INTRODUCTION 



Gates County, North Carolina is located in the northeastern region 

 of the state, adjacent to the Virginia state line. The Chowan River forms 

 its western and southern borders, while the eastern boundary runs 

 approximately down the center of Dismal Swamp. Most income of this rural 

 county comes directly from the land, with the majority of the population 

 of about 8,000 employed in agriculture, logging or related occupations. 

 Principal agricultural products are soybeans, corn, peanuts and hogs, the 

 latter becoming a major source of income subsequent to development of 

 numerous small hog farming operations in the past 20 years. 



The principal forest products are pulpwood and sawtimber, primarily 

 derived from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) . Most farms have some portion 

 in woodlands, which produce a crop of pine that is currently being 

 harvested at about 35 to 75 years of age. Several timber companies have 

 large tracts of woodlands in the county, chief of these being Union Camp 

 Corporation. The company has extensive holdings in the western third of 

 the county, most of which are intensively managed as loblolly pine 

 plantations. These woodlands supply pulpwood to the paper mill at 

 Franklin, Virginia. 



The county has been isolated historically from major arteries of 

 trade, and consequently has experienced little industrialization or 

 urbanization. The population has changed little since the first US 

 census in 1790, suggesting that it is in balance with the natural 

 resources the land has to offer. 



Few in the county would lament this condition. The quality of life 

 is high in terms of clean air, access to outdoor recreation, such as 

 fishing, boating and hunting, unspoiled natural beauty and open space. 

 A major shopping area is 35-40 minutes away in Elizabeth City, and 

 cultural events are available in Norfolk, little more than an hour's 

 drive. While per capita income is lower than some other areas of the 

 state, relative isolation has meant that the county has escaped the 

 pollution, crime, overpopulation and high taxes of more urbanized, 

 industrialized areas. The pace of life appears to be much more relaxed 

 than in the cities. 



GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY 



Gates County spans three terraces in the Embayed Section of the 

 Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain. Its flat to gently rolling 

 topography has largely been determined by marine and fluvial events 

 within the past 80,000 years (Fig. 1). No detailed geologic survey of 

 the county has been done. The geologic information presented here, and 

 in the following individual sections on each of the natural areas 



