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!
