Bald Head Island, North Carolina
| Bald Head Island | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
| Village of Bald Head Island | |
Bald Head Island Marina with Old Baldy lighthouse
|
|
| Nickname(s): Old Baldy | |
 Bald Head Island
|
|
| Coordinates: 33°52′2″N 78°0′24″W / 33.86722°N 78.00667°WCoordinates: 33°52′2″N 78°0′24″W / 33.86722°N 78.00667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Brunswick |
| Township | Smithville Township |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andy Sayre |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.8 sq mi (14.9 km2) |
| • Land | 3.9 sq mi (10.0 km2) |
| • Water | 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 5 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 158 |
| • Density | 41/sq mi (15.8/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 28461 |
| Area code(s) | 910 |
| FIPS code | 37-03150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1027622 |
| Website | www |
Bald Head Island, historically Smith Island, is a village located on the east side of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. Compared to the city of Wilmington to the north, the village of Bald Head Island is small and somewhat remote. It is only accessible by ferry from the nearby town of Southport. There are few cars on the island; instead, residents drive modified electric golf carts. Bald Head Island is nationally recognized for its sea turtle nesting activity.
The population of the village was 158 at the 2010 census. The village is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area.
The village is revered for its picturesque nature and is a popular location for vacationing. It was the primary filming location for the successful film Weekend at Bernie's in 1989, as well as being a major location in The Butcher's Wife in 1991. "Old Baldy", its out-of-service lighthouse, is the oldest still standing in the state, built in 1817.
Bald Head Island is tiny but has played a part in two American wars. During the American Revolution, it was home to Fort George, a British fort. During the Civil War, the same redoubts served as Fort Holmes, a Confederate base of importance to shipping and smuggling.
Located at the tip of Cape Fear and residing at the convergence of the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Gulf Stream, the land mass of Bald Head Island ends, trailing off into 30 miles (48 km) of treacherous sand bars known as Frying Pan Shoals. In this area, large sand bars seasonally emerge from and subsequently retreat into the sea. These topographical transformations are often as rapid as they are drastic. The consensus view is that Bald Head Island emerged from one such sandbar, stabilized by a succession of plant life, leading to a permanent land mass.
...
Wikipedia