| Oak
Island Lifestyle
Oak
Island, the most populated and largest of the Brunswick County
Isles, is home to more than 5,000 residents. The town’s
dedication to preservation of the environment has won national
recognition. Wind-swept live oaks and yaupon trees, beautiful
beaches and nature trails make this a nature lover’s
paradise. A
community defined by its dedication to family-friendly activities,
Oak Island is a great place to live or visit. With over ten
miles of southern facing beaches, the island offers more than
50 public beach accesses, several public boat ramps, picnic
areas, extensive sidewalks, nature centers, parks and walking
trails. Activities include golf, fishing, boating, crabbing,
claming, shelling, walking on nature trails or just plain
relaxing on the beach. Visitors and residents appreciate the
many colorful shops and dining options also found here. Situated
midway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach Oak Island is close
to a host of cultural and entertainment activities, while
maintaining the hospitality and warmth of a small town. |
Oak
Island is 12.6 miles long and averages about one mile across, It
consists of the Town of Oak Island and the Town of Caswell Beach
with areas of salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, maritime forests
and miles of beach strand. With a complex ecosystem, the island
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.
Oak Island History
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
Other
Links Of Interest
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Area
Sites |
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Sport
Fishing and
Miscellaneous
sites |
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