Hertford, North Carolina
Hertford is a town and the county seat of Perquimans County,[4] North Carolina, United States. The current population of Hertford, North Carolina is 1,912 based on the 2020 census.[5] The US Census estimates the 2021 population at 1,925. The last official US Census in 2010 recorded the population at 2,143. Hertford is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region and is part of both the Elizabeth City Micropolitan Statistical Area and the Hampton Roads region. It is named after the county town of Hertford, England.
Not to be confused with Hertford County, North Carolina.History[edit]
Hertford was originally incorporated in 1758 as the county seat for Perquimans County, first inhabited by the Yeopim Indians. County records show that the Yeopim chief Kalcacenin sold land to George Durant at the river mouth in March 1662, adjacent to land he had already sold to Samuel Pricklove.[6] The area was settled soon afterward, and a brick house on the site, the Newbold-White House, has been dated by dendrochronology to 1730; it is the oldest known brick structure in the state.
Through the first part of the 20th century, Hertford thrived as a lumber town, making good use of the nearby river. The bridge that spanned the river was a floating bridge, made of steel and wood. When a boat came near and wanted passage, the bridge would be unhooked from one bank and allowed to float out of the way. When the boat had passed, lines were used to haul the free end of the bridge in and reconnect it. An swing bridge with S-shaped approaches is in use today.
Hertford is the hometown of baseball pitcher Catfish Hunter. Disc jockey Wolfman Jack is buried in nearby Belvidere, and the record company he started is still located in Hertford.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Cove Grove, Fletcher-Skinner-Nixon House and Outbuildings, Hertford Historic District, Land's End, Newbold-White House, Samuel Nixon House, Old Neck Historic District, Perquimans County Courthouse, and Sutton-Newby House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
Geography[edit]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.74%) is water.
Hertford is about 125 miles (201 km) northeast of Raleigh[8] and about 47 miles (76 km) southwest of Norfolk.[9]
Transportation[edit]
Hertford is served by U.S. Route 17 (US 17) which connects the town with Edenton to the south and Elizabeth City to the north. A business route of US 17 also exists, which connects Hertford to the neighboring town of Winfall and crosses over the Perquimans River on the "S-Bridge."
North Carolina Highway 37 also travels through Hertford, concurrent with US 17.
Local public bus transportation is provided by the Inter-County Public Transportation Authority (ICPTA), with service to Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden, Chowan, and Currituck counties.[13]
Grades PK–2 and 6–8 are served by the county schools located in Winfall.
Industry[edit]
Agriculture is the chief industry of the area.