Wanchese, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Wanchese is a census-designated place
(CDP) on Roanoke Island
in Dare County
, North Carolina
, United States
. It was named after Wanchese
, the last known ruler of the Roanoke
Native American
tribe encountered by English colonists in the sixteenth century. The population was 1,527 at the 2000 census.
The residents of Wanchese are governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners
. Wanchese is part of District 1, along with Manteo
, Roanoke Island
and Manns Harbor
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (14.26%) is water.
from nearby beds in the Sound.
What is called the Tillett Site (after the last owners) had been occupied originally when it was still part of the mainland, during the entire Archaic Period (8000-1000 BC). After the sea levels rose and it became an island, the saline conditions of the Sound became established, giving rise to the later indigenous fishing culture, including that of the historic Roanoke
tribe.
Three later periods of occupation were identified:
During the first two periods, the Tillett site was a seasonal settlement. The Roanoke came to it from the mainland to fish and collect shellfish. At the time of English exploration, the Algonquian
-speaking Roanoke
tribe used the site for seasonal fishing. Their main town was on the western shore of Croatan Sound.
After English colonization, the site continued to be used for fishing by the Anglo-American peoples. In the 1980s, it was to be redeveloped for a major commercial fishing port and seafood processing facility.
of 2000, there were 1,527 people, 614 households, and 432 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 325.8 people per square mile (125.7/km2). There were 690 housing units at an average density of 147.2 per square mile (56.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.10% White, 0.33% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.46% from other races
, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.
There were 614 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,250, and the median income for a family was $43,173. Males had a median income of $28,958 versus $21,591 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,492. About 5.1% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) on Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
in Dare County
Dare County, North Carolina
-National protected areas:* Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge * Cape Hatteras National Seashore * Fort Raleigh National Historic Site* Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge* Wright Brothers National Memorial-Demographics:...
, 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...
. It was named after Wanchese
Wanchese (chief)
Wanchese was the last known ruler of the Roanoke Native American tribe encountered by English colonists in the late sixteenth century. Along with Chief Manteo he travelled to London in 1584, where the two men created a sensation at court...
, the last known ruler of the Roanoke
Roanoke (tribe)
The Roanoke, also spelled Roanoac, tribe were a Carolina Algonquian-speaking people whose territory comprised present-day Dare County, Roanoke Island and part of the mainland at the time of English exploration and colonization...
Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
tribe encountered by English colonists in the sixteenth century. The population was 1,527 at the 2000 census.
The residents of Wanchese are governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners
Dare County Board of Commissioners
The Dare County Board of Commissioners is the governing body of Dare County, North Carolina. It runs in the manner of a county commission. It has seven seats held by elected officials called County Commissioners. The Commissioners are elected at large in countywide elections and serve four-year...
. Wanchese is part of District 1, along with Manteo
Manteo, North Carolina
Manteo is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, located on Roanoke Island. The population was 1,052 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dare County.-Geography:...
, Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
and Manns Harbor
Manns Harbor, North Carolina
Manns Harbor is an unincorporated community in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. Located east of the intersection of US 64 and US 264; it is nestled along eastern bank of the Croatan Sound. Before 1957, Manns Harbor used to harbor a ferry that traversed the Croatan Sound and provided...
.
Geography
Wanchese is located at 35.845046°N 75.639544°W, and on the southern end of Roanoke IslandRoanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
.
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 CDP has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (14.26%) is water.
History
Archeological evidence shows that Wanchese was the site of the first fishing village on Roanoke Island. Indigenous people inhabited the area 1500 years ago, and their various cultures used this site for fishing for 1100 years. They also collected oysters and shellfishShellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
from nearby beds in the Sound.
What is called the Tillett Site (after the last owners) had been occupied originally when it was still part of the mainland, during the entire Archaic Period (8000-1000 BC). After the sea levels rose and it became an island, the saline conditions of the Sound became established, giving rise to the later indigenous fishing culture, including that of the historic Roanoke
Roanoke
Roanoke may refer to:*Roanoke , Carolina Algonquian-speaking tribe in eastern North Carolina*Roanoke , an American ship *Roanoke Colony, a former English colony that mysteriously disappeared...
tribe.
Three later periods of occupation were identified:
- Mount Pleasant component, beginning around 400 and ending around 800;
- Colington component, the prehistoric manifestation of the Carolina Algonkian culture, from 800 to 1650; and
- Historic period component, related mostly to the Green family use of the site as a farmstead from c. 1884 to 1910/20. There was also fishing in this area.
During the first two periods, the Tillett site was a seasonal settlement. The Roanoke came to it from the mainland to fish and collect shellfish. At the time of English exploration, the Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
-speaking Roanoke
Roanoke
Roanoke may refer to:*Roanoke , Carolina Algonquian-speaking tribe in eastern North Carolina*Roanoke , an American ship *Roanoke Colony, a former English colony that mysteriously disappeared...
tribe used the site for seasonal fishing. Their main town was on the western shore of Croatan Sound.
After English colonization, the site continued to be used for fishing by the Anglo-American peoples. In the 1980s, it was to be redeveloped for a major commercial fishing port and seafood processing facility.
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 1,527 people, 614 households, and 432 families residing in the CDP. 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 325.8 people per square mile (125.7/km2). There were 690 housing units at an average density of 147.2 per square mile (56.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.10% White, 0.33% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.46% 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 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.
There were 614 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,250, and the median income for a family was $43,173. Males had a median income of $28,958 versus $21,591 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 CDP was $17,492. About 5.1% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.