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Caswell Beach is located at the eastern end of Oak Island
on the Brunswick County Island of Oak Island, with a population
of about 370. Located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, it was
incorporated as a town in 1975. The Oak Island Lighthouse and US
Coast Guard station is located in the the town. The Oak Island Lighthouse
started operating in 1958 to guide mariners safely to the Cape Fear
River. The beacon can be seen nearly 30 miles offshore. There is
no commercial development in Caswell Beach which makes it very quiet,
but it is only a short few minutes drive to Long Beach the heart
of Oak Island.
Caswell Beach was named after the historic Fort Caswell which
is located at the eastern tip of the island, and is now owned by
the North Carolina Baptist Assembly. Congress authorized the construction
of a fort in 1825 to strengthen the area’s defenses against pirates,
and protect this river supply route that stretched all the way to
Fayetteville.
Fort Caswell was completed in 1838 and was originally built in
a pentagonal formation made with earthen mounds that enclosed structure
constructed using brick and masonry. A citadel was also constructed
on the premises. It was named after the first governor of North
Carolina, Richard Caswell who was also a revolutionary hero. In
April 1896, the United States appropriated money to reconstruct
Fort Caswell and it was repaired by 1916. On January 31, 1946 Fort
Caswell was designated as a war surplus and assigned for disposal.
The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina purchased the 250-acre
fort from the government on September 1949 for 86,000. The remains
of the citadel are still intact and are preserved by the Baptist
Assembly of North Carolina.
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