Active Retirement Communities

State:    North Carolina--Coastal

City:      Oriental

Oriental is a town in Pamlico County, North Carolina, USA. The population was 875 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. Oriental is the largest city in the county, and home to most of its motels, bed-and-breakfasts, restaurants, marinas, boat brokerages, the newspaper, several sport fishing charters, and the county's cultural center.

Land records date grants from the King of England to colonial farmers and many residents can trace their family's genealogy to these times. The area was the haunt of pirates in the early days of European dominance. The famous pirate Edward Teach or Blackbeard made his home in Bath to the North of Oriental. The Midgettes (also Midyettes) and other old families that still have descendants in the town came much later, in the late 1800s.

From the early 1900s Oriental's economy was supported by lumber, fishing and farming. Train service stopped in the 1950s. The last sawmill closed just about the time that sailors began to discover the village - in the early 1960s. Just 4 sailboats called Oriental home in 1960 - today the number has grown to more than 2,000. Oriental is now known as the "Sailing Capital Of North Carolina". Tourism, real estate, agriculture and marine related businesses lead the local economy. The town is the site of several new condominiums and other developments. Oriental is home to several new upscale real estate developments, including River Dunes (home to the 2007 Coastal Living Idea House) and Whittaker Harbor. A portion of its homes are unoccupied during the week, belonging to second-home owners from Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte or other urban areas of North Carolina.

Fishing trawlers still grace the small harbor, bringing in a catch of shrimp, crab or perhaps flounder depending on the season. Many boats based in Oriental fish as far south as Florida.

Two local festivals attract visitors from far and wide:the Spirit of Christmas, always held in early December. The Spirit of Christmas consists of local businesses holding open houses with hot cider and treats, while the local churches hold Nativity plays and host Christmas music concerts. There is also a boat parade in the harbor, where locals decorate their yachts with Christmas lights; the Croaker Festival, an arts and vendor event (benefiting the county's nonprofits), is the second large town festival and culminates in a fireworks display held during the first weekend each July. In addition, the Oriental Rotary Club sponsors an annual catch-and-release tarpon fishing tournament the last weekend in July (2008 was the 16th year) and, on New Year's Eve, the Oriental dragon makes a run through town twice (at 8 p.m. for the young 'uns, and at midnight for the adults). The Oriental Cup Regatta is held the last Saturday in June, and there are boat races most Saturdays from May through September, and very informal ones most Wednesdays, too. Oriental hosts a Celebration of the Arts festival in mid-September, and has other art festivals throughout the year. The Town sponsors free evening concerts once each summer month which have been well attending by county residents and visitors from neighboring Craven and Carteret counties.

Income & Housing Costs Numbers:

Estimated median household income in 2008: $47,162 (it was $37,794 in 2000)

Oriental:	$47,162
North Carolina:	$46,549

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $33,277

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $285,476 (it was $168,800 in 2000)

Oriental:	$285,476
North Carolina:	$154,500

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $330,698; Detached houses: $328,814; Townhouses or other attached units: $234,019; In 2-unit structures: $309,271; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $539,971; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $424,457; Mobile homes: $61,944

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Oriental: 93.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

In-Depth Facts and Figures as listed below, plus other information:

·        Climate Charts

1.      Average Temperature

2.      Precipitation (Rain)

3.      Humidity

4.      Wind Speed (MPH)

5.      Snowfall

6.      Sunshine

7.      Cloudy Days

·        Tornado Activity History

·        Hospitals & Medical

·        Airports

·        Colleges/Universities

·        High Schools

·        Locations of Interest

·        Shopping Centers

·        Churches

·        Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Creeks/Parks

·        Tourist Attractions

·        Banks

·        Housing Costs Information

·        Crime Statistics

·        Radio Stations AM/FM

·        TV Broadcast Stations

·        Discussion Forums

For the above information and photos, click this link:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Oriental-North-Carolina.html

Total Tax Burden--Data for Calculation

http://www.city-data.com/city/Rlstate3.htm#NORTH%20CAROLINE

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http://www.retirenet.com/location/communities/131-north-carolina/1-active-lifestyles?city=28571-oriental

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