CARTERET COUNTY

Carteret County is home to many of North Carolina's most popular and prosperous coastal communities and beaches, among them Morehead City (location of an official North Carolina state port), Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Atlantic Beach, Cedar Point, Newport, and Harkers Island. Beaufort, Carteret’s county seat, is the third oldest town in North Carolina.  It was first known appropriately as Fishtowne because the fishing industry was and has been an important part of the county’s history. Our county also raises and harvests agricultural products such as corn, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, hay, potatoes, cotton, vegetables, poultry, many different types of seafood, and beef cattle.

Carteret County boasts some of the most beautiful beaches, commercial and sport fishing destinations in North Carolina. Our county also has much to offer visitors, including a diverse array of small and large family farms, breweries, wineries, restaurants, roadside stands, and farmers’ markets, many of which source local ingredients. 

With almost 70,000 full-time residents and over half a million vacationers annually, our county enjoys many potential consumers on the Crystal Coast looking for a resource to help connect them with farms, food-based destinations, and local agritourism businesses. With a rich agricultural heritage and a focus on building on the successes of other regions, our farmers, commercial anglers, and food-based destinations are excited to be a part of the new technology-based program, Visit NC Farms.