Oriental
Oriental
was discovered and settled in 1870 by Louis and his wife,
Rebecca (Aunt Becky) Midyette. "Uncle Lou" had
earlier been moved by the beauty of the area when waiting
out a storm during a trip from New Bern, NC to Dare County.
He later moved his family and, accompanied by a few others,
named the town Smith Creek.
The town was later renamed for the Civil War ship Oriental
that was sunk in a storm off Cape Hatteras in 1862. Aunt
Becky was moved to commemorate the Oriental after she saw
the ship's name board hanging on the wall of a home she
was visiting in Manteo, NC.
Aunt Becky got her way; the name Oriental was approved,
the town was incorporated in 1899 and Uncle Lou, ever the
Founding Father, served as Oriental's first Postmaster.
The people of Oriental exude friendliness. Walk or drive
through the village and people 
actually
wave and smile. (Something's afoot here; many of those who
wave and smile are transplanted northeasterners and other
assorted "Yankees" from places with reputations
for toughness and unfriendliness). The atmosphere in the
village is quaint. Shrimp boats with their catch share the
harbor with boaters who are traveling the Intra Coastal
Waterway that passes just outside the breakwater.
Our residents include lifelong natives and retiree snow
birds. Homeowners may live year 'round or keep summer homes
here.
Oriental, North Carolina and surrounding Pamlico County
still offer a quality of life that's rapidly vanishing elsewhere.
Here you'll find a mild, seasonal climate in a wonderful
setting of rivers and creeks-- with a relaxed pace that's
easy to get used to. Talk to our average resident and you'll
typically find a person who came for a visit and ended up
staying a lifetime.
The
signature attraction of Oriental is its waterfront real
estate. Many of our homes on the shores of the six navigable
creeks and the Neuse River have their own boat docks. Several
subdivisions have their own marinas. Our creeks lead to
the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound, a world-class protected
sailing, fishing and water sports area just inside the Outer
Banks. We're known as "The Sailing Capital of North
Carolina." The village of Oriental has about 900 residents
and around 2,700 sailboats.
Oriental and Pamlico County are a Mecca for other outdoor
sports as well. Kayaking, cycling, sport fishing, hunting
and hiking are part of the lifestyle here.
Call or visit us and learn more about why Oriental is the
best kept secret in Coastal North Carolina!
