About Onslow County
Onslow County, North Carolina has been graced with an extraordinary natural coastal beauty. Over 30 miles of wide, unspoiled beaches sprinkled with shells, waters teeming with an abundance of marine life, forests filled with sporting wildlife and farmland rich with harvests.
Our wide, secluded beaches are favorite nesting sites for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Hammocks Beach State Park, located just off the mainland near Swansboro, has become nationally acclaimed as a coastal wildlife nature preserve. The 890-acre island, named "Bear Island," is listed in the registry of Natural Heritage areas and is home to maritime forests, broad salt marshes, impressive sand dunes and pristine beaches. Visitors may access the island park by private boat or the passenger ferry operated by the park.
Enjoying our warm, blue Atlantic Ocean surf and the Intracoastal Waterway is easy with a wide choice of water activities. Swimming, surfing, sailing, wind surfing, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, boating, snorkeling and offshore diving are year round options.
Fresh and salt water fishing are highlights for outdoor lovers. The New River and tributaries are favorites for fresh water anglers. The coast offers pier fishing, miles of beaches for surf casting and offshore fishing by boat. Each of the coastal towns hosts a King Mackerel tournament during the year.
Recreation choices for land lovers are equally diverse. Take a daily stroll on the beach, collect amazing seashells, go camping, biking, horseback riding, bird watching or kite flying. Enjoy an old fashioned hayride, a game of miniature golf, a rowdy rodeo, roller skating, square dancing or catch an exciting race at the Coastal Plains Dragway, a National Hotrod Association sanctioned drag strip. Coastal Plains Raceway, fourtenths of a mile oval track, opened in 1999 and became NASCAR-sanctioned in January 2000.
Challenging spectacular golf is also an important part of our area's outdoor fun. Breathtaking scenery and waterway views enhance your enjoyment on bentgrass greens and lush Bermuda fairways. Area accommodations offer special golf packages year 'round.
Onslow is one of North Carolina's oldest counties, and its past reflects a rich and varied history. It was named for the Honorable Arthur Onslow, who served for many years as speaker of the British House of Commons. Early settlements in the area occurred along the fertile waterways of Bear Creek and the White Oak and New Rivers.
Swansboro, a picturesque village and port located at the mouth of the White Oak River, is listed on the national register of Historic Places. The town has a rich maritime history which spans Colonial and Civil War eras. Unique shops and original homes have been restored to preserve this history. Bicentennial Park on the waterfront features a statue of local hero, Otway Burns, a privateer and builder of the first steamboat constructed in North Carolina. Visit the Swansboro Chamber of Commerce Website
Sneads Ferry attracted settlers in the 1700's because of the abundant seafood in local waters, and a thriving fishing industry developed. Fresh local seafood is the specialty enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. Visit sneadsferrynorthcarolina.com.
Richlands township emerged as an agricultural center and became the site of the first graded school, the first public high school and the first library in the county. Today, Richlands is the home of the Onslow County Museum which features changing exhibits reflecting the history of the area. Visit richlandsnc.gov.
Topsail Island enjoys a colorful history beginning with the Tuscarona Indians who used the island as a hunting ground. According to local legend, swashbuckling pirates like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet made the waterways their home in the late 1600's as they sailed out to attack merchant ships passing the Atlantic Coast.
Holly Ridge and Topsail Island played an important role in the development of modern jet propulsion in the 1940's. Holly Ridge was the site of Camp Davis, headquarters for "Operation Bumblebee," the program that pioneered technology for the ramjet and missile guidance systems. Concrete observation towers used in the missile launchings may be seen today on the island, and the Topsail Island Museum displays exhibits and artifacts from this important era of aviation history. Visit the Greater Topsail Island Chamber of Commerce Website.
Jacksonville's early growth was sponsored by a thriving naval stores industry and the establishment of a courthouse there in 1755. First known as Wantland's Ferry, because of the major north-south ferry crossing, the town was later named after President Andrew Jackson. Today it is the state's 7th largest commercial center. Visit the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce Website.
Camp Lejeune was originally a Marine Corps Training Center begun in 1941. Named after Lt. General John A. Lejeune, the base, which includes nearby New River Air Station, covers 151,000 acres and houses the largest marine expeditionary force in the world. Visit the Camp Lejeune Website.