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The Town of Topsail Beach is located on the southern end of Topsail Island, between the inland waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of south eastern North Carolina.
Topsail Island is 26 miles long, and is home to three barrier island communities: the Town of North Topsail Beach, the Town of Surf City, and the Town of Topsail Beach. Topsail Beach is the smallest town on the island, and is located on its southern tip in Pender County. Topsail Island is approximately 25 miles north of Wilmington,
North Carolina, and 25 miles south of Jacksonville,
North Carolina.
Topsail Island shares a rich and varied history. Local folklore claims the name, Topsail (pronounced Topsul), originated during the 1700s when pirate ships roamed the coastal waters. Local Folklore claim that marauding pirates hid their ships in the channel behind the island and waited for passing merchant ships loaded with goods. The pirates would pursue and attack the merchants, claiming the cargoes as their own. Eventually the merchants became aware of this infamous hiding place and began to watch for the tops of the pirates sails showing over the rolling dunes - hence the name Topsail Island.
Prior to World War II, the only access to Topsail Island was by boat. Area residents frequently made this short trip and picnicked on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Local farmers are said to have driven their pigs across the waterways to graze on wild grass. Treasure hunters searched for Blackbeards infamous buried treasure throughout the maritime forests which covered the land.
During the war, the U.S. Navy took over the island and began a joint venture with Johns Hopkins University known as Operation Bumblebee. The waterway was dredged, roads were built, and fresh water was piped onto the island. Operation Bumblebee was the beginning of the space program for the United States Government. An arsenal center for the assembly and storage of rockets was built on the sound side of the island, and launching pads were constructed on the oceanfront. Concrete observation towers were built throughout the island to monitor the experimental launchings. Over 200 rocket launchings took place on the island between 1946 and 1948. When the testing program was dismantled, the government sold the island to the public. Many of the original military structures are still standing today.
The Topsail Island community has experienced much growth since the days of pig farmers and military maneuvers. The Town of Surf City in the center of the island was incorporated in 1949. The Town of Topsail Beach was incorporated in 1963, and the Town of North Topsail Beach located on the northern half of the island was incorporated in 1990.
The Town of Topsail Beach boasts a friendly, family oriented style of beach living. High rise development is not allowed, beautification is encouraged, and conservation of the island environment is a top priority. The Town is the home of the only sea turtle hospital in the state, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Rescue Center. There are 1100 homes, but only 425 year round residents. The seasonal influx of tourists increases the population to 8,500, which helps sustain the motels, restaurants, gift shops, and other businesses located within the community.
Septic tanks and two privately owned wastewater treatment plants handle the sanitary waste disposal needs of the community. The Town is fortunate to have the Pender East Emergency Medical Services squad which provides rescue and advanced life support services within the Towns limits. Electric distribution service is provided by Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation. Sprint provides telecommunications service within the town limits. The cable television franchise is operated by Charter Cable TV.
For more information about Topsail Beach visit their Official Web site at: www.topsailbeach.org
Locate and Reserve Lodging in this Area
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NOTE: Although local legend and folklore claims that Blackbeard and other Pirates would hide their ships behind "Topsail Island", history and simple physics indicate that this was not possible. The reality is, that prior to the "Intracoastal Waterway" project started in the later part of the 1940's, the waterway between the mainland and Topsail Island was only an average of three to five feet, depending on the tide. In fact, local farmers found many portions were shallow enough to drive cattle and pigs across for grazing on the wild grasses. I find it very hard to believe that pirates, or anybody else for that matter, would regularly take ships with an eight to ten foot draft into three to five feet of water. Somehow, the math just does not add up. However, history can prove that Blackbeard actually did inhabit Bear Island to the north along the Onslow and Carteret County border. It is also well documented that Edward Teach, aka Edward Drummond, aka Blackbeard, made his Home in Bath, North Carolina, along the Pamlico River.
For more "Blackbeard" History, Legend, Facts and information see the
Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Project
Underwater Archaeology Branch
3431 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 USA
Phone: 252-726-6841 ext. 157, or Fax: 252-726-2426
Locate and Reserve Lodging in the Bath/Washington, Morehead City Areas.
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Last Revised: August 10, 2006 08:59 AM.
