Situated in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City lies just west of the Outer Banks and just south of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Our quaint town sits where the Pasquotank River narrows open and the river widens out to the Albemarle Sound. Although the City was founded in 1793, it did not take on economic importance until the Dismal Swamp Canal was completed in 1805. The Canal, commissioned by George Washington, linked the waterways of northeastern North Carolina with the port of Norfolk, allowing area planters and lumber companies a safe and quick method of transporting their goods to market.
Today, the Canal is a means of transportation for thousands of pleasure boaters on the Intracoastal Waterway, and Elizabeth City has become a favorite stop. The canal is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Elizabeth City has been named one of the “100 Best Small Towns in America” by author Norm Crampton. The June 2004 edition of Money Magazine also named Elizabeth City "one of best places to live on the East Coast." We have also had many mentions and articles in "Our State Magazine."
Downtown Elizabeth City welcomes residents and visitors with bookstores, antique shops, coffeehouses, wine and gourmet food shops, and specialty retail shops all located in historic buildings. Restaurants offer everything from fresh local seafood and fine Southern cuisine to Japanese sushi. A walk along the shaded brick-lined streets of our six historic districts stirs memories of a time when Blackbeard sailed local waters and Wilbur and Orville Wright stopped for provisions on their way to the Outer Banks.
Elizabeth City offers three institutions of higher learning - two colleges and a constituent university of the University of North Carolina. The City is also home to three major commands of the U. S. Coast Guard and Albemarle Hospital, northeastern North Carolina's regional medical center. The Museum of the Albemarle, one of three branch museums of the N. C. Museum of History, opened its new 50,000sf facility on the city's waterfront on May 1st, 2006. Also new to the downtown district is Port Discovery, a hands-on learning experience for young and old alike.
Our charming Southern town is truly “The Harbor of Hospitality!”
Welcome to our home. Please enjoy your stay!
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