Chocowinity, an unusual name for a small town in Beaufort County, was originally
called Godley's Crossroads.  Chocowinity is interpreted to mean "Fish for many
waters" and is apparently Indian in origin.


The pattern of movement in the early history of Beaufort county found settlers
crossing the river in the Bath area and moving up the south side of the river.
A settlement developed at the present site, before the town of Washington was
laid out, with early names being: Winfield, Blount, Nelson, Bright (formerly 
O' Hagans) and others.

Trinity Church was built in 1773 for the Reverend Nathaniel Blount's parish and 
is still in use. Trinity School, under the leadership of Nicholas Collin Hughes,
provided the educational background for many students who went on to become the
leaders in their areas.  It closed at the time when many academies bowed to the
strength of public schools. 

Highway 17, with four lanes runs through the small town and joins highways 33 
and 264.  WITN-TV and Singer Furniture Factory are the major industries. Under 
the leadership of Mayor W. T. Barnes, who has served except for two years since 
the town was incorporated in 1959, a new fire department building has been 
erected, a new post office building and a water system installed.  A good high 
school serves the town and a large area surrounding it. 

According to the 1970 United States Census five hundred sixty-six people were
residents of Chocowinity, the land of many fish, which stands at the crossroads 
in Beaufort Count U.F.L.

The CHOCOWINITY BAPTIST CHURCH was organized in 1909 with the Reverend Hoffman 
as its first minister.  The serives were held in a small building at the rear 
of the J.D. Thomas store at the crossroads.  IN 1911 one acre of land was 
purchased from the Norfolk Southern Railroad company for the sum of $25 and 
the church building was erected in the same year. Founders of the church were 
Mrs. P. R. Calais, W. C. Miller and S. P. Willis. The First Baptist Church of
WAshington is the Mother Church.

Source: Washington and the Pamlico by Ursula Loy and Pauline Worthy. 1976