Dare County, North Carolina

Dare County Education, Geography, and History

Dare County is the easternmost county in the state of North Carolina. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 33,920. Its county seat is Manteo. The county is named after Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to English parents, who was born in what is now Dare County.

Dare County is included in the Kill Devil Hills, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Dare County Name

It was named in honor of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Dare County History

Dare was formed in 1870 from Currituck, Tyrrell, and Hyde. It was named in honor of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America. It is in the eastern section of the State, and is bounded by Pamlico, Croatan and Albemarle Sounds, Hyde and Tyrrell counties (and on the banks by the Atlantic Ocean) . The present land area is 383.58 square miles and the 2000 population was 29,967. Manteo, named in honor of an Indian Chief, is the county seat.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,563 square miles (4,050 km²), of which 383 square miles (990 km²) is land and 1,179 square miles (3,050 km²) (75%) is water. It is the largest county in North Carolina by area.

Dare County includes the middle part of the Outer Banks and contains Roanoke Island.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Currituck County (north)
• Hyde County (southwest)
• Tyrrell County (west)

Education

Public education is run by Dare County Schools:

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