888.258.4832
252.335.4365
FAX 252.335.5732

www.discoverec.org
ecacctourism@datalink.com

Situated at the narrows of the Pasquotank River, Elizabeth City has been the leading town in the Albemarle area since the 1820s. Even though the Albemarle claims the earliest settlement in North Carolina--dating from the mid seventeenth century--Elizabeth City is not a particularly old town, having been incorporated in 1793. Its history as a town dates from the early republic years when North Carolina was growing in its statehood. The town experienced exponential growth around 1805 with the completion of the Dismal Swamp Canal, which connected the waters of the Albemarle Sound with the bustling deep-water port of Norfolk, Virginia.

Today, the town is the economic center and northern gateway of the Historic Albemarle Region. Its beautifully renovated waterfront hosts thousands of boats navigating the Intercoastal Waterway every year. The town is distinguished as well bi six historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum of the Albemarle houses an extensive collection of exhibits and artifacts interpreting the history of the Albemarle Region. The Great Dismal Swamp, once a haven for runaway slaves and Civil War deserters and one of the most ecological significant sites on the state, borders Elizabeth City to the north.

The United States Coast Guard operates training and rescue facility here that has been the focus of many daring rescues by sea and by air. Rescue teams from the station have been featured in the national spotlight on many occasions, including several daring rescues during the famous "Perfect Storm" of 1991.

Elizabeth City has been selected as one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America several times.

Nearest Major Town/City: Norfolk, VA (Approximately 40 miles north)

For Visitor Information:

Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 426
502 E. Eringhaus Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
252.335.4365
www.elizabethcitychamber.org
ecacc@datalink.com