Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,394 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County.[3] Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for historical tourism and the location of many Bed and Breakfast Inns. Edenton achieved international notoriety for the infamous Little Rascals child-abuse case, the subject of journalist Ofra Bikel's award-winning trilogy of documentaries Innocence Lost (1991), Innocence Lost: The Verdict (1993), and Innocence Lost: The Plea (1997). The 2007 independent feature film, Dog Days of Summer starring Will Patton was shot entirely on location in historic Edenton.
Geography
Edenton is located at 36°3′43″N, 76°36′21″W (36.061855, -76.605766).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.4 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (3.47%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,394 people, 1,983 households, and 1,294 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,076.3 people per square mile (415.7/km²). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 439.8/sq mi (169.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 42.86% White, 55.23% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.
There were 1,983 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,241, and the median income for a family was $34,132. Males had a median income of $27,192 versus $18,281 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,264. About 20.3% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.1% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
Edenton was incorporated in 1722 and served as the capital of North Carolina from 1722 to 1743.[5]
Notable residents
- Samuel Johnston, revolutionary leader and first U. S. Senator from North Carolina.
References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Ready, Milton (2005). The Tar Heel State: A History of North Carolina, p. 51. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1570035911.
- ^ (1967) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.
External links
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