Oriental, North Carolina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oriental is a town in Pamlico County, North Carolina, USA. The population was 875 at the 2000 census.

Oriental, an incorporated municipality, is in Eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks region where Smith and Camp creeks join the Neuse River. The area was settled by American Indians, who fished and farmed in the creeks and river long before Europeans settled the area. Pamlico County has a rich Indian history told in the many artifacts found in the region. Today, fewer than 1 percent of the town's residents are Native American.

Land records date grants from the King of England to colonial farmers and many residents can trace their family’s genealogy to these times. The area was the haunt of pirates in the early days of European dominance. The famous pirate Edward Teach or Blackbeard made his home in Bath to the East of Oriental. The Midgettes (also Midyette) and other old families that still have descendants in the town came much later, in the late 1800s.

From the early 1900's Oriental's economy was supported by lumber, fishing and farming. Train service stopped in the 1950's. The last sawmill closed just about the time that sailors began to discover the village - in the early 1960's. Just 4 sailboats called Oriental home in 1960 - today the number has grown to more than 2,000. Oriental is now known as the "Sailing Capital Of North Carolina". Tourism, real estate and marine related businesses lead the local economy. The town is the site of several new condomonimums and other developments. Many of its homes are unoccupied during the week, belonging to second-home owners from Raleigh or other urban areas of North Carolina.

Fishing trawlers still grace the small harbor, bringing in a catch of shrimp, crab or perhaps flounder depending on the season. But fishing here as elsewhere along the coast is diminishing.

The United States Post Office Department established a post office in 1886. Lou Midyette was named postmaster of what was then known as Smith’s Creek. Lou's wife, Rebecca, disregarding the town's history, renamed the community "Oriental" after a nameplate from a sunken ship. Oriental was incorporated in 1899.

Two local festivals dominate: Croakerfestival, an arts and vendor event held during the July 4 weekend, and Spirit of Christmas, always held in early December.

Oriental is now widely regarded as the sailing capital of North Carolina and provides easy access to some of the finest sailing on the East Coast.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Famous native
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Oriental is located at 35°1′52″N, 76°41′16″W (35.031010, -76.687871)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (16.79%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 875 people, 440 households, and 293 families residing in the town. The population density was 293.8/km² (763.0/mi²). There were 576 housing units at an average density of 193.4/km² (502.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.74% White, 7.31% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 440 households out of which 12.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the town the population was spread out with 10.7% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 15.2% from 25 to 44, 34.9% from 45 to 64, and 35.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,794, and the median income for a family was $44,196. Males had a median income of $37,292 versus $25,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,949. About 6.2% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Famous native

Oriental is the hometown of Kevin Williamson, creator of Scream and Dawson's Creek. Ken Midyette won two NAIA National Diving Championships while a student at East Carolina University.