Dare County, North Carolina

Dare County
County
Dare County Administration Building
Dare County Administration Building
Flag of Dare County
Flag
Official seal of Dare County
Seal
Nickname: 
Land of Beginnings
Motto(s): 
"Caring for our Community: A Nurturing Place Where We All Can Live and Grow."
Map of North Carolina highlighting Dare County
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting North Carolina
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°37′N 75°46′W / 35.61°N 75.77°W / 35.61; -75.77
Country United States
State North Carolina
Founded1870
Named forVirginia Dare
SeatManteo
Largest municipalityKill Devil Hills
Area
 • Total
1,541.74 sq mi (3,993.1 km2)
 • Land383.23 sq mi (992.6 km2)
 • Water1,158.51 sq mi (3,000.5 km2)  75.14%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
36,915
 • Estimate 
(2023)
38,110
 • Density96.33/sq mi (37.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.darenc.com

Dare County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,915.[1] Its county seat is Manteo.[2]

Dare County is included in the Kill Devil Hills, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.[3]

Because it includes much of Pamlico Sound, Dare County is the largest county in North Carolina by total area, although if considering land area only, it drops down to 68th in size among the state's 100 counties.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2020CensusQuickFacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "North Carolina Land Area County Rank". www.usa.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.