| Official Name: | Arapahoe, North Carolina |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 28510 |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pamlico |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Ken Heath |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | Circa 1714 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1921 |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.62 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.62 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.17 |
| Coordinates: | 35.0214°N -76.8258°W |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 416 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.17 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Elevation Ft: | 43 |
| Area Code: | 252 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 37-01640[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2405159 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 191.62 |
| Population Density Km2: | 73.98 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
Arapahoe [3] is a town in Pamlico County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 556. Arapahoe shares many of its roles and duties with Minnesott Beach, North Carolina. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Arapahoe was founded a few years after New Bern, North Carolina by settlers leaving the New Bern colony. This area was settled in 1703 on the old Indian trail from the big bend in the river heading west to Core Point. The community was called “Bethany Crossroads”. That Indian trail is still in use today but is now called North Carolina Highway 306. In 1886 Bob Hardison, after discussing it with his friend Bob Bowden decided to apply to the U.S. Postal Department for a Post office to be located at “Bethany Crossroads” in Pamlico County. They filled out an application and both signed it. When it was returned to them it was addressed to “Bob’s Town”, the reason being that there was already a “Bethany Crossroads” in the vicinity of Fayetteville. Neither of the Bobs liked “Bob’s Town” so they had to come up with a different name. After a lengthy discussion Bob Hardison said “Well if you have no objection, we will name it after my old white horse, Arapahoe.” So it was decided and a new application filed. It was likely a year or longer before all paperwork was completed, but “Bethany Crossroads” was no more and there by named the Town of Arapahoe. Arapahoe is a Native American tribe whose historic territory spanned regions of present-day Wyoming and Colorado.
Arapahoe government is headed by the mayor of the town. Along with the mayor, there are several town commissioners, a planning board, and a volunteer fire department. The mayor and commissioners are elected to two year terms. The town hall is a small building located along the main street in Arapahoe, NC Highway 306.
Public Education
Arapahoe has education opportunities available for children grades Kindergarten through High School. Arapahoe Charter School was opened in 1997 to replace Arapahoe Elementary School. There are currently 560 students enrolled, with 40 teachers available. Arapahoe Charter School has a student:teacher ratio of 14:1.
Arapahoe Charter School is currently a K-12 school housed in a new $9 million facility opening for the 2018-19 school year.
Arapahoe is also home to the Don Lee Center,[4] a Methodist founded center for camping and recreation as well as for renowned public environmental education.
Higher Education
For Higher Education, Pamlico Community College (PCC) allows for associate degrees in many areas. From PCC, one can transfer to East Carolina University to complete a bachelors and graduates degree. PCC is located only minutes from Arapahoe along NC Highway 306.
The Pamlico News (http://www.thepamliconews.com)Pamlico Ink: The Newspaper of the Pamlico Sound
Arapahoe is the home of several small businesses. The largest industry in Arapahoe is agriculture. Other businesses include seafood management, home improvement, florist, food service, and other service industries. Another industry that appears to be growing in the Arapahoe area is bio-diesel production.
Another large business located in the Arapahoe area is summer camps. Within the Arapahoe area, there are four camps: Camp Sea Gull for boys (YMCA affiliated), Camp Seafarer for girls (YMCA affiliated), Camp Don Lee (Methodist), and Camp Caroline. Most of these camps have their largest programs in the summer months, but also hold other events throughout the year. For example, Camp Seafarer and Camp Seagull offer a Spring Break camp, Mother-Daughter weekends, and Father-Son weekends among others.[5]
Opportunities for businesses in Arapahoe are plentiful. Business not currently available include the hotel industry, entertainment services, gas stations/convenience stores, and several others. As stated in an article from New Bern's Sun Journal, the hotel business opportunities lost from Arapahoe (and subsequently relished by New Bern) can be equated to millions of dollars during the camp season due to the high proportion of camp families, events, and visitors to the recreational opportunities.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2sqmi, all land.
Arapahoe is located near the mouth of the Neuse River at Pamlico Sound. From Arapahoe (and through Minnesott Beach), the North Carolina Ferry System has a 20-minute ferry ride from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch. This ferry ride leads to Havelock, Atlantic Beach, Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, and Beaufort.
The major means for transportation in Arapahoe is by car. There are currently no taxi service, mass transportation, or airline service within the Araphoe geographic district. The closest airport to Arapahoe is Craven Regional Airport, serviced by American Airlines with eight times daily service to Charlotte. Delta Connection has service to Atlanta with twice daily service (three times daily summer service). Ferry service is also available from the North Carolina Ferry System with service from Minnesott Beach to Cherry Branch / Havelock every 20 minutes.
As of the census of 2000, there were 436 people, 188 households, and 128 families residing in the town. The population density was 199.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 214 housing units at an average density of 97.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 89.91% White, 6.19% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 2.52% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.50% of the population.
There were 188 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,073. About 7.6% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over. Arapahoe currently has a tax rate of $0.05/$100.
New Developments in Arapahoe include the following: