A little history .....

Elizabeth City, North Carolina was incorporated in 1793 as the town of "Redding" by the North Carolina General Assembly.  The City's name changed to "Elizabeth Town" in 1794, and subsequently became  "Elizabeth City" in 1801, also by acts of the General Assembly.  (See the General Assembly Session Laws from 1793, 1794 and 1801 on the right side of this page.) Our wonderful community has been named one of the “100 Best Small Towns in America” and is ranked by Money Magazine as "one of best places to live on the East Coast."

It is a special place, rich in history yet progressive and growing.  Situated in the far northeastern corner of North Carolina on the Pasquotank River and Intracoastal Waterway, the City lies just west of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and just south of Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Elizabeth City  was once a major seaport where four-masted sailing ships carried goods to and from the new world. Today, the City offers free 48-hour boat dockage to travelers from around the world.  The “Rose Buddies," the world-renowned waterfront ambassadors, greet visiting boaters with a rose, wine and cheese.

Downtown Elizabeth City welcomes residents and visitors alike with bookstores, coffeehouses and specialty retail shops all located in historic buildings. Restaurants offer everything from fine Southern cooking to Japanese sushi.

A walk along the shaded streets of the six historic districts stirs memories of a time when Blackbeard sailed the waters and Wilbur and Orville Wright stopped for provisions on their way to the Outer Banks.  

Elizabeth City boasts three institutions of higher learning - two colleges and a constituent  university of the University of North Carolina.  The City is also home to six major commands of the  U. S. Coast Guard and Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, northeastern North Carolina's regional medical center.   The Museum of the Albemarle, boasts a 50,000 square foot facility on the City's waterfront and serves to promote an understanding of history and material culture primarily of our Albemarle Region.

Our charming Southern town is truly “The Harbor of Hospitality!”  To plan your next visit, please visit VisitElizabethCity.com!