Abstract:
Carteret County is the subject of this month's North Carolina magazine community profile. The county provides visitors with miles of beaches; historical sites, including Beaufort, the state's third-oldest town, and Fort Macon, a Civil War site; environmental attractions, including the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores; and water adventures, including diving, kayaking, and sailing. The county boasts a number of art galleries, fine restaurants, and shops. Tourism is a big driver of the economy as well as residential and commercial development that is fueled by high-end retirees and second-homeowners. Located just north of Beaufort, Open Grounds Farm, at 45,000 acres, is the largest farm east of the Mississippi River.