Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Pamlico County

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Do you have questions about Pamlico County or something that goes on here? Sailing, hunting, fishing, real estate, government or business, we'll try to get answers for you! Submit your questions here and we will consult an expert in the field of your question and post an answer for everyone to become better informed. We will keep reasonable requests for information posted on this page in a “last in first up” format as space allows. Text that is red and underlined is a link to related information that you may visit by clicking on the area.

Are there any apartments or houses for rent in Pamlico County? What are the average prices? How can I contact the rental offices?

Yes, there are houses for rent in Pamlico County. You can contact SailLoft Realty at 252.249.1787 or Mariner Realty at 252.249.1014. Some local folk have some short term rentals, too. They are usually not advertised..all word of mouth. Expect to pay between $500-$800 a month depending on size, whether it is furnished, if utilities are included, etc.

What kind of damage, if any have you seen during recent hurricanes?

Well, it DID blow during hurricanes Bertha and Fran in '96 and recently with Bonnie! We sustained a lot of tree toppling, some power outages (only a few hours in most places, but some areas had to wait up to three days for power), and minimal structural damage. People who went inland to Raleigh or Durham had more damage to cars, etc. than if they would have stayed put. We are not cocky, however, we were lucky. We have the good fortune of being protected from a direct coastal assault by the land masses of the Outer Banks and Atlantic Beach. This seems to lessen the severity of the storms by the time they reach us.

Who are the original founders of Pamlico County? Also, what is the local paper name in the Pamlico County area and are their papers archived on-line as of yet?

The earliest documented white settlers in the area began purchasing land and establishing permanent residences within the boundaries of what is now Pamlico County during the first decade of the eighteenth century. They included Farnifold Green, William Powell, Edward Pearce, Richard Dawson and Dudley Gordon.

Information from Joe Mobley's Pamlico County - A Brief History

The local paper is The Pamlico News. They are located in Oriental and can be reached at (252) 249-1555

I would like a list of the various Marinas in the Oriental area suitable for long-term storage of a 34 foot sailboat. Can you help?

Triton Yacht Sales has long term storage facilities.

What opportunities exist in your community for continuing education?

Pamlico County has a community college. Computer Printer Solutions, located in Oriental, offers software training. Craven Community College in New Bern has a wide variety of quality classes. Eastern Carolina University in Greenville offers students (who are willing to drive an hour or so) world class educational opportunities. Wesleyn and Mt. Olive colleges have satellite programs in New Bern. The Internet is also providing DC (down in the county) students educational outlets.

I'm trying to get the phone numbers of the local Chamber of Commerce. I'm moving to the area and need some information. Thanks!

Lenwood Jones is the president of the Pamlico County Chamber of Commerce this year. His number is 745-4127.

Is there local access to the Internet from Pamlico County?

There are many Internet Service Providers (ISP's) available as a local call within Pamlico County. Computer Printer Solutions, the publisher of this magazine, provides full Internet Marketing Services and would be happy to supply you with an up-to-date list of current access providers if you give them a call at (252) 249-0568 or (800) 598-0568.

When I finish sailing down the Chesapeake and Intracoastal Waterway to Oriental this June, I need to have travel to Raleigh to fly back to Minnesota. What sorts of public transportation options do I have from Oriental to Raleigh-Durham Airport?

Sue Chapin of Oriental Sailmakers responds
Oriental has an in-town taxi that can take you to New Bern to connect with a bus, rental car or shuttle flight to Raleigh-Durham. The in-town taxi will also take you directly to Raleigh-Durham for $180.

What are the property taxes in Pamlico County?

Missy Baskervill owner of Coldwell Banker answers:
These are the property tax rates for Pamlico County and towns and/or fire districts in Pamlico County that charge taxes. All taxes are calculated by multiplying the rate times assessed value divided by 100.

Pamlico County Tax Rate: $ .6943
Towns:
Oriental: $.24
Bayboro: $.25
Mesic: $.20
Vandemere: $.20
Minnesott Beach: $.15
Stonewall: $.15
Arapahoe: $.03
Fire Districts:
Reelsboro: $.05
Grantsboro/Silverhill $.05
Florence/Whortonville $.07

These rates are for fiscal year 1997. The new rates will not be set until possibly June 1998. They may or may not change. Only the town of Oriental changed last year.

How Do I Register for the Oriental Cup Regatta?
Joe Wakefied, OCR chairman responds:
You will be sent a registration form in late July or early August if you have entered the regatta before. To register for the first time; visit our website to get a copy of the registration form, call Don Whitehouse at 919-745-3313 or myself at 919-249-0901 to receive a form through the mail.

Do Migratory Waterfowl spread pfiesteria?

G.C. Suffolk, VA asks:
Will migratory waterfowl pose a threat to the spread of pfiesteria throughout the Easter Flyway ?
Many species eat fish. Can they carry/contract this organism and spread the problem ?
Are waterfowl hunters and their dogs at risk ?
Please refer this question to Dr. JoAnne Burkholder, or one of her associates.

Dr. JoAnn M. Burkholder, NC State University responds:
Waterfowl have probably spread Pfiesteria and its close allies to various regions for a long time. But it takes a special set of circumstances for toxic outbreaks to occur. People, dogs, etc. are at risk when toxic Pfiesteria piscicida and its close allies are actively attacking fish. When you see fish with open bleeding sores (about 20% or more of the fish around you), or fish in distress, or fish dying, it is a good idea to avoid the area. The routes of human exposure known so far are from direct contact with toxic Pfiesteria-laden waters, or from breathing the aerosols above places with fish disease or fish kill events while they are happening. Within about 24 hours at most after no more fish disease or fish death is occurring, Pfiesteria's toxins are broken down and destroyed in water, so the area should be safe again. So far, we have no evidence that people can be hurt eating healthy looking fish from affected areas; but to err on the side of caution in protecting human health, we are advising that folks should follow Maryland's example and not eat fish from affected areas until after the fish disease or kill event is over. I hope this is of help to you.

What is the origin of the name of Pamlico County, NC?

B.R. Raleigh, NC

Pamlico County and Pamlico Sound take their name from some of the region's first known inhabitants, the Pamouick (or Pamlico) Indians. The Pamouick inhabited areas of what is now known as Pamlico and Beaufort counties. Historians believe that there is evidence of a Pamouick settlement on the Bay River around what is currently known as Maribel. Many area names find their roots in the regions Indian heritage. The Neuse River is named after the Neusiok tribe which inhabited the shores of the Neuse River and southern Pamlico peninsula.

I am planning to come to the county in July to do a little fishing and running around in my boat. Is there a bed and breakfast or other accommodations available.

TRC Winston-Salem, NC

Yes! There are two B&B's in Oriental, The Inn at Oriental and The Carriage House. The Marina Motel and Restaurant is also located in Oriental. All are convenient to a Wildlife ramp for small boat launching as well as numerous marinas and places for provisioning. It is also a convenient central location to head off in many directions. You will find all of Pamlico Sound available just down the Neuse River. Beaufort and Cape Lookout are just a short ride down Adams Creek on the ICW. If you are interested in some exciting tournament sport fishing check out the Tarpon Tournament.

I grow hard clams on Cape Cod. What can you tell me about aquaculture, bottom leasing and the commercial fishing environment in North Carolina?

B.P. in Mass.

We took your question to Nick Santoro of Sunbelt Associates (Real Estate). Nick has been involved in a test program for oyster aquaculture and is well versed in the intricacies or coastal waterfront related issues.

North Carolina encourages aquaculture. The North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries makes bottom leases available to people who seek to grow shell fish. Up to five acre leases can be obtained for clam or oyster aquaculture and up to ten acre leases can be obtained for a combination of clams and oysters. Lease applicants must have established a minimum North Carolina residency of six months. Fisheries management strategies are currently under review and there is a moratorium on all new fishing licenses at this time. There is a feature in the proposed new management plan that would allow the granting of new licenses for aquaculture purposes only if this plan passes through the legislature in it's present form.

Would you describe the medical services in Pamlico County?

We asked Linda McLean, Secretary of The Pamlico Rescue Squad to respond. (Stay on the lookout for a page dedicated to the Rescue Squad's activities in the near future.)

County wide emergency medical response is provided by the Pamlico Rescue Squad. The rescue squad is centrally located in Bayboro and is dispatched through the County's emergency 911 system which is managed by the Sheriff's Department. The squad has two paid personnel on duty during daytime hours. A well trained team of volunteers are on call at all times and handle evening runs. The squad runs 3 vehicles; 2 crash trucks and a medical van, as well as a small boat. There is no charge for responding to an emergency, the lions share of operating revenue comes from donations. Pamlico Rescue Squad, PO Box 302, Bayboro, NC 28515)

The nearest hospital is Craven Regional Medical Center in New Bern. It is approximately 18 miles from the squad building in Bayboro.

There are two pharmacies in Pamlico County. Revco Drugs is located next to Food Lion in Alliance and the Bayboro Pharmacy is in Bayboro.

Medical services are provided in Oriental by Dr. Mark Willi located on Broad Street. In Bayboro there are four doctors and a physicians assistant at the Pamlico Medical Center across from the High School on Highway 55.

Once before I found the Oriental Town Meeting Minutes on-line. How do I get there again?
Mary, Pittsburgh, PA

We post both the town agenda and the minutes of the meeting linked to the town's homepage.
(http://www.pamlico-nc.com/oriental)
Generally the agenda is posted 4 or 5 days before the meeting and the minutes are posted the day after. You may want to save it as a "bookmark" or "favorite place" depending on your browser. We hope to be doing the same for other towns in Pamlico County in the near future.

What is a "pocosin"? How is it pronounced? What is the derivation?
Bill M., Florida (Moving to Pamlico County)

We took this question to Mr. Fred May, County Director/Cooperative Extension Agent

Pocosin (pa-coe-sin) is a Delaware Indian term for upland swamp. On the basis of soils data, pocosin peat deposits occupy about 12 percent of Pamlico County. The rest of the county - mineral surfaces and marsh peats - also originated principally as a result of the influences of Pleistocene, recent and ongoing sea level fluctuations.

Technically, pocosin is defined as a large, waterlogged, flat interstream area that is elevated slightly above the distant flood plains. Soils are typically high in organic matter and vegetated by high wetness tolerant plants. Generally, Pamlico County is considered to have three pocosins - one in the northwest corner of the county, one in the northern part along the Beaufort County line north of Bayboro, and a third in the west-central part southwest of Bayboro. The centers of these areas are for the most part treeless and covered by reeds. In most places the margins are forested with a few twisted, gnarled loblolly and pond pines, and they support an undergrowth of gallberry, myrtle, baybushes, small shrubs, mosses, ferns, and various briers. In other places the vegetation on the margins consists of maples, gums and cypress.

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