The historic 1767 Chowan County Courthouse will provide the setting for an upcoming naturalization ceremony.
Approximately 20 people will become citizens Friday, Feb. 17, during a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at the courthouse conducted by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina. The program starts at 11 a.m. and is open to the public. The Chowan County Courthouse is located at 117 E. King St. in Edenton.
Congress passed the first naturalization act on March 26, 1790. Since then, immigrants have provided enthusiasm and ingenuity to the nation. Today, 14% of the nation’s residents are foreign-born, over half of whom are naturalized U.S. citizens. More than 224,000 persons were naturalized in 2022, a 12% increase from 2021, when almost 200,000 persons were naturalized.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.