Duck, North Carolina

Duck, North Carolina
Town
The boardwalk at Duck Town Park in 2009
Flag Seal
Location in Dare County, North Carolina
Duck Show map of North Carolina Duck Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 36°10′11″N75°45′19″W / 36.16972°N 75.75528°W / 36.16972; -75.75528 [1]
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Dare
Founded	1984
Incorporated	2002
Named after	Duck
Area [2]
• Total	3.72 sq mi (9.64 km2)
• Land	2.42 sq mi (6.26 km2)
• Water	1.30 sq mi (3.38 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	742
• Density	306.99/sq mi (118.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP Code	27949
Area code	252
FIPS code	37-18060 [1] [3]
GNIS feature ID (populated place)	1025292
GNIS feature ID (town)	2406400
Website	townofduck.com

Duck is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 746. ^[4] Duck is the northernmost incorporated town in Dare County and the Outer Banks' newest town, incorporated on May 1, 2002. Duck offers visitors outdoor recreational activities, summer events and concerts, watersports, fine dining, shopping, art galleries, and a nationally known jazz festival, as well as the 11-acre (4.5 ha) Town Park and soundside boardwalk. ^[5]

History

On March 28, 2001, state representative William T. Culpepper III introduced the Duck Incorporation Bill in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The bill was passed on August 29, 2001. On November 6, 2001, voters voted in favor of incorporation, and Duck was incorporated as the sixth town in Dare County on May 1, 2002.

The Caffeys Inlet Lifesaving Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 1978. ^[6]

Geography

Duck is located along the northern Outer Banks, between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Currituck Sound to the west. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), of which 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), or 35.02% is water. Originally part of Currituck County to the north, the stretch of the Outer Banks which includes Duck was transferred to Dare County in the early 20th century. The region was named for the many ducks and waterfowl in the area.

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Duck, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type of Live oak/Sea Oats Uniola paniculata (90) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20). ^[7]

Climate

The town of Duck marks the northernmost extent of hardiness zone 8b along the east coast of the United States. ^[8]

Climate data for Duck, North Carolina
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average sea temperature °F (°C)	45 (7)	44 (7)	46 (8)	59 (15)	67 (19)	74 (23)	71 (22)	74 (23)	75 (24)	69 (21)	59 (15)	52 (11)	61 (16)
Source: NOAA [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	369		—
2020	746		102.2%
2021 (est.)	758	[4]	1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

Duck racial composition ^[11]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	697	93.94%
Asian	7	0.94%
Other/Mixed	22	2.96%
Hispanic or Latino	16	2.16%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 742 people, 288 households, and 202 families residing in the town.

Tourist attractions

A morning theater and music show at Duck Town Park

The town park is a recreational facility with trails through the maritime forest and willow swamp. It also has an amphitheater, playground, picnic shelter, and public kayak/canoeing launch. The town has built a boardwalk which can be accessed from the park and through the commercial village. The boardwalk extends 0.78 miles (1.26 km) along Currituck Sound. Duck's beach was named one of the "Top 15 Family-Friendly Beaches in America".

In October, Duck hosts its annual Jazz Festival. During the summer months, the town offers over 60 events and programs including Yoga on the Green, Movies on the Sound, a family magic show, live concerts and interactive theater. Programs are free and open to the public. ^[12]

Government

In addition to traditional town council meetings, there are regularly scheduled meetings where the public can address issues before the council. ^[13]

Education

Residents are zoned to Dare County Schools. Zoned schools are Kitty Hawk Elementary School, First Flight Middle School, and First Flight High School. ^[14] Prior to 2004, First Flight High zoned students were zoned to Manteo High School. ^[15]

Notable residents

• Harold R. Story, US Army major general ^[16]

References

1. "Duck". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. June 17, 1980. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. "Town of Duck". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. March 10, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
4. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
5. Outerbanks SEO (2012). Town of Duck North Carolina. p. 4.
6. "National Register Information System – Caffeys Inlet Lifesaving Station (#78001942)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
7. "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)" . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
8. "North Carolina 2012 USDA Hardiness Zone Map". Plant Maps. USDA. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
9. "Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions" . Retrieved August 6, 2019.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
12. "Town Park & Boardwalk". Town of Duck. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
13. Ferguson, J. (n.d.). Town council. Retrieved from http://www.townofduck.com/
14. "Attendance Zone Information". Dare County Schools. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021. Kitty Hawk Elementary School -- Area north of Cameron Street[...]First Flight Middle School/First Flight High School -- All areas north of Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills Town Line - North Beaches Elementary Schools map
15. Freeman, Darren (August 18, 2004). "NO LINES, NO CROWDS, JUST MORE SPACE". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on September 11, 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2009. - Entry at NewsBank
16. "Death Notice, Harold R. Story". Newsday . Melville, New York. September 10, 1987. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Official website
• Geographic data related to Duck, North Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2001 House Bill 882

Preceded by Corolla	Beaches of The Outer Banks	Succeeded by Southern Shores