1. History

2. Geography

3. Climate

4. Government

5. Attractions
    Major highways 

6. Demographics

7. References

8. External links

History

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 ICW. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck, leaving only five buildings standing on the west end of the island^[3] The island recovered quickly however, and the towns of Long Beach and Yaupon Beach were incorporated in 1955. Along with this increasing level of development came strident demands for a reliable crossing of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to provide access to the island. 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).^[4] A second high rise structure, the Swain's Cut Bridge, was built over the ICW to the island in 2010.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

Geography

•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.^[10]

• 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).^[11]

• Parcels north of Southport-Supply Rd. (NC 211), the most prominent one being Midway Commons Shopping Center.^[12]

Climate

Government

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.^[17] 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^[18]

Attractions

On the island there is a contract post office, a branch of the county library, a Food Lion, an ABC Liquor Store, a few gas stations, numerous small professional offices/retail stores, and a large number of restaurants. 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.^[19] Two public fishing piers jut out into the Atlantic Ocean (one is currently being reconstructed)^[20][21] 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.^[22] 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.^[23] 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.^[24] 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. ^[25] 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.^[26]

Major highways

• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|133}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|906}}
• {{Jct|state=NC|NC|211}}
• Oak Island Drive

Demographics

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%.^[29]

References

External links

• Town of Oak Island official website
• Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce
• Oak Island, NC City Guide
• Oak Island Area Guide
• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Oak Island}}

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