Nags Head, North Carolina | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°55′55″N75°36′54″W / 35.93194°N 75.61500°W | |
Country | United States |
State | North Carolina |
County | Dare |
Incorporated | 1923 and 1961 [1] |
Named for | Tied lanterns around the necks of ponies [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 6.68 sq mi (17.31 km2) |
• Land | 6.62 sq mi (17.14 km2) |
• Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,168 |
• Density | 478.69/sq mi (184.84/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP Code | 27959 |
Area code | 252 |
FIPS code | 37-45880 [3] |
GNIS feature ID | 1021599 [4] |
Website | nagsheadnc |
Nags Head is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. It is a busy vacation spot because of its beaches and sand dunes of Jockey's Ridge. The population was 3,146 at the 2020 census. [5]
Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea. The origin of the town's name is obscure but it is likely to have been named after any one of the Nag's Heads on the English coast. [6]
A folkloric explanation claims that mules or horses (nags) would have lights hung on their heads by nefarious wreckers in order to trick ships into running aground and then loot the ships of their valuables. [7] The town's emblem depicts one such equine accomplice from the tale. [8]
Around 1830, [9] Nags Head became known as a resort area. This direction was accelerated in 1855 when Dr. W. G. Pool bought 50 acres of oceanfront land which he separated into plots and sold to friends, increasing the number of homes in the area.[ citation needed ]
Jockey's Ridge is the last vestige of the sand dunes seen by the first explorers, as the area is now highly developed. The town incorporated in 1961. [10]
In May 2021, Nags Head was one of 11 communities (along with nearby Ocracoke, North Carolina) chosen by the United States Department of Energy to participate in the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project, a program to provide federal aid for remote communities to modernize their electric infrastructure and resiliency through natural disasters and outages. Nags Head's grant is used to secure 48–72 hours of backup energy for emergency services due to the community's vulnerability to severe weather and rising sea levels and to investigate renewable and energy efficiency options. [11] According to Nag's Head's Director of Planning and Development Michael Zehner, the project will take 12–18 months to complete and the town will receive assistance from National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratories. [12]
Nags Head received a separate grant from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to receive technical assistance in developing better building design practices for energy and water efficiency, a project with an expected completion in early 2022. [12]
Nags Head is located at 35°55′55″N75°36′54″W / 35.93194°N 75.61500°W (35.932004, -75.615085). [13]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km2), of which 6.6 square miles (17.0 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 1.15%, is water. [14]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | 414 | — | |
1980 | 1,020 | 146.4% | |
1990 | 1,838 | 80.2% | |
2000 | 2,700 | 46.9% | |
2010 | 2,757 | 2.1% | |
2020 | 3,146 | 14.1% | |
2021 (est.) | 3,182 | [5] | 1.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census [15] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 2,891 | 91.26% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 23 | 0.73% |
Native American | 5 | 0.16% |
Asian | 25 | 0.79% |
Other/Mixed | 108 | 3.41% |
Hispanic or Latino | 116 | 3.66% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,168 people, 1,302 households, and 861 families residing in the town.
As of the census [3] of 2010, there were 2,757 people, 1,223 households, and 741 families residing in the town. The population density was 413.2 inhabitants per square mile (159.5/km2). There were 4,884 housing units at an average density of 634.9 per square mile (245.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.6% White, 1.6% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 1,223 households, out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,095, and the median income for a family was $61,302. Males had a median income of $33,289 versus $30,139 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,157. About 4.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Located in Nags Head is the largest sand dune on the East Coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park. [17] The sand dune has migrated over the years from the energy of coastal winds and has buried a miniature golf course along the way. Jockey's Ridge has been popular with hang-gliders since the advent of the sport, and is home to the world's largest hang gliding school. Kite flyers are also frequent visitors. The park's visitor center includes an informative museum with exhibits on sand, weather, and local fauna. The diversity of wildlife may change with seasonal migrations and includes bird species, foxes, mice, squirrels, occasional deer and rabbits.
One of the most exciting features of the Ridge is its capriciousness. Annual visitors find that ephemeral pools can spring up, and the sand can shift, making for a fresh experience every time. From the top of the Ridge, the ocean as well as the sound can be seen. Jockey's Ridge has a sound beach on the Roanoke Sound side where visitors may swim.
The Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve is 1,092 acres (4.42 km2) and lies North of Jockey's Ridge and east of Roanoke Sound. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974. [18]
As in any other beach town, the ocean and shoreline are the major attractions, providing beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and a variety of water sports. A series of historic cottages overlook the beach in sections. There are three piers popular for fishing: Nags Head Pier, Jennette's Pier (severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, bought and renovated by the North Carolina Aquariums, reopened in May 2011), and Outer Banks Pier. The town also features miniature golf courses and small amusement centers with go-karts and bumper cars for family entertainment.
Other attractions include various National Register of Historic Places in or near Nags Head, such as the following:
Landmark name [19] | Image | Date listed | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bodie Island Lifesaving and Coast Guard Station | February 9, 1979 | S of Nags Head on NC 12 35°50′11″N75°33′33″W / 35.83639°N 75.55917°W | ||
Bodie Island Light Station | July 4, 2003 | Off NC 12 35°49′12″N75°33′49″W / 35.82000°N 75.56361°W | ||
First Colony Inn | January 21, 1993 | 6720 S. Virginia Dare Trail 35°55′6″N75°36′13″W / 35.91833°N 75.60361°W | ||
Markham-Albertson-Stinson Cottage | January 13, 2006 | 4300 W. Soundside Rd. 35°56′45.51″N75°37′45.93″W / 35.9459750°N 75.6294250°W | Destroyed by Hurricane Irene [20] | |
Mattie Midgett Store and House | December 23, 2004 | 4008 S. Virginia Dare Trail 35°57′23″N75°37′28″W / 35.95639°N 75.62444°W | ||
Nags Head Beach Cottages Historic District | August 19, 1977 | U.S. 158 35°57′50″N75°35′49″W / 35.96389°N 75.59694°W | ||
Sea Foam Motel | December 23, 2004 | 7111 S. Virginia Dare Trail 35°54′37″N75°35′47″W / 35.91028°N 75.59639°W | ||
USS Huron (1875) | November 15, 1991 | Address restricted | wrecked in the area, 1877 |
According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Nags Head, North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (Cfak). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Nags Head, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Nags Head is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during the Atlantic hurricane season which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 10 °F (< −12 °C). The plant hardiness zone in Nags Head is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 16.9 °F (−8.4 °C). [21] The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak in nor'easter activity is in February.
Climate data for Nags Head, NC (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °F (°C) | 51.3 (10.7) | 53.1 (11.7) | 58.6 (14.8) | 66.9 (19.4) | 74.3 (23.5) | 81.8 (27.7) | 85.5 (29.7) | 84.4 (29.1) | 79.9 (26.6) | 71.6 (22.0) | 63.5 (17.5) | 55.3 (12.9) | 68.9 (20.5) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.3 (6.8) | 46.0 (7.8) | 51.1 (10.6) | 59.3 (15.2) | 67.2 (19.6) | 75.6 (24.2) | 79.7 (26.5) | 78.8 (26.0) | 74.4 (23.6) | 65.5 (18.6) | 56.7 (13.7) | 48.3 (9.1) | 62.3 (16.8) |
Average low °F (°C) | 37.3 (2.9) | 38.8 (3.8) | 43.5 (6.4) | 51.7 (10.9) | 60.1 (15.6) | 69.4 (20.8) | 73.9 (23.3) | 73.2 (22.9) | 69.0 (20.6) | 59.3 (15.2) | 49.8 (9.9) | 41.4 (5.2) | 55.7 (13.2) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.35 (110) | 3.74 (95) | 3.73 (95) | 3.37 (86) | 3.68 (93) | 4.28 (109) | 5.12 (130) | 6.09 (155) | 5.63 (143) | 3.94 (100) | 3.83 (97) | 3.88 (99) | 51.64 (1,312) |
Average relative humidity (%) | 69.6 | 69.5 | 67.2 | 67.4 | 70.3 | 73.4 | 75.3 | 74.7 | 73.8 | 70.9 | 72.1 | 71.2 | 71.3 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 35.0 (1.7) | 36.6 (2.6) | 40.6 (4.8) | 48.5 (9.2) | 57.2 (14.0) | 66.5 (19.2) | 71.2 (21.8) | 70.1 (21.2) | 65.5 (18.6) | 55.8 (13.2) | 47.8 (8.8) | 39.4 (4.1) | 52.9 (11.6) |
Source: PRISM [22] |
Climate data for Duck, NC, ocean water temperature (21 NW Nags Head) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Daily mean °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 [23] |
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Nags Head, 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). [24]
Residents are in Dare County Schools. Zoned schools include Nags Head Elementary School, Manteo Middle School, and Manteo High School. [25]
Nags Head Elementary opened in August 2005. [26]
Previously First Flight Elementary School in Kill Devil Hills served elementary levels while First Flight Middle School, also in Kill Devil Hills, served middle school. [27]
Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, on Bodie Island, part of what is known as the state's Outer Banks. The population was 3,708 at the 2020 census. It was established in the early 18th century as Chickahawk.
Dare County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,915. Its county seat is Manteo. Dare County is named after Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to English parents, who was born within the county's current borders. Founded in 1870 from parts of Tyrrell, Currituck and Hyde counties, it consists of a large segment of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, along with Roanoke Island and a peninsula of land attached to the mainland. Most of the county consists of a string of resort communities along the Outer Banks. While lightly populated by year-round residents, the population swells during the summer with vacationers.
Harrisburg, a northeastern suburb of Charlotte, is a city in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was estimated to be 16,576 as of 1 July 2019.
Murphy is a town in and the county seat of Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States. It is situated at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers. It is the westernmost county seat in the state of North Carolina, approximately 360 miles (580 km) from the state capital in Raleigh. The population of Murphy was 1,627 at the 2010 census.
Kill Devil Hills is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,633 at the 2020 census, up from 6,683 in 2010. It is the most populous settlement in both Dare County and on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Kill Devil Hills Micropolitan Statistical Area is part of the larger Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.
Manteo is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, located on Roanoke Island. The population was 1,602 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Dare County.
Southern Shores is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. It is located on the Outer Banks and the population was 3,107 at the 2020 census.
Ocracoke is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated town located at the southern end of Ocracoke Island, located entirely within Hyde County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 948 as of the 2010 census. In the 2020 census, the population had dropped to 797 people.
Holly Ridge is a town in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. The 2010 population was 1,268. It is part of the Jacksonville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is considered the gateway to Topsail Island.
Winterville is a town in Pitt County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 10,591 as of the 2020 Census. The town is a part of the Greenville Metropolitan Area.
Johnston is a town in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,362 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Augusta, Georgia, metropolitan area. The town's official welcome sign states that it is "Peach Capital of the World".
Elgin is an incorporated town in Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. Some portions of the town are in adjacent Richland County, South Carolina. It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of the center of Columbia, the state's capital, and is the center of one of the ten townships that make up Kershaw County. As of the 2010 census, the town's population was 1,311, and in 2018 the estimated population was 1,579. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Avon is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Dare County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, it had a permanent population of 776.
Duck is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 746. During the peak vacation season, starting after Memorial Day, the population increases to over 20,000. 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.
Waves is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. It is on Hatteras Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 134. Waves, along with Rodanthe and Salvo, are part of the settlement of Chicamacomico.
Salvo is a census-designated place located in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, on Hatteras Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. As of the 2010 census, Salvo had a population of 229. Originally part of the settlement of Chicamacomico, Salvo was originally known as "Clarks" or "Clarksville."
Buxton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Hatteras Island near Cape Hatteras. It is located in Dare County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,273. Located at the widest part of Hatteras Island, it is the largest community on Hatteras Island both in terms of area and population, and is home to the island's schools and other major public buildings and offices.
Frisco is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on the barrier island of Hatteras Island, between the villages of Buxton and Hatteras. It is located in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, and was previously named "Trent", or "Trent Woods", but received a new name with the coming of the post office in 1898. Most of the land is taken by houses available for rental during the summer months, and as such the community's population varies seasonally. As of the 2010 census, the permanent population of the community was 200. North Carolina Highway 12 serves as the primary road in Frisco and connects the community to others on the island.
Jockey's Ridge State Park is a North Carolina state park in Dare County, North Carolina in the United States. Located in Nags Head, North Carolina, it covers a 427-acre (1.73 km2) area, and includes the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It is the most visited park within the NC park system. The park is a day-use only park and has no campgrounds. Jockey's Ridge contains three unique ecosystems: the Roanoke Sound, the dune system, and the maritime forest. Often when it rains, water collects near the bottom of the dunes creating temporary ponds known as vernal pools. Few fauna can be seen around the dunes, although some types of flora, such as tall grass, may be seen near the bottom of the dunes.
The Outer Banks are the barrier islands along the east coast of North Carolina in the United States. They are extremely sensitive to environmental hazards, particularly hurricanes. Hazard mitigation plans have been created and are implemented when a hurricane is forecasted to strike the Outer Banks. The goal of the plans is to identify the policies and tools that are needed in order to reduce or eliminate the risk of life and property loss from any event that may occur in the Outer Banks.
Legend has it that "wrecking" was a popular pastime and source of income for the early inhabitants. It seems that certain ne'r-do-wells would tie lanterns to their horses' necks [...]
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