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Ocracoke
Island North Carolina is the southern most island in the groups of towns
and islands that make up the Outer Banks. Ocracoke Island is a true secluded
island vacation destination for swimming, fishing, surfing, bird watching,
exploring, and camping, with sixteen miles of unspoiled beaches. In 1937
the National Park Service established a National Seashore Recreational
Area on the island.
After the ferry system was established in the 1950s, Ocracoke began to see an influx of travelers. The mail and freight boats eventually gave way and today's modern state ferry system makes the tourist industry the main source of the island's economy. Dozens of restaurants, and many shops, stores and other tourist-based businesses open for the tourist season, and every business on the island is independently owned and operated by residents.