Old Beaufort By The Sea

Settled in 1709, Beaufort is North Carolina's third oldest town. Originally a fishing village and port of safety dating from the 1600's, Beaufort has been visited by patriots, privateers and pirates!

It was surveyed in 1713. That was nearly 20 years before George Washington was born and Anne was still Queen of England. Named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, the Town was incorporated in 1723 and has been the seat of Carteret County since that time.

Street name reflect the early development of the Town: Ann Street for Queen Anne; Craven Street for the Earl of Craven; More Street for Colonel Maurice More of South Carolina who gave help in the Indian Wars; Queen Street is a second tribute to Queen Anne; Pollock is for the governor at the time of the survey; Turner Street for Robert Turner who owned the land that was surveyed and Orange Street for William, Prince of Orange, who became William III of England.

The Historic District of Beaufort is on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts more than a hundred historic homes, with plaques bearing names and dates of construction. Within the historic district is the Beaufort Historic Site.