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As some have correctly pointed out, there is a limited number of shopping and activities in Edenton. Also, having originated from a neighboring county, I can attest to the provincialism towards outsiders, even those who only live in the next town! There is a movie theater and a few small shops downtown, along with Waterman's Grill, a cute (but expensive) local restaurant. Probably the most interesting thing to do in Edenton is walk down the small, charming streets to look at historic homes and antique stores.
There are also nice waterfront views, but, as someone else said, there aren't many water-related activities to do there. The sound is indeed polluted with sediments and other wastes, so much so that it looks brown. Nonetheless, if you drive over the sound bridge, you will observe people boating. Several years ago, it used to be a real estate hot spot for buying waterfront property. Owning property there was somewhat of a status symbol, and the popular kids would go to their recreational homes to swim. That doesn't happen so much anymore.
Overall, Edenton is rather sedate and, in some ways, economically stagnant. There are some definite eye sores, especially the area surrounding the Colony Tire service center. Still, it might not be a bad place for someone to retire, depending on what is important to you. Edenton is conveniently located to some basic stores, like a Winn Dixie, and to a decent hospital if you should ever need it.
To get more information, I'd reccomend that you visit again and talk to some natives. Perhaps visit the local library to get a sense of the town, and go get a police report for your potential neighborhood. Do not expect to get the truth from some real estate agents; they are there to sell you property. Obviously they will only want to paint a glowing picture of the area. If you balance these rose-colored views with some realistic stats, you will have a clearer picture of the area.
My husband and I know lovely people in the Edenton-Perquimans area and, if there were jobs in our field (unfortunately we're in the same field, and it's fairly specialized) in the area that paid enough for us to put our daughter in a decent school, we would be all over moving there. Yes, the locals are clannish--but you will find that in most coastal NC towns (the friendliest one I've known has been Washington, NC). The answer is--if you really want to live in Edenton: show that you want to be a part of things, join local organizations, treat the locals with respect and listen to them, keep your yard nice, tell them you love their cheese straws more than life itself, and you will do fine. They are good-hearted folks.
I know there is a rough part of town, and I wish I could say that it's gotten better. But with Peter Rascoe becoming more active in county government, it's possible he will be part of a positive change. But I'm personally dismayed that Acoustic Coffee closed and the new place has less vision. I was really excited when AC opened, because I saw it as the beginning of a real community hub...plus they offered live music and it was my fondest wish to play there someday. The brownies were also fabulous. I am bereft--please come back, Acoustic Coffee! Why did you leave?
In light of all the financial misdealings. I must say I have removed my rose colored glasses. Yes still have the great friends in Edenton, love the downtown theatre, coffee shop and Seans for lunch (affordable only at lunch) and oh yeah the fantastic gym in the old peanut mill. And now the pool at the local country club offers an affordable summer pool membership.
While I was busy making friends and enjoying small town life, turns out the clanish locals were robbing the county blind or at least making bad financial decisions. County hiring was based on who you know not what you know and their was no accountability (who is gonna question their cousin, uncle, brother, best friend from high school). Oh yeah and they were paying each other some of the highest salaries in the state government. Meanwhile back at the ranch 30m reserve county funds were used to pay operating expenses (so the local boys tell us). We have a new library 3.6m & new communications center 3.2m and not one penny paid for by the missing 30m.
Now as "outsiders" along with the "unconnected locals" are picking up the tab. Oh yeah the "edenton clan" are paying too.....but they can afford it!
I don't know what the crime numbers for Edenton are but we have a little story:
When my fiance and I were heading home from Raleigh we decided to stop in Edenton since it wasn't completely out of our way and we wanted to check out a small coastal town (Edenton seemed to fit). After being there for maybe 20 minutes we thought it was charming but way too small so we decided to head up to Virginia Beach. At this point we were a little lost and when we stopped for gas decided that we would ask for directions. The only other person around was a cop (silly us thought he would want to help, you know, call of duty and all). The cop kept asking us all these questions about why we were in town which we happily answered assuming that it was just small talk until............he asked us if we had stolen a vehicle that was reported stolen about 3 hours earlier!!! Uh, no, we just got here and we just need directions thank you very much. We were just completely thrown off by that.
Please some one out there in space must have a positive spin on this town. All I see is crime concerns and that outsiders are not welcome..that could be true anywhere in the South..agreeed? Hopefully a real estate agent who is on top of things will respond ...anyone out there know a good local Realtor? I am one but I am in Georgia...
Please some one out there in space must have a positive spin on this town. All I see is crime concerns and that outsiders are not welcome..that could be true anywhere in the South..agreeed? Hopefully a real estate agent who is on top of things will respond ...anyone out there know a good local Realtor? I am one but I am in Georgia...
Went back to Edenton last week, just stopping by on our way to another destination. Had always wanted to go back there after visiting there years ago, and thinking it was one of the prettiest little places I'd ever been! We had a delightful lunch at a place called "Nothing Fancy Cafe" which we just stumbled across and the people we encountered there were so friendly and the food was delicious. We liked the feel of the town so much that we are going back to visit for a few days in November! Hopefully, there will be some more info on this forum about it soon!
I've lived in Edenton for 2 years - it's true, small waterfront community and plenty of historic value. Property taxes are high, homeowner insurance is high, salaries are low, and there are no jobs. Shopping is done in Elizabeth City because what a family needs for the upkeep on a home and all the material goods for your children can only be substituted by neighboring towns. The "Commons", a planned 'big box' shopping center has been by the wayside for four years. And it's true also about the 30M "misappropriated funds". But, there's a way around that - property owners are picking up the cost. Before anyone moves here, do your research.
everyone is intitled to their own opinion....mine is that Edenton is a beautiful town, quite, and a nice place to live if you like the small town life. If you like shopping malls, fastfood on every street, resturant every where and traffic, then Edenton is not the place for you. It is a slow paced life in this town.
OK, I was there once, I have a friend who still lives there. Beautiful and laid back, on her side of town there is zero crime, you could leave your car keys in your car overnight and nobody is touching it; (in fact she did). But make no mistake, there are gangs there now. I'd be asking a preacher or church elder (or the sheriff) about the bad parts of town; I honestly don't know it well enough to quote blocks and exact neighborhoods.
Problem is jobs, and what few there are pay very little. If somehow Edenton could be closer to Wilmington or Raleigh, it would be a nice 'burb; but honestly, despite the history and river views and downtown niche shops and really old-fashioned lunch places that are quaint, the area is stagnant. In fact my friend was on her way to finding a job in Raleigh the last I heard.
Now on the other hand, if you want isolation like what NE Tennessee/NW NC used to have back in the day, it might be a good fit. Plus it's close enough via highways to the historic cities nearby that have great examples of the typical architecture pre-WW2 or which still sell antique furniture, etc., so in that sense it could be your base.
Oh, and for trivia: it was known for the Edenton Tea Party, where the prominent women in town boycotted British tea in 1774. They also still grow cotton there, albeit very reduced acreage, all machine-harvested of course.
Edenton is just another redneck ENC outlier with a little more "curb appeal" than the rest. There are those who would like to change that, and you can tell that by spending some time there, but by far they are the exception and not the rule.
It's Williamston, Plymouth, Windsor, etc with a little more charm. All the towns here have some historical value, the difference is whether or not anyone in the town knows how to keep it up and promote it.
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edenton has potential for greatness
