Edenton, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Edenton is a town in Chowan County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat
of Chowan County
. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for heritage tourism
. It is the location of many bed and breakfast
inns.
Edenton achieved international notoriety for the 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. It was also the birthplace of Harriet Jacobs, an enslaved woman who escaped and fled to the North where she became a writer and abolitionist, writing an autobiography entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
, who had died that year. It had existed as a settlement for a number of years before that. Edenton served as the capital of North Carolina from 1722 to 1743, the governor establishing his residence there and the population increasing during that period.
A landmark in Women's History occurred in Edenton in 1774. 51 women in Edenton, led by Penelope Barker, signed a protest petition agreeing to boycott English tea
and other products, in what became known, decades later, as the Edenton Tea Party
. The Edenton Tea Party is the first known political action by women in the British American colonies. In fact it so shocked London that newspapers published etching depicting the woman as uncontrollable. Her home, the Barker House, is open seven days a week, without a fee, and is considered by many as Edenton's living room.
Joseph Hewes
, a resident of Edenton and a very successful owner of a merchant marine fleet, was appointed the first Secretary of the Navy in 1776. John Adams
said that Hewes "laid the foundation, the cornerstone of the American Navy." Hewes also signed the Declaration of Independence
.
James Iredell
, also of Edenton, was at 38 the youngest member of the first United States Supreme Court. He was appointed by George Washington
. His son James Iredell, Jr.
served as the Democratic-Republican Governor of North Carolina and then became a United States Senator. His home may be toured through the Historic Edenton Visitors Center.
Supreme Court Justice James Wilson
, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence
and the United States Constitution
, died in Edenton on August 21, 1798 at age 55, while riding his Judicial Circuit.
In 1862, during the American Civil War
, the Albemarle Artillery was recruited at Edenton by a local attorney named William Badham, Jr. Its guns were cast from bronze bells taken from courthous and churches in the Edenton area. Known as the Edenton Bell Battery
, its four howitzers were named the Columbia, St. Paul, Fannie Roulac, and Edenton. Two of the guns, the St. Paul and Edenton, have been returned to Edenton and can now be seen at Edenton's waterfront park.
Edenton is also the home of the 1886 Roanoke River Light
house. The lighthouse is called a screw-pile design because of its original support system. Each piling was literally screwed into the river or sound bottom so they would not pull out in heavy storms and hurricanes. The Roanoke River Lighthouse, now located at Edenton, is believed to be the last extant example in the United States of a rectangular frame building built for a screw-pile base. The lighthouse was in commission from 1887 until 1941.
North Carolina's Department of Cultural Resources and Department of Transportation are jointly engaged in a project to restore the lighthouse and open it to the public. Once restored, it will be furnished by the Edenton Historical Commission in an historically appropriate fashion.
Edenton is home to numerous, original historic homes and public buildings including the Cupola House. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The U.S. National Register of Historic Places also list the 1776 Chowan County Courthouse as a National Historic Landmark. The courthouse is still used for official court events.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.47%) is water.
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 per square mile (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.
of the Coastal Plain League
, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Steamers play at Historic Hicks Field
in Edenton. The Steamers began play in 1998.
Chowan County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Chowan County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of government-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 14,793 people, 5,580 households, and 4,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Chowan County
Chowan County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Chowan County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of government-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 14,793 people, 5,580 households, and 4,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There...
. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks
Inner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for heritage tourism
Heritage tourism
Cultural heritage tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring...
. It is the location of many bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
inns.
Edenton achieved international notoriety for the Little Rascals child-abuse case, the subject of journalist Ofra Bikel
Ofra Bikel
Ofra Bikel is a documentary filmmaker, and television producer.She was graduated from the University of Paris and the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris.She was a researcher for Time, Newsweek, and ABC Television....
'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
Dog Days of Summer (film)
Dog Days of Summer is a 2008 American independent feature film directed by Mark Freiburger and shot on location in Edenton, North Carolina. It is based on an original screenplay by screenwriters Travis Beacham and Christopher J. Waild....
, starring Will Patton
Will Patton
William Rankin "Will" Patton is an American actor.-Life and career:Patton was born in Charleston, South Carolina, the eldest of three children. His father is Bill Patton, a playwright and acting/directing instructor who was a Lutheran minister and served as a chaplain at Duke University...
was shot entirely on location in historic Edenton. It was also the birthplace of Harriet Jacobs, an enslaved woman who escaped and fled to the North where she became a writer and abolitionist, writing an autobiography entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.
History
Edenton was incorporated in 1722 and named for Governor Charles EdenCharles Eden
Charles Eden was the second Governor of the separate Colony of North Carolina.-Public service:Eden was appointed Governor of North Carolina on 13 July 1713. He is best known for his actions to end piracy in the area...
, who had died that year. It had existed as a settlement for a number of years before that. Edenton served as the capital of North Carolina from 1722 to 1743, the governor establishing his residence there and the population increasing during that period.
A landmark in Women's History occurred in Edenton in 1774. 51 women in Edenton, led by Penelope Barker, signed a protest petition agreeing to boycott English tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
and other products, in what became known, decades later, as the Edenton Tea Party
Edenton Tea Party
The Edenton Tea Party was a political protest in Edenton, North Carolina, in response to the Tea Act, which was passed by the British Parliament in 1773...
. The Edenton Tea Party is the first known political action by women in the British American colonies. In fact it so shocked London that newspapers published etching depicting the woman as uncontrollable. Her home, the Barker House, is open seven days a week, without a fee, and is considered by many as Edenton's living room.
Joseph Hewes
Joseph Hewes
Joseph Hewes was a native of Princeton, New Jersey, where he was born in 1730. Hewes’s parents were part of the Quaker Society of Friends. Immediately after their marriage they moved to New Jersey, which became Joseph Hewes’s home state. Hewes was formally educated at Princeton and after...
, a resident of Edenton and a very successful owner of a merchant marine fleet, was appointed the first Secretary of the Navy in 1776. John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
said that Hewes "laid the foundation, the cornerstone of the American Navy." Hewes also signed the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
.
James Iredell
James Iredell
James Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
, also of Edenton, was at 38 the youngest member of the first United States Supreme Court. He was appointed by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. His son James Iredell, Jr.
James Iredell, Jr.
James Iredell, Jr. was the 23rd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1827 and 1828.-Early life:...
served as the Democratic-Republican Governor of North Carolina and then became a United States Senator. His home may be toured through the Historic Edenton Visitors Center.
Supreme Court Justice James Wilson
James Wilson
James Wilson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Wilson was elected twice to the Continental Congress, and was a major force in drafting the United States Constitution...
, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
and the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, died in Edenton on August 21, 1798 at age 55, while riding his Judicial Circuit.
In 1862, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Albemarle Artillery was recruited at Edenton by a local attorney named William Badham, Jr. Its guns were cast from bronze bells taken from courthous and churches in the Edenton area. Known as the Edenton Bell Battery
Edenton Bell Battery
Edenton Bell Battery refers to an artillery unit from North Carolina that served for the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War, the four named guns the unit served throughout the war, and to an American Civil War reenactment group based in Edenton, North Carolina inspired by the...
, its four howitzers were named the Columbia, St. Paul, Fannie Roulac, and Edenton. Two of the guns, the St. Paul and Edenton, have been returned to Edenton and can now be seen at Edenton's waterfront park.
Edenton is also the home of the 1886 Roanoke River Light
Roanoke River Light
The Roanoke River Light is a historic lighthouse which once stood in Albemarle Sound at the mouth of the Roanoke River in North Carolina. The only surviving screw-pile lighthouse in the state, it has since been moved twice, and a replica of a predecessor light has been erected at a fourth...
house. The lighthouse is called a screw-pile design because of its original support system. Each piling was literally screwed into the river or sound bottom so they would not pull out in heavy storms and hurricanes. The Roanoke River Lighthouse, now located at Edenton, is believed to be the last extant example in the United States of a rectangular frame building built for a screw-pile base. The lighthouse was in commission from 1887 until 1941.
North Carolina's Department of Cultural Resources and Department of Transportation are jointly engaged in a project to restore the lighthouse and open it to the public. Once restored, it will be furnished by the Edenton Historical Commission in an historically appropriate fashion.
Edenton is home to numerous, original historic homes and public buildings including the Cupola House. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The U.S. National Register of Historic Places also list the 1776 Chowan County Courthouse as a National Historic Landmark. The courthouse is still used for official court events.
Geography
Edenton is located at 36°3′43"N 76°36′21"W (36.061855, -76.605766).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.47%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,394 people, 1,983 households, and 1,294 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,076.3 people per square mile (415.7/km²). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 439.8 per square mile (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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Culture
Located in northeastern North Carolina, Edenton is a small unique town known for its authentic 18th, 19th and early 20th century architecture and the stories about the people behind these public buildings and homes. It played a key role in the development of the colonies, the state and the nation. The Cupola House, a Registered National Historic Landmark, was built by Francis Corbin in 1758 on the waterfront at Edenton where it stands today. The 1767 Chowan County Courthouse: A National Historic Landmark is in use today, as it has been since 1767. The Barker House, home of Penelope Barker, the organizer of the first political action by women in the colonies, stands today and is open to visitors wishing to learn more about colonial history. The home of James Iredell, Sr., is in Edenton and operated as a North Carolina Historic Site.Churches
Edenton is a deep rooted community of faith. Some of the churches in the community include:- Edenton United Methodist ChurchEdenton United Methodist ChurchEdenton United Methodist Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. It is an active, progressive church with several worship opportunities and activities. Sunday worship consists of a contemporary worship service at 9:00 am and a traditional worship service at 11:00am...
- Yeopim Baptist Church
- First Presbyterian Church of Edenton
- Edenton Baptist Church
- St. Anne Catholic Church
- St. Pauls Episcopal ChurchSt. Paul's Episcopal Church and ChurchyardSt. Paul's Episcopal Church and Churchyard is a historic church at W. Church and Broad Streets in Edenton, North Carolina.It was built in 1736 and added to the National Register in 1975.-External links:*...
- Open Door Baptist Church
- Warren Grove Missionary Baptist Church
- Center Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Sports
Edenton is home to the Edenton SteamersEdenton Steamers
The Edenton Steamers are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Edenton, North Carolina, and one of fifteen teams that compete from May-August in the Coastal Plain League...
of the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Steamers play at Historic Hicks Field
Historic Hicks Field
Historic Hicks Field is a baseball stadium located in Edenton, North Carolina. The stadium is home to the John A. Holmes High School Aces as well as the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League....
in Edenton. The Steamers began play in 1998.
Notable people
- Joseph HewesJoseph HewesJoseph Hewes was a native of Princeton, New Jersey, where he was born in 1730. Hewes’s parents were part of the Quaker Society of Friends. Immediately after their marriage they moved to New Jersey, which became Joseph Hewes’s home state. Hewes was formally educated at Princeton and after...
(1730–1779), a signer of the Declaration of Independence, first Secretary of the U.S. Navy.
- Samuel JohnstonSamuel JohnstonSamuel Johnston was an American planter, lawyer, and statesman from Chowan County, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina in both the Continental Congress and the United States Senate, and was the sixth Governor of North Carolina.-Early Life and Revolutionary Politics:Johnston was born in...
(1733–1816), revolutionary leader and first U. S. Senator from North Carolina.
- James IredellJames IredellJames Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
(1751–1799), an Associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court.
- Penelope Barker (1728–1796), organized first political action by women in the colonies
- William AllenWilliam Allen (governor)William Allen was an Democratic Representative, Senator and 31st Governor of Ohio. He moved to the U.S. state of Ohio after his parents died, residing in Chillicothe, Ohio....
(1803–1879), born in Edenton, was later governor of OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
- Harriet JacobsHarriet Ann JacobsHarriet Ann Jacobs was an American writer, who escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist speaker and reformer...
(1813–1897), American abolitionist and author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave GirlIncidents in the Life of a Slave GirlIncidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a book that was published in 1861 by Harriet Jacobs, using the pen name "Linda Brent". While on one level it chronicles the experiences of Harriet Jacobs as a slave, and the various humiliations she had to endure in that unhappy state, it also deals with...
, which was published in 1861 under the nom de plume of "Linda Brent."
- Robert BrownRobert Brown (American football)Robert Lee Brown is a former American football defensive end who played for the Green Bay Packers in an eleven year career that lasted from 1982 to 1992, in the National Football League. He ranks ninth in team history in sacks with 25.5, and played in more games than any Packer defensive lineman...
(born 1960), former Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
defensive end.
- Zack ValentineZack ValentineZack Valentine is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie, he won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. Valentine played his prep years at John A...
(born 1957), Super BowlSuper BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
-winning Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
linebacker; also played for the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...