinct, Currituck Precinct, and Pasquotank Precinct of Albemarle County were combined to form Tyrrell Precinct. With the abolition of Albemarle County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became separate counties. As population of settlers increased, in 1741 parts of Bertie County were organized as Edgecombe County and Northampton County. Finally, in 1759 parts of Bertie, Chowan, and Northampton counties were combined to form
Hertford County Hertford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,552. Its county seat is Winton. It is classified within the region known in the 21st century as the Inner Banks. History ...
. Bertie's boundaries have remained the same since then. This mostly rural county depended on the agricultural economy well into the 20th century. In the colonial and antebellum eras, tobacco and cotton were the chief commodity crops, worked by African slaves. After the Civil War, agriculture continued to be important to the county. In the 21st century, developers have referred to it as being within the Inner Banks region, which is increasingly attracting retirees and buyers of second homes, because of its beaches and landscapes.


Geography

According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.7%) is water.


National protected area

* Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge


State and local protected areas/sites

*
Bertie County Game Land Bertie may refer to: People *Bertie (given name) *Bertie (nickname) *Bertie (surname) Places * Bertie County, North Carolina * Bertie Township, subsequently amalgamated into Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada Other uses * ''Bertie'' (TV series), a 200 ...
* Historic Hope Plantation *
Jamesville Wildlife Preserve Jamesville can refer to *Jamesville, New York *Jamesville, North Carolina * Jamesville, Pennsylvania * Jamesville, Virginia * Hamilton, Ontario has a neighborhood called Jamesville *Yankton County, South Dakota Yankton County is a county in t ...
*
Lewiston Woodville Preserve Lewiston may refer to: Places United States * Lewiston, Alabama * Lewiston, California * Lewiston, Georgia *Lewiston, Idaho ** Lewiston, Idaho metropolitan area *Lewiston, Indiana * Lewiston, Maine ** Lewiston, Maine metropolitan area *Lewiston, ...
* Salmon Creek State Natural Area


Major water bodies

* Albemarle Sound * Beaverdam Swamp *
Cashie River This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of North Carolina. By drainage basin This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries alphabetically indented under each larger stream's name. Atlantic Ocean * North Landing R ...
*
Chowan River The Chowan River (cho-WAHHN)
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the Chinkapin Swamp * Cucklemaker Creek * Cypress Swamp * Falt Swamp Creek * Hoggard Mill Creek * Loosing Swamp * Middle River * Quioccosin Creek * Roanoke River * Stoney Creek * Wahton Swamp * Wildcat Swamp


Adjacent counties

*
Hertford County Hertford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,552. Its county seat is Winton. It is classified within the region known in the 21st century as the Inner Banks. History ...
- north *
Chowan County Chowan County ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
- east * Washington County - southeast * Martin County - south * Halifax County - west * Northampton County - northwest


Major highways

* (Concurrency with US 17) * * * * * * * * * * *


Major infrastructure

*
Sans Souci Ferry The Sans Souci Ferry is a cable ferry that provides access across the Cashie River in Bertie County, North Carolina. Since the 1930s, the ferry has been operated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The ferry is located on SR 1500 ...
, River ferry across the Cashie River.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the
2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, there were 17,934 people, 7,909 households, and 4,733 families residing in the county.


2010 census

As of the
2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...
, there were 21,282 people living in the county. 62.5% were Black or African American, 35.2%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).


2000 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 19,773 people, 7,743 households, and 5,427 families living in the county. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was 28 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 9,050 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.34%
Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
or
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 36.30%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.44% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.33% from other races, 0.48% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race. There were 7,743 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.00% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 20.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $25,177, and the median income for a family was $30,186. Males had a median income of $26,866 versus $18,318 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the county was $14,096. About 19.30% of families and 26% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 28.30% of those age 65 or over.


Government and politics

Bertie County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments. The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer.


Education

Schools in Bertie county include Bertie High School, Lawrence Academy, and Bethel Assembly Christian Academy. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction rated the county school system as "low-performing" for the 2021–2022 school year.


Communities


Towns

* Askewville * Aulander * Colerain * Kelford * Lewiston Woodville * Powellsville * Roxobel * Windsor (county seat and largest town)


Townships

* Colerain * Indian Woods * Merry Hill * Mitchells * Roxobel * Snakebite * Whites * Windsor * Woodville


Unincorporated communities

* Baker Town * Buena Vista * Elm Grove * Gatlinsville * Greens Cross * Hexlena * Merry Hill * Perrytown * Pine Ridge * Rosemead * Sans Souci * Spring Branch * Todds Cross * Trap, Woodard * Whites Cross


Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on 2022 estimate of Bertie County. † ''county seat''


See also

*
List of counties in North Carolina __NOTOC__ The U.S. state of North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. North Carolina ranks 28th in size by area, but has the seventh-highest number of counties in the country. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles ...
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Bertie County, North Carolina This list includes properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bertie County, North Carolina. Click the "Map of all coordinates" link to the right to view an online map of all properties and districts with latit ...
* List of Highway Historical Markers in Bertie County, North Carolina * List of North Carolina State Parks#State Natural Areas *
List of future Interstate Highways In the United States, future Interstate Highways include proposals to establish new mainline (one- and two-digit) routes to the Interstate Highway System. Excluded from this article are auxiliary Interstate Highways (designated by three-digit nu ...


References


External links

*
Historic Hope Plantation
* —a documentary film about an education project in Bertie County *
Raising Bertie
' on IMDb—a documentary film about education in Bertie County {{authority control 1739 establishments in North Carolina Populated places established in 1739 Black Belt (U.S. region) Majority-minority counties in North Carolina