Beaufort is the Carteret county seat.  Founded in 1709, it is a historic seaport that has hosted the likes of Black Beard himself...  Since the 1960's the Beaufort Historic District Association has helped to preserve the area's charm and older structures in the historic district. 

Morehead City is the area's largest town and serves as a North Carolina commercial shipping port and has a popular boardwalk area for sports fishing and sightseeing charters. 

Atlantic Beach was first developed as a beach resort in 1880 to offer Morehead City visitors an ocean side excursion and bathing pavilion.  Once the bridge connecting Morehead City and Atlantic Beach was built in 1928, the entire area now known as the "Circle" grew in popularity...

Pine Knolls Shores, all 2 square miles of it, is located in the middle of the barrier island facing both the Bogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.  Its roots date back to the early 1900's when prominent residents recognized that by uniting in management they could protect the area from future commercial development this foresight carried them into the 1970's when they were finally officially recognized as a township.

Indian Beach has been a resort and residential township since 1973 and almost blends into the unincorporated community of Salter Path.

Emerald Isle - It wasn't until the 1950's that developers flew over the western most 13 miles of Bogue Banks and realized the potential of the rich, verdant spit of land.  Now, a high-rise bridge connects the western most tip of the barrier island and offers convenient access for those traveling to and from the mainland.