South of Ehringhaus Street, the brick storefronts of Downtown Elizabeth City fade into tree-lined streets and small, single-story homes. This marks entry into Hugh Cale, a neighborhood just inland from the Pasquotank River. A minor tributary, Charles Creek, carves through the neighborhood, bisecting the community into a northern and southern half — and putting both within immediate reach of the water. “Most of our historical connections are on the water,” says Rhonda Twiddy. An Elizabeth City native and the team lead of the Rhonda Twiddy Team, Twiddy claims that the water part of this area’s way of life. “We have waterfront homes here and, people come here from all over the nation just looking water,” she says. Residents of Hugh Cale can walk to the creek or the river to cast a line or launch a boat, and they can just as easily head into Elizabeth City’s growing Downtown for entertainment.
Small homes with classic, compact architecture
Hugh Cale’s streets are flat and gridded, with telephone wires and mature trees hanging overhead. Sidewalks are rare in the south side of the neighborhood but are more common to the north of Charles Creek, where tangles of weeds sprout up between the cracks in the concrete. Homes in Hugh Cale tend to be on the smaller side, with plenty of bungalows, cottages and ranch-style homes. A few two-story houses are scattered about and tend to have farmhouse or Craftsman flairs, featuring gable brackets, large front porches and classic striped awnings. A few outdated properties in need of repair list below $100,000, but most homes fall in the $100,00 to $200,000 range. A handful of recently renovated properties can push prices as high as $370,000. Most houses were built in the early 20th century, meaning attached garages are rare. Instead, folks park in small driveways, on the street, in carports and in some cases right in the yard.
Riverfront parks abound
Most of Elizabeth City’s parks lie along the Pasquotank River, within easy walking distance of neighborhood homes. Charles Creek Park is right across from the Museum of the Albemarle, which houses exhibits on the history and culture of the Albemarle region of North Carolina. The park is a scenic place to launch out on a boat or picnic under the pavilion, with a playground to keep the kids entertained and a boardwalk along the water to catch sight of the native flora and fauna. Directly adjacent to Charles Creek Park is Coast Guard Park, most notably occupied by the Elizabeth City Rowing Club as a waterfront training ground for their youth rowing teams. Following Charles Creek inland leads right into the heart of the neighborhood, where a boardwalk over the creek at Southern Avenue makes for a popular backyard fishing spot.
Walk to Downtown for a waterside meal
While Hugh Cale’s streets are almost entirely residential, shops and restaurants are within easy reach in Elizabeth City’s riverfront Downtown. “There are a lot of young teachers, young couples and young families that live in the area so that they can take advantage of all the things Downtown,” Twiddy says. “There’s a new restaurant right on the waterfront called Sagos on the River. They’re using their deck as a venue, bringing in bands and doing dancing.” The restaurant, along with other shops Downtown, is within a mile of even the farthest homes in the neighborhood. Quality Seafood Market is just outside of Hugh Cale and makes for a convenient lunch or a one-stop shop for seafood boil supplies. For other groceries, folks head to the Food Lion just south of Elizabeth City State University along Weeksville Road.
Close to public schools and a public university
Houses in Hugh Cale are zoned to Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools. J.C. Sawyer Elementary scores a C-minus from Niche, while River Road Middle earns a C. Northeastern High receives a B-minus and offers a range of career technical education classes, spanning the fields of engineering, finance, animal science and horticulture. Directly south of the neighborhood is Elizabeth City State University, a historically Black university and part of the University of North Carolina system. Elizabeth City residents take pride in the school, which enrolls roughly 2,500 undergraduate students annually and was first established in 1891. Today, folks in Hugh Cale can walk to Roebuck Stadium to watch the Vikings play Division II football.
The Coast Guard Marathon runs along the neighborhood streets
This quiet neighborhood is only a couple of miles from the second-largest Coast Guard base in the country. The Coast Guard Marathon, held annually in March, runs directly through the neighborhood along Herrington Road and draws crowds to cheer on the race. With Downtown so close by, other citywide events are also within easy reach. “The North Carolina Potato Festival is held right here, all throughout the Downtown area. That’s also where we do our fireworks every year for the Fourth of July off the waterfront,” Thorne says. In fact, many residents in Hugh Cale head to Charles Creek Park with picnic blankets and lawn chairs to watch the fireworks light up the sky above the river.
Equidistant from Norfolk or the Outer Banks
The nearest major city with an international airport is Norfolk, Virginia, roughly 50 miles to the north via U.S. Highway 17. The Outer Banks is also about 50 miles away, accessible from U.S. Highway 158 to the east. Both trips take approximately 50 minutes. Although Hugh Cale isn’t located along any major thoroughfares, this lends to its residential feel. The neighborhood is both walkable and bikeable, with central highways a short distance north of Downtown.
Water levels rise during storms
Hugh Cale isn’t located directly on the riverfront, mitigating some flood risks. However, the water level in Charles Creek can swell during storms. “The way North Carolina has barrier islands seems to protect us from some of the worst of the storms that come in,” Twiddy says. “If we've got a hurricane, it just sort of spins off. There's definitely wind from the water, but tidal flooding is very rare.”
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Incredible Value! $185,000 - Move-In Ready Renovated Home (SOLD AS-IS) Don't miss this chance to own a completely renovated 1164 sq ft home for under $200,000! New roof, siding, appliances, flooring, and fresh paint - it's move-in ready! Sold as-is. Schedule your showing and submit your offer now!
Whether you're looking for a turn-key short-term rental opportunity or the perfect starter home, this 2-bedroom, 1-bath beauty delivers. It also features a bonus flex space--ideal for a home office, playroom, or additional entertaining area.Enjoy a fully fenced-in backyard, perfect for pets, grilling, or just soaking in the Carolina sunshine. Located in a central, convenient area just minutes
This house will surprise you! Located right in the city near everything! It has rooms which could be bedrooms, offices or whatever your needs may be! Large open LR-DR-Kitchen with both wood and tile floors. Solid surface counters. An en-suire primary Bedroom and bath, plus a huge sunroom with a mini-split which not only heats and cools that room, but is also set up to flow through the entire
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Diana Brink,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
998
Median Age
42
Population under 18
23.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
26.7%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$27,573
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$41,933
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.8%
College Graduates
8.7%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.4%
% Population in Labor Force
48.6%
Below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
51/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
40/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
