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Early development of Oak Island as a community unofficially began in 1826 with the construction of Fort Caswell. In 1889, construction of the Oak Island Lighthouse was complete and the Oak Island Lifesaving Station was fully operational to protect sailors from the nearby rough waters of the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The fort and lighthouse were the first areas of Oak Island to have a "permanent population".

Until 1939, Oak Island was still undeveloped, and was frequented mostly by fox hunters. The island was known to be a great place for fox hunting, and the hunts would remain an important part of the Island's early years. In 1936, the Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway (ICW) was completed. This made Oak Island a true island as the ICW construction deepened portions of the Elizabeth River, severing it from the mainland.

Ernest Felder Middleton, a timber exporter from Charleston, SC, bought land on Oak Island in 1938. Middleton, along with his partners in Carolina Lands, Inc. began development of the area on Oak Island known as Long Beach. By 1939, Long Beach was officially open to the public. At this time the town had a pavillion, a canteen with a dining room and 20 bath houses. Early visitors enjoyed orchestras and dances at the pavillion every Saturday night. During this time, Carolina Lands also finished construction on some roads, and offered the first oceanfront lots for sale... each for the hefty sum of $350.00! By 1940, Long Beach had about 40 cottages. These early years saw a short building boom on the Island, but during World War Two, construction came to a halt as building materials were scarce and activity was hampered by "dim-out" restrictions. By 1944, construction had returned to normal.

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About the Region

Brunswick County is one of the oldest counties in North Carolina. It was charted in 1746 and named for the Prince of Brunswick. It is the fifth largest county in area in North Carolina, reaching from the Brunswick River (bordering with New Hanover County) to the South Carolina state line. Brunswick County has 19 towns, and about 72,000 residents.

Brunswick County is uniquely situated along one of the "scalloped arcs" on the southeast coast of North Carolina, so the beaches, including Oak Island, face south instead of east

When you stand on the beach at Oak Island and look out over the Atlantic Ocean, you are actually facing the Bahamas, Florida and Cuba, and not Europe or Africa. Oak Island is 12.6 miles long and averages about 1 mile across, making it Brunswick County's largest Island. It consists of the Town of Oak Island and the Town of Caswell Beach. Oak Island is about 7 miles to Southport, 30 miles to Wilmington and about 60 miles to Myrtle Beach.Oak Island has a flat topography, with some variation in elevation from sand dunes. The Island has a complex coastal ecosystem with areas of salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, maritime forests, and miles of beach strand. The Island is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the seasonal visits from Atlantic sea turtles, who return every year to lay eggs. Sea turtle populations include the Green, Loggerhead, and rare Kemp Ridley turtles. The Town, in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers, recently completed a Sea Turtle Habitat Restoration Project to restore sea turtle habitat lost to erosion. We consider the sea turtles to be some of our most important residents! With so much natural beauty, historical significance and unique character, it is easy to see why Oak Island is such a great place to visit, and a greater place to live, work and play!

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Holden Beach, NC 28462
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