Oak Island, North Carolina

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Oak Island, North Carolina

Oak Island is a seaside town in the southeastern part of Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Much of the town sits on Oak Island, which it shares with Caswell Beach. It was formed in 1999 when the nearby towns of Long Beach and Yaupon Beach merged. Tourism is the town’s main industry. In 2020, 8,396 people lived there, and the population swells to about 50,000 in the summer. Oak Island and Caswell Beach are part of the Wilmington, North Carolina metropolitan area.

Geography
The town covers about 19.9 square miles, with roughly 18.5 square miles of land and 1.4 square miles of water. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Caswell Beach to the east, the Intracoastal Waterway to the north (with St. James across the water), and Holden Beach to the west across the Lockwood Folly Inlet. Mainland additions include areas near the Cape Fear Regional Jetport and South Harbour Village.

History
Fort Caswell was built on the island in 1838. In the late 1930s, fox hunting brought people to the area along the Intracoastal Waterway. Hurricane Hazel struck in 1954, destroying many buildings on the west end. After that, Long Beach and Yaupon Beach incorporated and later consolidated to form Oak Island in 1999. Access to the island improved with the Barbee Bridge opening in 1975 and the Swain’s Cut Bridge in 2010. The town also expanded onto the mainland.

Climate
Summers are hot and humid, around 85°F. Ocean water ranges from the 50s in winter to the mid-80s in summer. Winters are mild, generally in the 50s. The area gets about 57 inches of rain per year, with much of it from June through September. Tropical storms and hurricanes are ongoing concerns; notable storms affecting the town include Hazel, Floyd, Matthew (2016), Florence (2018), and Isaias (2020), which caused damage and evacuations.

Government
Oak Island uses a council-manager form of government. The town council has five commissioners and a mayor; a town manager handles daily operations. Town Hall is on the island, and emergency services are provided by the Oak Island Police Department and Brunswick County EMS, with the Fire Department nearby.

Attractions and economy
Tourism is the main draw. Attractions include the Oak Island Golf Club (public), Ocean Crest Fishing Pier, and Oak Island Pier. South Harbour Village offers a nine-hole golf course and a marina. The Cape Fear Regional Jetport area and nearby shopping centers are on the mainland. The Oak Island Recreation Center provides indoor and outdoor facilities. Annual events include the Run Oak Island marathon, the Lighthouse Run, a Fourth of July fireworks display, and a Christmas parade. The Oak Island Library hosts events like Socrates Café and author appearances.

Demographics
As of 2020, Oak Island had 8,396 residents and about 3,662 households. The population is predominantly White, with small numbers of Black, Native American, Asian, and other races, and a Hispanic/Latino minority. The 2022 estimate is about 9,322 residents.

In popular culture
The novel When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash is set in Oak Island.