Elizabeth city north carolina
Elizabeth City is located where the narrow part of the Pasqountak River widens out on its way to the Albermale Sound. It is a part of Pasquotank County and is situated in the Inner Banks region of the state of North Carolina. It is also the county seat of Pasquotank County. The city is located at latitude 36 17' 44" N and longitude 76 13' 30" W. Elizabeth City is spread over an area of 24.8 square kilometers or 9.6 square miles. As Per the last census the population of the city is 17,188.
Elizabeth City was founded in 1793 on the banks Pasquotank River . At that time the settlement was called Redding and it occupied land which had been acquired from Adam and Elizabeth Tooley. In 1794 the name of the town was changed to Elizabeth and in 1801 it was changed again to its present name - Elizabeth City. However, it is not clear after which Elizabeth the city was named. While some people claim that it was named in the honour of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was behind the colonization of the Carolina and Virginia coasts some 200 years earlier. Others say the city was named after Elizabeth Tooley who was the original owner of the lands on which the city was initially built.
Elizabeth City was a small time settlement in the beginning. The city became an important economic centre in 1805 once the Dismal Swamp Canal was completed. The Dismal Swamp Canal connects the rivers of northeastern North Carolina with the port of Norfolk. With the canal being constructed, planters and lumber companies could easily and quickly transport all their good to the various markets. This soon turned Elizabeth City into one of the most important economic and commercial ports of North Carolina. And when the railroad was built in 1881, it further aided the city ?s growth and development.
There is an interesting story behind how the city got the nickname Harbor of Hospitality. In 1779, a new ferry crossing was established at a point where the Pasquotank River was the narrowest so that boats could cross the river quickly. Adam Tooley started a tavern near this ferry crossing. Soon the tavern became a convenient place for travelers, mariners, shippers and buyers to stop and refresh themselves. In 1793, the area which was bought from Adam Tooley and his wife Elizabeth to start the town of Redding, included the tavern. The popularity of the tavern was such that as a result the city came to be known as the Harbor of Hospitality.
Till today, the most important and decisive fact about Elizabeth City is its semi coastal geography. For a larger part of the twentieth century, the citys economy was primarily dependant on the large number of oyster and timber industries that were present in the area. And in recent times, with the Dismal Swamp Canal becoming a means of transportation not only for commercial reasons but also for numerous leisure and pleasure boaters on the Intracostal Waterway, the city has become a major tourist destination as well. With time, the city has developed and expanded its docking facilities to be able to accommodate and service the ever increasing number of boats that arrive.
Elizabeth City is also well known for housing the United States Coast Guard Air Station. It is the largest station of its kind on the East Coast of America and is located just south of the city. As a result, the city is constantly flooded with Coast Guard employees. Also, the base has recently been incorporated into the United States Department of Homeland Security and provides the city with a host of jobs. Along with the Coast Guard Air Station, Elizabeth City also has one of the few airship factories in America. A sizeable number of America?s commercial aircrafts are manufactured and serviced in this factory.
Apart from these, the Elizabeth City State University is the other major institution in Elizabeth City. The University is a part of the University of North Carolina and provides quality education to its more than 2500 students. Though, the University was initially started for African American students, today it accepts students from all communities and has a sizeable international student community as well. Other notable educational institutions in the area include the College of Albermale and the Roanoke Bible College.
The comparatively small community of Elizabeth City is a warm and friendly one. While nearly 57% of the population is African American, around 40% is White. The median age of the city is 33 years and the per capita income is $13,333. What is interesting to note is that for every 100 females in the city there are only 81.9 males. The ratio is even more skewed for people over the age of 18 - in this age segment for every 100 females there are a mere 75.4 males. So its not a bad place to be a young eligible bachelor.
Apart from coast guard employees and university students, Elizabeth City attracts a large number of tourists as well. The city has a number of tourist attractions in and around itself. The Episcopal Cemetery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has an important collection of gravestones. The gravestones and cast iron fences of the cemetery serve as interesting illustrations of the funerary traditions practiced during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The oldest headstone in the cemetery is from 1724. However, the cemetery was officially founded only in 1828.
There is also the Museum of Albermale which exhibits galleries that narrate the story of the people who lived in the Albemarle region. The gallery covers the history of the Native Americans, the first English-speaking colonists and the adventurers, farmers and fishermen of the region. Tourists interested in learning about the U.S. Navy?s history can take a tour of the TCOM Aerostat and also explore the company's plant to find out how aircrafts are made. There are a number of companies in Elizabeth City which offer interesting horse carriage and walking tours of the historical regions in that area.
Wildlife enthusiasts can spend quality time at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge located in Manteo, very close to Elizabeth City. The refuge is spread over nearly 150,000 acres of wetland habitats. The wildlife which can be spotted there includes wood ducks, alligators, black bears and red wolves. There are also a number of exotic plant species in the refuge including the Atlantic white cedar and the bald cypress. Apart from wildlife trails, the refuge also has trails for kayaking, canoeing and hiking and also some fishing areas. But we careful not too venture out alone anywhere as the alligators in the region are fairly dangerous and sometimes difficult to spot as well.
Despite being a small city, Elizabeth city is a homely city for coast guards, tourists, students alike.
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