Gates County is located in the northeastern part of North Carolina, and is bordered by the Chowan River to the north, the Pasquotank River to the east, and the Perquimans River to the south. Its county seat is Gatesville.

Gates County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of governments. The county is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, each elected to a four-year term. The board is responsible for setting policies and adopting ordinances and resolutions.

The county is served by a Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for law enforcement and maintaining the county jail. The county also has a Register of Deeds, which is responsible for recording and maintaining all real estate records.

The county is home to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which is the largest intact remnant of a vast wetland that once covered much of the coastal plain of Virginia and North Carolina. The county is also home to the Dismal Swamp Canal, which is the oldest continually operating man-made canal in the United States.

The county is served by two school districts, Gates County Schools and Perquimans County Schools. The county is also home to the Gates County Public Library, which serves the county's residents with books, magazines, and other materials.

For the most up-to-date and in-depth information, please check the public records links below.