About Northampton County Northampton County, which is located in
the northeastern part of North Carolina, is bounded on the north
by the Virginia border; on the west and south by the Roanoke
River and Halifax County; and on the east by Bertie and Hertford
counties. The area is 541 square miles (346,240 acres). The
elevation of the county varies from 5 feet along the Meherrin
River in the extreme northeastern corner to nearly 360 feet at
Vulture in the northwestern corner. Northampton County, named in
honor of the Earl of Northampton, was formed in 1741 from part
of Bertie County. Originally inhabited by Native Americans of
the Tuscarora tribe, the region was settled by primarily English
immigrants. The first county seat was Atherton, but it was moved
to Jackson in 1826 and remains there to this day.