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Oak Island North Carolina consists of the Town of Oak Island
and the Town of Caswell Beach. Include
are the Carolina beaches of Long Beach, Yaupon Beach, and Caswell
Beach. Oak Island is a South Brunswick Barrier Island situated between
Bald Head Island North Carolina and Holden Beach. Oak Island is the most
populated and largest of the Brunswick County Barrier Islands beach in
North Carolina and home to more than 5,000 Oak Island residents.
Oak Island is 12.6 miles long and averages about one mile across.
Family activities are present in great abundance. With 50 public
beach accesses public boat ramps, canoe and kayak-friendly areas,
as well as parks, playgrounds,island oak resort spa, extensive sidewalks,
and pedestrian and recreation trails, make Oak Island an ideal haven
for the active nature lover by Long Beach parks and recreation.
Considered by some to be the best beach in North Carolina Activities
include golf, fishing, boating, crabbing, claming, shelling, walking
on nature trails or just plain relaxing on the beach. You’ll
also find a variety of dining options, shops and accommodations,
including Oak Island motels and private Oak Island vacation rentals. |
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Town of Oak Island North Carolina , Long Beach,
Yaupon Beach , and Caswell Beach.
With areas of salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, maritime forests
and miles of beach strand, the complex ecosystem, is home to a wide
variety of plant and animal life. Loggerhead, Green and Kemp Ridley
sea turtles, considered to be some of the island’s most important
residents, return annually to lay their eggs. Wind-swept live oaks
and yaupon trees, beautiful beaches and nature trails make this
a nature lover’s paradise. The southward orientation of these
beaches means you can experience both spectacular sunrises and sunsets,
right over the ocean.
The history of Oak Island stretches back to 1826 when construction
first began on Fort Caswell on what is now Caswell Beach. The Oak
Island Lifesaving Station opened and the Oak Island Lighthouse was
completed in 1889. Serving to protect and guide sailors around the
turbulent waters of the nearby Cape Fear River, the station became
home to the first residents of Oak Island.
Throughout the 1800’s Oak Island remained mostly undeveloped
and played host to fox hunters, a sport important to the Island’s
early development. In 1936 the Inter-coastal Waterway was completed,
deepening the Elizabeth River and creating a true “island.”
Then in 1936, Earnest D. Middleton purchased land on Oak Island.
A timber exporter from Charleston, SC, Middleton began development
in an area known as Long Beach and by 1939, Long Beach was open
to the public. Oceanfront lots were offered for $350 each and the
island hosted about 40 small cottages, a pavilion, dining room and
20 bath houses. On Saturday nights, the town came alive with orchestras
and dancing. But the building boom was short-lived as shortages
during World War II halted construction. After the restrictions
were raised, Long Beach grew to about 300 homes.
Unfortunately, in 1954, disaster struck in the form of Hurricane
Hazel, wiping out all but five homes on the island. Residents were
forced to take shelter in nearby Southport, but rebuilding began
soon thereafter and in 1955 the town was incorporated. E. F. Middleton
and developer G.V. Barbee continued development, discovering a safe
haven in the woods-side Davis Creek area. Laid out with major roadways
running perpendicular to the ocean rather than parallel, the town
was considered more of a permanent resident rather than a resort
community. Land area: 8.0....Zip code 28465
More Information and links for Oak Island NC Tourism can be found
at Oak Island NC Vacation
Rentals and Vacation Guide.
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