Swan Quarter

Economic need

Swan Quarter, the unincorporated seat of Hyde County, has a rich history as a port and fishing village, but its fortunes have dwindled along with the fishing industry and surrounding farms. Nature has inflicted serious injury, too, first with Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and then with Isabelle in 2004. Isabelle damaged the courthouse beyond repair, forcing the county to scatter its workforce across several locations. The decline of daily government-related traffic has resulted in more than 15 business closures in the past three years.

With a population of 1,230, Swan Quarter has a poverty rate of 15 percent. Hyde, a tier 1 county, has only 5,800 people all totaled and an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent.

History

There are bright spots on the town's horizons. The state opened a new prison, Hyde Correctional Center, that's providing employment, and an egg-laying operation opened a few miles away. Equally important, the county will be building a new courthouse. The new courthouse will be elevated, with parking underneath, to prevent damage in any future floods. Elsewhere in town, many homes were raised as part of a flood mitigation program and a new sewer systemis helping clean the waters that are so important to the town.

Vision/Goals/Expectations

Swan Quarter sees its future as well as its past in the seafood and tourist industries. Through STEP, it will develop plans to make the town a hospitable and attractive destination for tourists and to stimulate private development with public facilities. It expects the new courthouse to increase local business by 50 percent, and a waterfront park will provide recreation for visitors and residents alike.

Contact

Connie Burleson
P.O. Box 188
Swan Quarter, NC 27884
Phone: 252-926-4178
Fax: 252-926-3701
E-mail: hydeco@beachlink.com