Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

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Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk Airfield in June 1998
Kitty Hawk Airfield in June 1998
Official seal of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Motto(s): 
"First in Flight"
Location in Dare County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in Dare County and the state of North Carolina.
Coordinates: 36°4′37″N 75°42′17″W / 36.07694°N 75.70472°W / 36.07694; -75.70472Coordinates: 36°4′37″N 75°42′17″W / 36.07694°N 75.70472°W / 36.07694; -75.70472
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyDare
Incorporated1981[2]
Named forChickehauk[1]
Area
 • Total8.28 sq mi (21.44 km2)
 • Land8.11 sq mi (21.01 km2)
 • Water0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,272
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
3,571
 • Density440.16/sq mi (169.95/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27949
Area code(s)252
FIPS code37-36060[4]
GNIS feature ID1021059[5]
Websitetownofkittyhawk.org
Historical population
Census Pop.
19901,937
20002,99154.4%
20103,2729.4%
2019 (est.)3,571[6]9.1%
sources:[7]

Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, and is a part of what is known as North Carolina's Outer Banks.[8] The population was 3,272 at the 2010 Census.[9] It was established in the early 18th century as Chickahawk.

History[]

Kitty Hawk became world-famous after the Wright brothers made the first controlled powered airplane flights at Kill Devil Hills, four miles (6 km) south of the town, on December 17, 1903. After the four flights in their Wright Flyer, the brothers walked back to Kitty Hawk, where they sent a telegram from the Weather Bureau office to their father informing him of their success.[10] Kitty Hawk is usually credited as the site of the powered flights because it was the nearest named settlement at the time of the flight; the modern town of Kill Devil Hills did not exist until 50 years after the flights. The Wrights chose the area because its frequent winds and soft sandy surfaces were suitable for their glider experiments, which they conducted over a three-year period prior to making the powered flights.

A bridge connecting the mainland to the Outer Banks across Albemarle Sound was completed in 1931, prompting the paving of a road between the two existing bridges (the other in Manteo) and connecting the Outer Banks to the outside world by road for the first time.[11]

The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber AV-19 with an aircraft number of 93–1086, P-40D Kittyhawk fighter aircraft, the aircraft transport ship USS Kitty Hawk (AKV-1), and the Apollo 14 command module have been named for the town, which incorporated in 1981.[8]

The Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[12]

Geography[]

Kitty Hawk is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
36°06′N 75°42′W / 36.1°N 75.7°W / 36.1; -75.7 at an elevation of 7 feet (2 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a complete area of 8.23 square miles (21.3 km2). 8.18 square miles (21.2 km2) of it is land and 0.0476 square miles (0.123 km2) of it (0.579%) is water.[13]

Kitty Hawk is served by U.S. Route 158 and Highway 12, which parallel each other in the city. US 158 can be used to go west, while the barrier islands extend north and south.

Demographics[]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,991 people, 1,265 households, and 866 families residing in the town. The population density was 365.8 people per square mile (141.2/km2). There were 2,618 housing units at an average density of 320.1 per square mile (123.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.13% White, 0.64% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,265 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 23.8% of all tribes were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 girls, there were 103.7 boys. For every 100 girls age 18 and over, there were 97.6 boys.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $48,676. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,744 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,960. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of people under age 18 and 4.6% of people age 65 or over.

Politics[]

Federally, Kitty Hawk is part of North Carolina's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Grey Murphy.

Sister city[]

Climate[]

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation (Cfak). Cfak climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least eight months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Kitty Hawk, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). Kitty Hawk is prone to hurricane strikes, particularly during the Atlantic hurricane season which extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September. During the winter months, episodes of cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 10 °F (< -12 °C). The plant hardiness zone in Kitty Hawk is 8b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 16.6 °F (-8.9 °C).[14] The average seasonal (Dec–Mar) snowfall total is < 2 inches (< 5 cm), and the average annual peak in nor'easter activity is in February.

hideClimate data for Kitty Hawk, NC (1981-2010 Averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 50.2
(10.1)
51.9
(11.1)
57.3
(14.1)
65.5
(18.6)
73.0
(22.8)
80.4
(26.9)
84.3
(29.1)
83.0
(28.3)
78.3
(25.7)
70.3
(21.3)
62.3
(16.8)
54.0
(12.2)
67.6
(19.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 43.8
(6.6)
45.4
(7.4)
50.3
(10.2)
58.5
(14.7)
66.5
(19.2)
74.9
(23.8)
79.2
(26.2)
78.4
(25.8)
73.8
(23.2)
64.9
(18.3)
56.3
(13.5)
47.6
(8.7)
61.7
(16.5)
Average low °F (°C) 37.4
(3.0)
38.8
(3.8)
43.4
(6.3)
51.5
(10.8)
60.1
(15.6)
69.4
(20.8)
74.1
(23.4)
73.8
(23.2)
69.2
(20.7)
59.5
(15.3)
50.3
(10.2)
41.2
(5.1)
55.8
(13.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.23
(107)
3.50
(89)
3.86
(98)
3.41
(87)
3.73
(95)
4.29
(109)
4.97
(126)
5.94
(151)
5.26
(134)
3.79
(96)
3.68
(93)
3.71
(94)
50.37
(1,279)
Average relative humidity (%) 69.9 69.5 67.4 67.6 70.2 73.9 75.3 74.7 73.5 71.1 72.0 71.7 71.4
Average dew point °F (°C) 34.6
(1.4)
36.0
(2.2)
39.9
(4.4)
47.8
(8.8)
56.5
(13.6)
66.0
(18.9)
70.7
(21.5)
69.7
(20.9)
64.8
(18.2)
55.3
(12.9)
47.4
(8.6)
38.9
(3.8)
52.4
(11.3)
Source: PRISM[15]


hideClimate data for Duck, NC Ocean Water Temperature (8 N Kitty Hawk)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °F (°C) 45
(7)
44
(7)
46
(8)
59
(15)
67
(19)
74
(23)
71
(22)
74
(23)
75
(24)
69
(21)
59
(15)
52
(11)
61
(16)
Source: NOAA[16]

Ecology[]

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina would have a dominant vegetation type of Live oak/Sea Oats Uniola paniculata (90) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20).[17]

Education[]

Dare County Schools operates public schools serving the area. Kitty Hawk Elementary School is in the city.[18]

The zoned secondary schools are First Flight Middle School and First Flight High School.[19] Prior to 2004 First Flight High zoned students were zoned to Manteo High School.[20]

References[]

  1. ^ Ryan (February 5, 2016). "Outer Banks Town Names - Where did they come from?". Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "North Carolina Gazetteer". Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kitty Hawk". Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  10. ^ "Telegram from Orville Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to His Father Announcing Four Successful Flights, 1903 December 17". World Digital Library. 1903-12-17. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  11. ^ "Kitty Hawk, NC on the Outer Banks". Carolina Designs Realty. Carolina Designs Realty. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  13. ^ Census 2000 Gazetteer Files: Places Archived 2006-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2009-05-18.
  14. ^ "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  15. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  16. ^ "Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  17. ^ "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  18. ^ "Home". Kitty Hawk Elementary School. Retrieved 2021-04-12. 16 S. Dogwood Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
  19. ^ "Attendance Zone Information". Dare County Schools. Retrieved 2021-04-12. First Flight Middle School/First Flight High School -- All areas north of Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills Town Line - North Beaches Elementary Schools map
  20. ^ Freeman, Darren (18 August 2004). "NO LINES, NO CROWDS, JUST MORE SPACE". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2009-10-25. - Entry at NewsBank

External links[]

Preceded by
Southern Shores
Beaches of The Outer Banks Succeeded by
Kill Devil Hills
Retrieved from ""