Hyde County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 5,826. Its county seat is Swan Quarter.

History
The county was formed December 3, 1705, as Wickham Precinct, one of three precincts within Bath County. The name "Wickham" was derived from the manor of "Temple Wycombe" in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, the family home of John Archdale, Governor of North and South Carolina from 1695 to 1696. In 1712 it was renamed Hyde Precinct, for Edward Hyde, Governor of North Carolina from 1711 to 1712. In 1739 Bath County was abolished, and Hyde Precinct became Hyde County.
Various boundary adjustments followed. In 1745 Lake Mattamuskeet and its adjoining territory were transferred from Currituck County to Hyde County. In 1819 the part of Hyde County west of the Pungo River was annexed to Beaufort County. In 1823 the part of Currituck County south of New Inlet was annexed to Hyde County. This area included the present day Hatteras Island. In 1845 Ocracoke Island was transferred from Carteret County to Hyde County. In 1870 Hyde County was reduced to its present dimensions, when its northeastern part was combined with parts of Currituck County and Tyrrell County to form Dare County. Since its creation, the boundaries of Hyde County have changed more than those of any other county in North Carolina.

Law and government
Hyde County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments.

Education
Hyde County is home to the smallest public school system in North Carolina. The Hyde County Board of Education comprises two schools. Mattamuskeet School serves the mainland and Ocracoke School serves Ocracoke Island. Both schools serve grades K-12.
Mattamuskeet School is home to WHYC FM Radio. WHYC is one of only two high school operated stations in North Carolina.
The only private school in Hyde County is a small Mennonite school located in the northwest section of the county. This school serves the county's Mennonite population.

Townships
The county is divided into five townships: Currituck, Fairfield, Lake Landing, Ocracoke, and Swan Quarter. A sixth township, Mattamuskeet, is now "unorganized territory" occupied by the federally controlled Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.

National protected areas

• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore (part)
• Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
• Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge

Cities and towns

• Engelhard
• Fairfield
• Scranton
• Ocracoke
• Swan Quarter