History

History, History of Phosphate Mine, 1880 to Present, Pre-1880

Pre-1880s, the Native American record:
Pre-settlement of the town of Aurora, the region was inhabited by Native Americans that belonged to the Algonquian ("Algonkian") linguistic family. The Algonquian were a tidewater people who lived along the sounds and in coastal areas. A few sub-groups of the Algonquian people inhabited the area (and nearby) of what is now Aurora, were the Pamlico ("Pomouik"), Bear River (or Bay River), and Machapunga tribes.

Post-1880s, European settlement: The land that is now Aurora was once owned by Christopher Gale who was involved with the founding of North Carolina's first town, Bath ("Bath Town"), which is located northeast of Aurora on the north side of Pamlico Sound. Aurora was originally called "Betty Town" and was founded on the location of the Pomouik Indian village. The formal incorporation of the town of Aurora occurred in 1880 by Reverend William Henry Cunningham (or Cunninggim).

PotashCorp:

The area now being mined has been in operation since the 1960s. Changing hands over the years, from Texas Gulf Sulfur (TGS), to Texasgulf, Inc. (Tg), to PCS Phosphate, to PotashCorp-Aurora, the mission of the mining activities has remained the same. To produce high quality phosphate to help feed a hungry world.

Aurora Fossil Museum: The Aurora Fossil Museum was founded in 1976 by a small group of individuals who had a vision to introduce and educate the public on the vast scientific discoveries that were being unearthed at the neighboring phosphate mine. Today, 40 years later, the museum continues to provide a resource to educate on the geology, paleontology, and prehistory of coastal North Carolina.