Oak Island, North Carolina

Oak Island, on which much of the town sits, has been inhabited since the early 19th century when Fort Caswell was constructed on its east end in 1838. The island developed slowly, but by the late 1930s it began attracting people from nearby Southport with fox hunting popular in the areas along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). In 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck, leaving only five buildings standing on the west end of the island{{Cite book |last=Gifford |first=Jim |year=2004| title=Hurricane Hazel: Canada's Storm of the Century| publisher=Dundurn Press| location=Toronto| ISBN=1-55002-526-0| page=22}} The island recovered quickly however, and the towns of Long Beach and Yaupon Beach were incorporated. Along with this increasing level of development came strident demands for a reliable crossing of the ICW to provide access to the island. File:Swain's Cut Bridge.png When the ICW was completed in the late 1930s, a swingbridge initially provided this service. Destroyed by a barge strike in 1971, construction of the high rise Barbee Bridge began almost immediately; it opened for traffic in 1975 (interim service included a ferry and pontoon bridge).{{cite book | author=Furstenau, Wolfgang | title=Long Beach | location=Long Beach, NC | publisher=Furstenau | year=1995 | ISBN=978-09648233-0-3}} A second high rise structure, the Swain's Cut Bridge, was built over the ICW to the island in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20101113/long-awaited-oak-island-bridge-opens-for-traffic|title=Swain's Cut Bridge|website=StarNews.com|access-date=January 17, 2019}} In 1999, Long Beach and Yaupon Beach, decided to consolidate into the Town of Oak Island, and while Caswell Beach considered the matter, it opted to stay independent.{{cite web|url= https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/PDF/1999-2000/SL1999-66.pdf |title=Oak Island Consolidation|website=NC.gov|access-date=January 15, 2019}} Immediately after the new town got up and running, it began to either incorporate or obtain Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) on properties located to its north on the mainland.{{cite web|url=https://www.oakislandnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Comprehensive_Land_Use_Plan.pdf|title=Oak Island Land Use Plan|website=Oak Island.com|access-date=February 4, 2019}}

File:Osk Island Land Use Plan (2017).jpg

Oak Island is located in southeastern Brunswick County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|51.6|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|48.0|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|3.6|km2|disp=flip}} (7.02%) is water. It is bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by Caswell Beach, to the north across the ICW in part by the town of St. James, and to the west by the town of Holden Beach across the Lockwood Folly Inlet. Additions to the town in the 20 years since it was formed in 1999, located on the mainland, consist of the following:

•Property on both sides of Long Beach Rd. (NC 133) to include the Cape Fear Regional Jetport, and South Harbour Village with its nine-hole golf course and marina.{{cite web|url= http://www.shvassociation.com/south-harbour-master-poa/ |title=South Harbour|website=SouthHarbourVillage.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}

• Land mostly west of Middleton Blvd. (NC 906) either planned for or under development, the largest of which was the ill-fated Seawatch complex (1738 of the planned 4171 lots are in Oak Island).{{cite web|url=http://www.southeastdiscovery.com/community/seawatch-at-sunset-harbor.php |title=Oak Island Expansion|website=Southeast Discovery.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}

• Parcels north of Southport-Supply Rd. (NC 211), the most prominent being Midway Commons Shopping Center.{{cite web|url=http://capefearcommercial.catylist.com/listing/29939819/Highway-211-Bolivia-NC-28422 |title=Midway Commons|website=CapeFearCommercial.com|access-date=January 16, 2019}}

File:Hurricane Hazel Historic Marker.png

Summers in the town are hot and humid with an average temperature of {{convert|85|F|C}}, although the beach front is cooled much of the time by sea breezes (the prevailing winds are from the southwest). Ocean water temperatures range from the 50s in winter to the mid 80s in summer. Winters are moderate with an average temperature in the 50s (°F), albeit with brief cold periods. Rain occurs throughout the year with average annual rainfall approximately {{convert|57|in|cm}}, 45% of this falling between June and September.{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/2018ClimateSummary|title=NOAA Weather Data|website=Weather.gov|access-date=February 1, 2019}}[https://weatherspark.com/y/20118/Average-Weather-in-Oak-Island-North-Carolina-United-States-Year-Round#Figures-Summary Average Weather in Oak Island]

Tropical storms are a continuing source of concern with Hurricane Hazel being the most devastating. In the 1996−1999 period, four major hurricanes (Bertha, Fran, Bonnie, and Floyd) made landfall with Hurricane Floyd having significant effect on the town.{{cite book|last =Barnes|first=Jay|title=North Carolina's Hurricane History: Fourth Edition|publisher=UNC Press Books|year=2013|ISBN=978-1469606521}} More recently, in October 2016, the eye of Hurricane Matthew passed almost directly over the town inflicting extensive damage to the dune system,{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Matthew|title=Hurricane Matthew|website=NWS.gov|access-date=February 1, 2019}} and in September 2018, Hurricane Florence caused severe flooding and wind damage in addition to washing away large amounts of beach sand.{{cite web|url= https://www.weather.gov/ilm/HurricaneFlorence |title=Hurricane Florence|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=January 17, 2019}}

In the early morning hours of August 4, 2020, Hurricane Isaias hit Oak Island as a Category 1 hurricane; the storm surge was around 9 feet, increased by a corresponding high tide. The fishing pier and its hotel, many businesses, and hundreds of homes were damaged, and in many places sand from shoreside dunes was pushed inland for three blocks. An estimated 75−100 vehicles were damaged; floating cars were a common sight at the height of the storm. Power was finally cut off as a safety precaution. In the succeeding weeks, a mandatory evacuation order and damage to rental properties prevented tourism, which is a major source of income for many residents.{{cite web|url=https://stateportpilot.com/news/article_db70bc8e-dcd1-11ea-bcfc-93e587b8a46a.html#:~:text=At%20least%20935%20homes%20were,Ocean%20Crest%20Pier%20and%20motel.&text=Homes%20damaged%20at%20least%2025,were%20pushed%20three%20blocks%20inland |title="Oak Island struggles with Recovery from Hurricane Isaias"|website=stateportpilot.com|access-date=September 13, 2020}}

File:Oak Island Police Dept. & Town Hall.png

The town government operates under a Council-Manager type system where various officials have authority to make decisions on services, revenues and expenditures in accordance with a state issued charter. The council is Oak Island's governing body and consists of five Commissioners and the Mayor. It sets the Town's policy, enacts ordinances and adopts the annual budget. The actual operation of the town's government is accomplished by the Town Manager who is hired by the council.{{cite web|url=https://canons.sog.unc.edu/about-town-administrators/|title=Town Manager|website=UNC.edu|access-date=January 16, 2019}} Town Hall is collocated in the center of the island with the Oak Island Police Department, while units of the Oak Island Fire Department and Brunswick County EMS are deployed in various areas of the Town to respond to emergencies{{cite web|url= http://www.brunswickcountync.gov/emergency/ems/|title=Brunswick County|website=Brunsco.com|access-date=January 30, 2019}}

File:Oak Island Golf Club–18th Hole.png

File:Oak Island NC–Fishing Pier.jpg

Primarily a family beach type locale, the island also provides many other types of recreational activity. The Oak Island Golf Club course and its related practice facilities are open to the public and an outdoor swimming pool is available for its members' use during the summer.{{cite web|url=http://www.oakislandgolf.com|title=Oak Island Golf Club|website=OakIslandGolf.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}} Two public fishing piers jut out into the Atlantic Ocean{{cite web|url=http://www.oceancrestpiernc.com|title=Ocean Crest Fishing Pier|website=OceanCrestFishing Pier.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.oakislandpier.com|title=Oak Island Pier|website=OakIslandPier.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}} while motor/sail boats moored to piers dot the ICW as well as the Davis Canal and Montgomery Slough. South Harbour Village has a nine-hole public golf course and a marina on the ICW with 1,000 linear feet of alongside dockage.{{cite web|url= http://www.southharbourmarina.com/dockage/ |title=South Harbour Marina|website=South Harbour Marina.com|access-date=January 17, 2019}} All these waterways also attract a large number of kayakers.

The Oak Island Recreation Center located mid-island provides both indoor and outdoor exercise facilities and rents out sports equipment and amenities like balloon tire, beach wheelchairs.{{cite web|url=https://oakisland.recdesk.com/Community/Facility/Detail?facilityId=2|title=Oak Island Recreation Center|website=OakIslandRecDesk.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}} Popular sporting events include the "Run Oak Island" Marathon held in February which also features a half-marathon along with a 5K and one mile run.{{cite web|url=https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/OakIsland/RunOakIsland|title=Oak Island Road Races|website=Runsignup.com|access-date=February 1, 2019}} And then in April, the Southport/Oak Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Oak Island Lighthouse Run which includes a half marathon, 10K, 5K and a one-mile fun run.{{cite web|url=https://www.oakislandlighthouserun.com/race-info/1-2-marathon-race/|title=Lighthouse Run|website=CoastalRaceProd.comD|access-date=February 1, 2019}}

As for other activities, the town puts on an ocean front fireworks display as part of its Fourth of July festivities, and a parade down Oak Island Drive just before Christmas, while the Oak Island Library hosts a wide variety of events to include "Socrates Cafe" and "Meet the Author" programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.brunswickcountync.gov/venue/barbee-library/|title=Oak Island Library|website=BrunsCo.gov|access-date=February 1, 2019}}

• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|133}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|906}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|211}}

{{US Census population

| 2000 = 6571

| 2010 = 6783

| 2020 = 8396

| estyear = 2022

| estimate = 9322

| estref = {{cite web|title=QuickFacts: Oak Island town, North Carolina|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oakislandtownnorthcarolina/PST045221|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 11, 2023}}

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,396 people, 3,662 households, and 2,395 families residing in the town.

As of 2017, the Census Bureau estimated 7,789 people lived in the town, roughly a 14% increase from 2010. The town's racial makeup was 97% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino and 0.2% from two or more races. There were 3,605 households with the average size 2.05 persons. As for household income, the Census Bureau's 2017 estimate was $57,670, with the per capita income being $38,176. About 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line. That same year, the town's estimated population by age is as shown in the chart below. The ratio of women to men is 52.3% to 47.7%.{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/oakislandtownnorthcarolina |title=Quick Facts|website=Census.gov|access-date=January 18, 2019}}

The fourth novel of North Carolina novelist Wiley Cash, When Ghosts Come Home, is a murder mystery set in Oak Island.{{cite news |last=Kloer |first=Phil |date= September 13, 2021 |title=Book review: Wiley Cash spins a web of deceit in 'When Ghosts Come Home' |url=https://www.ajc.com/life/arts-culture/book-review-wiley-cash-spins-a-web-of-deceit-in-when-ghosts-come-home/PD6CDCRNHZFUXDGIDQD4Y4SJSY/ |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |location= |access-date=January 6, 2024 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category-inline}}

• [http://www.oakislandnc.com/ Town of Oak Island official website]
• [http://www.southport-oakisland.com/ Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.southporttimes.com/oakisland.html Oak Island, NC City Guide]
• [http://oakisland.insiderinfo.us Oak Island Area Guide]
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Oak Island}}

{{Brunswick County, North Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Brunswick County, North Carolina

Category:Towns in North Carolina

Category:Beaches of North Carolina

Category:Populated places established in 1999

Category:Cape Fear (region)

Category:Landforms of Brunswick County, North Carolina

Category:1999 establishments in North Carolina

Category:Populated coastal places in North Carolina