Morehead City, Carteret County, North Carolina, USA
Municipality
Location overview
Morehead City is a port town on Bogue Sound in Carteret County, facing barrier islands along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Its waterfront lies between the Newport River and Beaufort Inlet, providing access to the Atlantic Ocean and nearby beaches. The town was planned in the 1850s as a railroad terminus and deepwater port and was incorporated in 1861. Morehead City had about 10,000 residents in 2024. Port activity, fishing, tourism, marine research, health care and waterfront commerce shape its year-round economy.