North Carolina

Beaufort

44,652
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Beaufort

Beaufort, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 5,462. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 44,652.

Its recorded population peaked at 47,759 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 25 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Tuscarora Massacre (1711), Siege of Bath NC (Tuscarora War 1711), Cary's Rebellion, and 19 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202044,652
201047,759
200044,958
199042,283
198040,355
197035,980
196036,014
195037,134
194036,431
193035,026
192031,024
191030,877
190026,404
189021,072
188017,474
187013,011
186014,766
185013,816
184012,225
183010,969
18209,850
18107,203
18006,242
17905,462
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Beaufort

Military engagements that took place in Beaufort, North Carolina.

Tuscarora Massacre (1711)
1711
Siege of Bath NC (Tuscarora War 1711)
1711
Cary's Rebellion
1711
Massacre at Bath 1711
1711
Tuscarora Raid on Pamlico River Settlements 1711
1711
Tuscarora War — Siege of Bath County
1711
Tuscarora Massacre of 1711
1711
Tuscarora Raid on Bath NC 1711
1711
Siege of Bath NC (Tuscarora War)
1711
Action at Washington NC — First Confederate Probe 1862
1862
Union Gunboat Operations — Pamlico River 1862-63
1862
Engagement at Pamlico Sound — capture of Washington NC
1862
Confederate Attack on Washington NC (September 1862)
1862
Action at Hill's Point NC
1863
Skirmish at Hendricks' Creek NC
1863
Engagement at Washington NC — Supply Boat Break-In
1863
Action at Blounts Creek NC
1863
Action at Washington NC — Hill's Sortie
1863
CSS Neuse and CSS Albemarle — Confederate NC Ironclad Program
1863
Battle of Washington NC (Siege)
1863
Skirmish at Chocowinity NC 1863
1863
Siege of Washington NC — March 1863
1863
USCT Operations — Wilson's Wharf VA and NC Connection
1864
Battle of Washington North Carolina (Second)
1864
Washington NC Operations 1864
1864

Historic places in Beaufort

National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort, North Carolina.

Bath Historic District
Bath
North Market Street Historic District
Washington
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Bath
Ware Creek School
Blounts Creek
Trinity Cemetery
Chocowinity
Belhaven Commercial Historic District
Belhaven
Beaufort County Courthouse
Washington
Bowers-Tripp House
Washington
Washington Historic District
Washington
Bath School
Bath
Bonner House
Bath
Palmer-Marsh House
Bath
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

NashNew HanoverNorthamptonOnslowOrangePamlicoPasquotankPenderPerquimansPersonPittPolkRandolphRichmondRobesonRockinghamRowanRutherfordSampsonScotland
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Everything a full report reveals about Beaufort County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Beaufort County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Beaufort

When does Beaufort first appear in the US census?
Beaufort, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 5,462.
What is the population of Beaufort?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Beaufort had a recorded population of 44,652.
When did Beaufort's population peak?
Beaufort's recorded population peaked at 47,759 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Beaufort?
25 documented military engagements took place in Beaufort, including Tuscarora Massacre (1711), Siege of Bath NC (Tuscarora War 1711), Cary's Rebellion.
How many historic places are in Beaufort?
19 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Beaufort, North Carolina.
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