North Carolina

Carteret

67,686
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Carteret

Carteret, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 3,732. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 67,686.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 12 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Bogue Inlet NC, Fort Macon — Opening Investment, Morehead City Landing Operations, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202067,686
201066,469
200059,383
199052,556
198041,092
197031,603
196030,940
195023,059
194018,284
193016,900
192015,384
191013,776
190011,811
189010,825
18809,784
18709,010
18608,186
18506,939
18406,591
18306,597
18205,609
18104,823
18004,399
17903,732
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Carteret

Military engagements that took place in Carteret, North Carolina.

Action at Bogue Inlet NC
1862
Fort Macon — Opening Investment
1862
Morehead City Landing Operations
1862
Skirmish at Swansboro NC
1862
Action at Carolina City NC
1862
Battle of Fort Macon (North Carolina)
1862
Fort Macon Siege (March-April 1862)
1862
Capture of Fort Macon — Naval Bombardment
1862
Confederate Defense of Bogue Banks NC — 1862
1862
Siege of Fort Macon
1862
Capture of Fort Macon (North Carolina)
1862
Engagement at Newport Barracks NC
1863

Historic places in Carteret

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

Morehead City Municipal Building
Morehead City
Beaufort Historic District
Beaufort
Portsmouth Village
Portsmouth
HMT BEDFORDSHIRE (shipwreck and remains)
Beaufort
Henry, Jacob, House
Beaufort
Cape Lookout Light Station
Core Banks
Queen Anne's Revenge
Atlantic Beach
Old Burying Ground
Beaufort
Gibbs House
Beaufort
Cape Lookout Village Historic District
Harkers Island
Salter-Battle Hunting and Fishing Lodge
Ocracoke
Morehead City Historic District
Morehead
Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station
Beaufort
U-352 (submarine) shipwreck and remains
Beaufort
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

BladenBrunswickBuncombeBurkeCabarrusCaldwellCamdenCaswellCatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayClevelandColumbusCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidson
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Everything a full report reveals about Carteret County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Carteret 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 Carteret

When does Carteret first appear in the US census?
Carteret, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 3,732.
What is the population of Carteret?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Carteret had a recorded population of 67,686.
Were any battles fought in Carteret?
12 documented military engagements took place in Carteret, including Action at Bogue Inlet NC, Fort Macon — Opening Investment, Morehead City Landing Operations.
How many historic places are in Carteret?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Carteret, North Carolina.
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