Ocracoke, North Carolina
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Ocracoke is a census-designated place and town located at the southern end of Ocracoke Island, in Hyde County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 769.
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Geography
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Location of Ocracoke, North Carolina
The island of Ocracoke is part of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It is the last inhabited island, from north to south, of the Outer Banks, and can only be reached by one of three public ferries (two of which are toll ferries), private boat, or private plane. Other than the village of Ocracoke and a few other areas (a campground, a pony pen, a small runway), the entire island is protected seashore, owned by the government. A single two lane road, NC 12, runs from the village at the southern end of the island to the ferry dock at the northern tip of the island, where a free ferry connects to Hatteras Island. The second ferry dock, located in the village, has toll connections to Swan Quarter on the mainland and Cedar Island, near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Ocracoke Island Airport (FAA Identifier W95) is located slightly south-east of the village, allowing small aircraft to land.
The village of Ocracoke is located around a small sheltered harbor called Silver Lake, with a second smaller residential area built around a series of man-made canals called Oyster Creek. The village is located at the widest point of the island, protected from the Atlantic Ocean by sand dunes and a salt marsh. The average height of the island is less than five feet above sea level, and flooding is a problem during hurricanes and large storms, and many of the buildings on the island are built on pilings to lift them off the ground.
Ocracoke village is located at 35°6'46" North, 75°58'33" West (35.112687, -75.975895)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 24.9 km² (9.6 mi²). 24.8 km² (9.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.62% water.
Economy
The economy of Ocracoke Island almost entirely based around tourism. During the winter, the island has a permanent population of less than 800, and there are only a few businesses open. During the spring, summer and early fall, there are several thousand tourists living on the island in weekly rental houses, hotels and campgrounds, plus many more that come across the ferry from Hatteras Island for the day or to stay overnight. Several bars, dozens of restaurants, and many shops, stores and other tourist-based businesses open for the tourist season, and every single business on the island is independently owned and operated by residents. There are no chains or franchises, giving the island a unique character that is becoming increasingly rare.
Fishing is also a major part of the economy, including both commercial fishing and chartered sport fishing. With easy access to the Pamlico Sound, the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream, the Outer Banks area has a variety of different fishing options, from small Sound fish all the way up to tuna and drum.
During the winter, the island's only main employers are construction and the businesses that support the small local population. Most islanders use the winter as time off, since they tend to work between 60 and 80 hours a week during the tourist season.
History
Ocracoke was the site of Fort Ocracoke, a Confederate fort constructed at the beginning during the American Civil War. Fort Ocracoke was abandoned in August 1861 and destroyed by Union forces a month later.
Ocracoke Island was also a favorite anchorage of Edward Teach, better known as the pirate Blackbeard. He was killed in battle in Teach's Hole, a channel slightly west of the present location of Ocracoke village.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 769 people, 370 households, and 219 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 31.1/km² (80.4/mi²). There are 784 housing units at an average density of 31.7/km² (82.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 96.10% White, 1.69% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 370 households out of which 17.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% are married couples living together, 8.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% are non-families. 30.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.08 and the average family size is 2.55.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 13.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 46 years. For every 100 females there are 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $34,315, and the median income for a family is $38,750. Males have a median income of $26,667 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $18,032. 9.3% of the population and 7.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External link
- Official website of Ocracoke Village, NC (http://www.ocracoke-nc.com/)