North Carolina Highway 33
Encyclopedia
NC 33 is a moderately lengthy state highway
in the U.S. state
of North Carolina
. Spanning a distance of 107 miles (172 km), the east–west route passes through many small towns and communities in Eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks
. It bypasses a large portion of the cities of Greenville
and Rocky Mount
, and goes through central Tarboro
.
. Both routes terminate in the community of Hobucken on Goose Creek Island, near Mesic.
From the terminus, NC 33 travels west, along with NC 304 southbound across the Intracoastal Waterway (Goose Creek), entering the Goose Creek Game Land. After crossing the bridge, the two state highways split. NC 33 continues in a northwesterly direction across the Gum Swamp out of Pamlico County and into Beaufort County. Veering due west, the route enters the town of Aurora where it joins NC 306
for a three-mile (5 km) concurrency. West of Aurora, the routes split; NC 33 darts northwest again on a route that parallels the Pamlico River
. Entering the town of Chocowinity, NC 33 crosses US 17 (which northbound, crosses the Pamlico River into Washington) on its way into Pitt County.
into the heart of Tarboro. Heading northeast, the state highway exits Tarboro and meets a junction with NC 97 in Leggett.
, bypassing it, and turning west to meet US 301 in Whitakers after crossing the Nash County line. After a short concurrency with US 301 southbound in the small town, NC 33 heads west for its final stretch, crossing Interstate 95
(exit 150) before ending at North Carolina Highway 4/48. The terminus is located north of Dortches
and Rocky Mount
, southwest of Enfield
, and northeast of Red Oak
.
NC 33 was first created in 1929 or 1930 as a spur of parent route NC 30 that ran from Chocowinity to Aurora. It was extended between 1936 and 1938 through Washington as an alternative routing to NC 11. Around 1948-1953, the route's eastern terminus was moved to its current location at Hobucken. Throughout the 1970s, NC 33 was moved in the Washington area and extended through Greenville, taking the place of the old US 264 and NC 30 alignments in the area. In 1994, the final extension occurred during the Tarboro renumbering; the new alignment passed through Tarboro and then picked up the former NC 44' s routing through Whitakers to end at NC 4/48.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Spanning a distance of 107 miles (172 km), the east–west route passes through many small towns and communities in Eastern North Carolina's Inner Banks
Inner Banks
The Inner Banks is a term used by some to describe the inland coastal region of eastern North Carolina, an area on the East Coast of the United States that is 22,227 square-miles by its broadest definition...
. It bypasses a large portion of the cities of Greenville
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
and Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of...
, and goes through central Tarboro
Tarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a city located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the town had a total population of 13,121. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
.
Pamlico area
The route's eastern terminus is at the same location as North Carolina Highway 304's northern terminus in rural Pamlico County, North CarolinaPamlico County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,934 people, 5,178 households, and 3,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 6,781 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
. Both routes terminate in the community of Hobucken on Goose Creek Island, near Mesic.
From the terminus, NC 33 travels west, along with NC 304 southbound across the Intracoastal Waterway (Goose Creek), entering the Goose Creek Game Land. After crossing the bridge, the two state highways split. NC 33 continues in a northwesterly direction across the Gum Swamp out of Pamlico County and into Beaufort County. Veering due west, the route enters the town of Aurora where it joins NC 306
North Carolina Highway 306
North Carolina Highway 306 is a state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina that runs north–south in the eastern part of the state.-Route description:...
for a three-mile (5 km) concurrency. West of Aurora, the routes split; NC 33 darts northwest again on a route that parallels the Pamlico River
Pamlico River
The Pamlico River is a tidal river that flows into Pamlico Sound, in North Carolina in the United States of America. It is formed by the confluence of the Tar River and Tranters Creek....
. Entering the town of Chocowinity, NC 33 crosses US 17 (which northbound, crosses the Pamlico River into Washington) on its way into Pitt County.
Greenville area
In Pitt County, the route passes through Grimesland before darting west, just passing by the town of Simpson, on its way into Greenville. In the city, the route bears right onto Greenville Boulevard (US 264A), heading north to meet mainline US 264, which bypasses the city to the north. At the junction, NC 33 turns west to head through northern Greenville, sharing a short 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) concurrency with US 13/NC 11/903 before meeting the US 264 freeway (Greenville Bypass) again west of the city.Tarboro area
Continuing northwest out of the Greenville area, NC 33 passes by the eastern terminus of NC 222 and enters Edgecombe County, where the route meets the US 64 south of Princeville. Entering the Princeville area, NC 33 joins US 64A for a short segment, crosses US 258/NC 111/122, and passes over the Tar RiverTar River
The Tar River is a river that is approximately long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. The Tar River becomes the tidal Pamlico River once it underpasses the U.S...
into the heart of Tarboro. Heading northeast, the state highway exits Tarboro and meets a junction with NC 97 in Leggett.
Rocky Mount area
Moving into northern Edgecombe County, the route orbits around the city of Rocky MountRocky Mount, North Carolina
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of...
, bypassing it, and turning west to meet US 301 in Whitakers after crossing the Nash County line. After a short concurrency with US 301 southbound in the small town, NC 33 heads west for its final stretch, crossing Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in North Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In North Carolina, I-95 runs diagonally across the eastern third of the state, from Rowland in the southwest to Roanoke Rapids in the northeast of the Inner Banks.-Route...
(exit 150) before ending at North Carolina Highway 4/48. The terminus is located north of Dortches
Dortches, North Carolina
Dortches is a town in Nash County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 871 in 2008.-Geography:Dortches is located at ....
and Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Rocky Mount is an All-America City Award-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of...
, southwest of Enfield
Enfield, North Carolina
Enfield is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina founded in 1740 and it is a predominantly African American town. The population was 2,347 at the 2000 census.Enfield is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and northeast of Red Oak
Red Oak, North Carolina
Red Oak is a town in Nash County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,923 in 2008.-Geography:Red Oak is located at ....
.
History