Turning east at East Carteret High School, the first community you visit “Down East” just past the North River bridge is BETTIE. Early maps called this area Simpson. There are three stories which explain how Bettie got its name, but no one is quite sure which one is true. However, they all state the community was named after a female resident name Bettie, but do not agree just which Bettie it was.

Today Bettie is a farming and fishing community where the descendants of these early settlers still live. The area has some of the richest farm land in the county and the Simpson Greenhouse grows its best tomatoes.