Area

The Outer Banks is home to many natural and historic attractions. Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first successful flight in 1903. America's oldest outdoor drama, "The Lost Colony", brings to life during summers the story of the first English settlement in America. We are home to five distinct lighthouses, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the historic Whalehead Club, one of the three North Carolina Aquariums, the Roanoke Island Festival Park, four national wildlife refuges (Alligator River, Pea Island, Currituck, and Mackay Island), Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head Woods Nature Preserve, the wineries and farmlands of Currituck County. We invite you to explore and experience the unique opportunities available on the Outer Banks.

Dare County covers an area of 800 square miles, of which 391 square miles is land. The elevation of Dare County is 11.3 feet. Located in the northeast section of the state, it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean; Pamlico, Croatan, and Albemarle Sounds; and Hyde and Tyrrell Counties.

Dare County was formed in 1870 and is named in honor of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America. The County contains much of what is known as North Carolina's "Outer Banks" resort and vacation areas and contains approximately two-thirds of the North Carolina coastline. The main switchboard of the Dare County offices can be reached at (252) 475-5000 or on-line at www.darenc.com.

The rates for state taxes in North Carolina are 6.9% on corporate earnings and 6 to 8.25% on individual income taxes (To obtain a copy of NC Income Tax instruction booklet call 1-877-252-3052.) A 29.9 cents motor fuels tax per gallon also applies. Detailed information about state taxes, contact the NC Department of Revenue at (919)733-4548 or at www.dor.state.nc.us

Dare County has a base rate of .25 per $100 with additional charges for fire, sanitation, and community services. Incorporated towns also have their own additional ad valorem tax rate schedule. A breakdown of the additional tax rates is available at www.darenc.com

Other Taxes that must be paid:

Currituck County was established around 1668. It was one of the five original ports for North Carolina and one of the original counties. The Currituck County Courthouse and Jail are two of the oldest buildings in North Carolina. The original Courthouse was constructed in 1723. This building was replaced in 1842. It has since been renovated and currently houses the County's government offices. In 1776, the Colonial Legislature granted permission to build a jail in Currituck County. The Currituck County Jail is one of the five oldest jails in North Carolina.

The word "Currituck" in the Algonquian Indian language means "The Land of the Wild Goose". The abundant waters, marshes, and woods still available in the County enable Currituck to enjoy a national and international reputation as a "Sportsman's Paradise." One of the oldest hunt clubs in the County is the Currituck Shooting Club, organized in the 1850's. Another outstanding Currituck hunt club was the Whalehead Club. It was built in the 1920's by the wealthy industrialist Edward C. Knight at a cost $400,000 to construct.

The Whalehead Club has been called the "Crown Jewel of the Outer Banks." In October 1992 this "Crown Jewel" and 28.5 acres of land were purchased by Currituck County to restore the structure and to house the Currituck Wildlife Museum. This Museum houses a northeastern North Carollina collection of antique decoys. Some of the decoys housed in this collection have become rare and are highly prized by collectors. The Whalehead Club is open to the public during the summer season.

Next to the Whalehead Club stands two additional restored structures, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Ligthosue Keeper's House. The red brick lighthouse located in Corolla is made up of over 1 million brocks and has 214 steps to the top. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse was the last lighthouse to be built on the North Carolina coast. The lighthouse is the original structure and towers 163 feet in the air. It was first lit on December 1, 1875. Tours of the lighthouse are held daily during the summer season.

Climate
The average annual rainfall is 48 inches, the average January temperature 41 degrees and the average July temperature 79 degrees.

Population
The permanent population of Currituck County is 22,984 (July 2005). Median Age is 37.6. The annual projected growth rate is 1.8% with a projected 2010 population of 25,836.

Government
Currituck County is governed by a board of five county commissioners, four representing their own districts and one elected at large, each serving four year staggered terms of office. The Chairman is elected by the commissioners for a one year term. The main switchboard number for Currituck County offices is (252) 232-2075.

Media
Same as media serving Dare County.

Library
The main Currituck County Public Library is located on US 158 in Barco. (252) 453-8345. There is also a Corolla Branch Library at 1123 Ocean Trail (252) 453-0496 and a Moyock Library Station at the Moyock Elementary School (252) 453-8345.

Occupation

Currituck Employment Sector	% of % Total	No. Employeed	Avg. Wage (1st Quarter 2006)
Total All Industries	100%	6,036	$484
Total Government	25.7%	1,211	$652
Total Private Industry	75.0%	3,636	$447
Agriculture/Fishing/Forestry	1.6%	95	$414
Mining	.1%	6	$1,254
Construction	12.4%	599	$601
Manufacturing	2.2%	109	$569
Wholesale Trade	2.3%	110	$557
Retail Trade	20.0%	970	$430
Transportation & Warehousing	2.2%	108	$589
Information	.5%	24	$757
Finance and Insurance	1.5%	75	$791
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	7.1%	345	$421
Professional and Technical Services	1.8%	87	$502
Administrative and Waste Services	2.7%	131	$436
Health Care & Assistance	4.3%	209	$403
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	4.6%	222	$365
Accommodations & Food Services	9.5%	459	$222
Other Services Ex. Public Admin.	2.4%	115	$444
Public Administration	2.4%	115	$587
Unclassified	1.3%	63	$405

Housing Estimates (2000 Census)

Median Home Mortgage	$1,028 per month
Median Home Value	$115,500

There are over 13,631 housing units in Currituck County. 65% are owner occupied. The other 35% are rental units (seasonal & year round).

Taxes
Currituck County has a base rate of .32 per $100 with additional charges for fire, sanitation, and community services. A breakdown of additional tax rates can be found at http://www.co.currituck.nc.us

Accessibility

Nearest Major City	Norfolk, VA
Distance to Major City	54 Miles
Nearest Commercial Airport	Norfolk, VA

Currituck County Airport
(unattended, no lights or facilities)
Publicly-owned, public use general aviation airport with access of US Highway 158 approximately 6 miles from the conjunction with NC Highway 168. The concrete runway is 4,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.(252) 232-2075 or www.co.currituck.nc.us/Airport.html

Sea Air is an FAA Commercial Air Carrier that provides "direct to the beaches" service to the Outer Banks. They provide charter flights to and from most East Coast Airports as well as scheduled shuttles from Norfolk in-season and on holidays. For a schedule, call (252)453-3656 or visit www.flyseaair.com.

Ocracoke Island

Area

Ocracoke Island is the southernmost town within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The entire island is owned by the National Park Service, except for the village. It is the most remote inhabited island of the Outer Banks and can be reached by ferry from Hatteras Village, Swan Quarter or Cedar Island. The island is 13 miles long, 2 miles wide and located in Hyde County.

Origin of Name

The origin of the name is unclear. Some think the name is linked to the Algonquian word "waxihikami" which means enclosed place, fort or stockade. Over the years, on old maps, the spelling seems to change from Wokokon, Woccocon, Occacock, Ocacoe, Ocacock, Occacock, Ocreecock, and now Ocracoke. Others tie the name with Blackbeard the Pirate. It is said that Blackbeard, waiting for the fateful dawn of November 22, 1718, prayed in vain "O Crow Cock! O Crow Cock!" in hopes of escaping his pursuers.

Attractions

Ocracoke Pony Pens, Ocracoke Lighthosue, tied to Edward Teach or "Blackbeard the Pirate", natural beach and nature trails.

The climate of Ocracoke Island is tempered by the Gulf Stream with an average annual rainfall of 53 inches, average January temperature of 44 degrees, and average July temperature of 79 degrees.