Beaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort is a small town in Carteret County, North Carolina, and the county seat. Founded in 1709 and incorporated in 1723, it is one of the oldest towns in the state. The 2020 census counted about 4,464 residents.
Beaufort sits near the coast, by Beaufort Inlet, with the Newport River to the west and Lenoxville to the east. U.S. Route 70 runs through town, linking it to Morehead City and Atlantic. The climate is humid subtropical, with long, hot summers and short, mild winters.
What to see and do: The town is home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, the Duke University Marine Laboratory, and the NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research. The Rachel Carson Reserve is nearby. The Beaufort Historic District and several historic houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, ran aground near Beaufort Inlet in 1718.
Historically, Beaufort exported tar, pitch, turpentine, wood crafts, and corn to the West Indies.
Government and services: Beaufort uses a council-manager government with a mayor and five council members. Mayors serve two-year terms; council members serve four-year terms. The town is served by Carteret County Public Schools and the county library system.
Sister cities: The city has 19 sister cities.
Pronunciation note: Beaufort is sometimes pronounced differently from the South Carolina city of the same name.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:44 (CET).