TYRRELL COUNTY

Tyrrell was formed in 1729 from Chowan, Currituck and Pasquotank. It was named in honor of Sir John Tyrrell, who at one time was one of the Lords Proprietors. It is in the eastern section of the State and is bounded by Dare, Hyde and Washington counties and the Albemarle Sound. The present land area is 389.91 square miles. The population from the 2010 Census was 4,407. Of that population, 2,403 were white, 1,683 were black or African American, 17 were American Indian, 80 were Asian, 1 was Pacific Islander and 161 were of a different race. Another 62 were reported to be of two or more races and 240 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

It is quite evident that a courthouse was not built until some time between 1740 to 1751. Prior to this date courts were held in private homes, but generally at the home of William Frayley, (also spelled Frailes, Frylies or Fryleys). In 1751, court was held at the courthouse on Kindrick's Creek. Between 1774 and 1776, court was held at the home of Benjamin Spruill. Between 1777 and 1800 court was held at the courthouse on Scuppernong River. In 1799, commissioners were named to erect the public buildings in Elizabeth Town. On July 28, 1800, the first court was held in Elizabeth Town. In 1801, Elizabeth Town was changed to Columbia, which was recorded as the county seat in 1802. Columbia is the county seat.

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Tyrrell County is in the Pasquotank River Basin and a part of the Coastal Plain region of the state.

References:

"American Factfinder." 2011. U. S. Census Bureau. Online at http://factfinder2.census.gov/. Accessed 3/3/2011.

Corbitt, David L. 2000. The Formation of the North Carolina Counties, 1663-1943. Sixth printing. Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History.

Powell, William Stevens, and Michael R. Hill. 2010. The North Carolina gazetteer: a dictionary of Tar Heel places and their history. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Additional resources:

North Carolina Digital Collections

NC LIVE resources

NC Natural Heritage Program database

WorldCat (Searches numerous library catalogs)