Creswell, North Carolina

The town is located in the North Carolina Inner Banks on the north-central portion of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, and along the western edge of the southern portions of the Scuppernong River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all land.

A scenic view of Lake Phelps at nearby Pettigrew State Park

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 278 people, 118 households, and 86 families residing in the town. The population density was 666.0 inhabitants per square mile (257.1/km²). There were 141 housing units at an average density of 337.8 per square mile (130.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.00% White, 39.93% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 1.80% Pacific Islander, 4.68% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.83% of the population.

There were 118 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 19.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,833, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $16,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,769. About 18.3% of families and 26.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.3% of those 65 or over.

Creswell was incorporated in 1874, and named for John Angel James Creswell,[5] the United States Postmaster General at that time. The structures in downtown Creswell are some of North Carolina's best remaining examples of downtown architecture from the late 19th century.

The Belgrade and St. David's Church, Creswell Historic District, Davenport House, and Somerset Place State Historic Site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

• Gravesite of J. Johnston Pettigrew - famous Civil War general who lived in the area
• Somerset Place - former plantation home that now operates as a state historic site
• Pettigrew State Park
• Lake Phelps
• Albemarle Sound
• Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
• Davenport Homestead

The town symbol, an artesian well hand-pump, can be found on Main Street in heart of downtown.

• Ebenezer Pettigrew - US House of Representatives to the 24th Congress
• Elmo Langley - race car driver and owner, NASCAR pace car driver
• J. Johnston Pettigrew - Confederate general, author and representative to the South Carolina legislature

• Creswell Elementary School
• Creswell High School
• Pocosin Innovative Charter