North Carolina

Dare

36,915
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Dare

Dare, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 2,778. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,915.

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

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Hatteras), Confederate Defense of Ocracoke Inlet NC, Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Clark), and 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,915
201033,920
200029,967
199022,746
198013,377
19706,995
19605,935
19505,405
19406,041
19305,202
19205,115
19104,841
19004,757
18903,768
18803,243
18702,778
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Dare

Military engagements that took place in Dare, North Carolina.

Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Hatteras)
1861
Confederate Defense of Ocracoke Inlet NC
1861
Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Clark)
1861
Battle of Hatteras Inlet Forts
1861
Battle of Roanoke Island
1862
Battle of Roanoke Island (Burnside)
1862
Roanoke Island – Pork Point Battery
1862
Occupation of Nags Head NC
1862

Historic places in Dare

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

Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station
Kitty Hawk
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Kill Devil Hills
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Manteo
First Colony Inn
Nags Head
Cape Hatteras Light Station
Buxton
LIGHT VESSEL 71 (shipwreck)
Buxton
Sam's Diner
Kill Devil Hills
Salvo Post Office
Salvo
Oregon Inlet Station
Rodanthe
Caffeys Inlet Lifesaving Station
Duck
USS MONITOR
Cape Hatteras
Nags Head Beach Cottages Historic District
Nags Head
U-701 (submarine) shipwreck and remains
Buxton
USS HURON
Nags Head
Hatteras Weather Bureau Station
Hatteras
Midgett, Mattie, Store and House
Nags Head
Bodie Island Lifesaving/Coast Guard Station
Nags Head
U-85 (submarine) shipwreck and remains
Nags Head
LANCING (shipwreck)
Buxton
Chicamacomico Life Saving Station
Rodanthe
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

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

LenoirLincolnMaconMadisonMartinMcDowellMecklenburgMitchellMontgomeryMooreNashNew HanoverNorthamptonOnslowOrangePamlicoPasquotankPenderPerquimansPerson
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Dare County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Dare 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Dare County, North Carolina report
Or see a real report first

Explore North Carolina records

North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Dare

When does Dare first appear in the US census?
Dare, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 2,778.
What is the population of Dare?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dare had a recorded population of 36,915.
Were any battles fought in Dare?
8 documented military engagements took place in Dare, including Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Hatteras), Confederate Defense of Ocracoke Inlet NC, Battle of Hatteras Inlet (Fort Clark).
How many historic places are in Dare?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dare, North Carolina.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report