Brunswick Nc: How Far Is It?

Brunswick County, North Carolina, is a charming coastal area with a lot to offer. With its southern location in the state, it provides easy access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Brunswick River and Cape Fear River. The county boasts six beautiful beaches across five islands, including Bald Head Island and Oak Island, making it a popular vacation destination for generations. The area is also known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and unique attractions, such as lighthouses and maritime towns. In addition, Brunswick County is home to 19 municipalities and has experienced significant population growth, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina.

Brunswick County, North Carolina

Brunswick County is a popular tourist destination, with many beach communities and historical sites to visit. The county offers six beautiful beaches, including Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Holden Beach, all stretched across five barrier islands. These beaches provide a range of activities, from resort-style stays to outdoor adventures. The Bald Head Island Ferry and Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry are also popular attractions, providing access to the islands and a unique perspective of the coastline.

The county is also home to several historic sites, including the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site, the Museum of Coastal Carolina, and the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. Fort Anderson, near the ruins of Brunswick Town, was built during the American Civil War to defend against federal attacks on the Cape Fear River and the Port of Wilmington.

Brunswick County has a diverse economy, with tourism playing a significant role. The county's beaches and maritime towns are a major draw for visitors. In addition, the food service and retail sectors have experienced significant growth in recent years. The town of Calabash is known for its style of lightly-breaded fried seafood, attracting seafood enthusiasts from all over.

The county also has a rich history, dating back to its formation in 1764 from parts of Bladen County and New Hanover County. It was named after the colonial port of Brunswick Town, which was named for George I, the King of England and Duke of Brunswick. During the American Revolutionary War, Brunswick Town was destroyed, and the southern portion of the county, including the town of Smithville (now known as Southport), began to grow.

Brunswick Islands

The Brunswick Islands are a collection of 10 cities on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, offering idyllic communities, beaches, vivid sights, sounds and tastes. The islands are known for their laid-back vibe, incredible seafood, beautiful beaches, and friendly people, attracting families who return year after year.

Beaches and Barrier Islands

The Brunswick Islands consist of 45 miles of windswept beaches and five barrier islands that protect the coast from the Atlantic Ocean. Six of the 10 cities have their own beaches: Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, and Bald Head Island. These barrier islands and beaches provide dazzling sunrises and sunsets, with the sun rising and setting over the ocean during the fall and spring.

Nature and Wildlife

The Brunswick Islands offer abundant nature and wildlife experiences. The salt marsh, with its tall grasses and tidal rivers, is home to river otters, wood storks, egrets, and dolphins. Birdwatching is a popular activity, with over 200 bird species, including the tiny plover, found on the islands. Bird Island, an uninhabited isle off Sunset Beach, features a 1,200-acre site with white sand beaches, sand dunes, and tidal creeks. The Intracoastal Waterway is also a popular destination for beautiful views, fishing, and watersports.

Attractions and Activities

The Brunswick Islands offer a range of attractions and activities beyond the beaches. The Oak Island Lighthouse, one of the newest and most unusual lighthouses on the East Coast, is a distinctive landmark with its skinny exterior and three color blocks. The Oak Island Nature Center allows visitors to explore the local ecosystems and wildlife through exhibits and nature trails.

The Ingram Planetarium, located in Sunset Beach, provides a unique experience with its Sky Theater, high-definition projection, and immersive sound systems. The Museum of Coastal Carolina, the only natural history museum on a barrier island in North Carolina, offers fascinating exhibits on sea turtles, fossils, and local seashells.

Ferry Landing Park in Ocean Isle Beach is a popular spot for sunsets and water activities, while the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge & Museum showcases the history of the classic swing bridge that once connected Sunset Beach to the mainland.

For those seeking outdoor adventures, the Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park offers a water park, mini-golf, go-karts, and an arcade. Sunset Beach is also known for its sand mazes created by the Maze Man, Hunter Gibbes.

Dining and Seafood

The Brunswick Islands, particularly Calabash, are renowned for their seafood. Calabash-style seafood involves lightly breaded and deep-fried dishes, including shrimp, oysters, crab, grouper, and flounder. Popular restaurants serving this style include Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood, Captain Nance's Calabash Seafood Restaurant, and Calabash Seafood Hut.

Other notable dining options include Holden Beach Provision Company, known for its grilled shrimp burger; Salt 64 in Oak Island, offering Southern classics; and Jinks Creek Waterfront Grille in Ocean Isle, specializing in seafood dishes like "Jewels of the Sea."

Accommodations

The Brunswick Islands offer a range of accommodations, from rental homes, condominiums, and cottages to bed-and-breakfast inns and hotels. Ocean Isle is particularly popular for its array of accommodations right on the beach, providing easy access to the ocean and lagoon.

Transportation

The recommended airports for visiting the Brunswick Islands are Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina and Myrtle Beach International Airport in South Carolina. Renting a car is essential, as taxi services are limited and expensive. Once in the chosen community, many areas are walkable, such as Southport and Ocean Isle Beach.

Brunswick, Maryland

Brunswick has a rich history of railroading and transportation. It was a hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which constructed a six-mile-long rail yard along the Potomac River from 1891 to 1912, causing the population to surge to over 5,000. The city remains a major stop on the Maryland Rail commuter (MARC) Train line to Washington, D.C. The Brunswick Heritage Railroad Museum showcases the city's transportation history and the significance of its location to the railroad. The museum is home to one of the largest model train layouts on the East Coast.

Brunswick offers a range of amenities and attractions, including modern facilities such as schools, churches, healthcare services, and abundant parks. The historic downtown area boasts restaurants, antique stores, a brewpub, and a yoga studio. The city also provides access to recreational activities on the C&O Canal and the Potomac River. The C&O Canal Towpath, a former economic lifeline, has become one of the most visited national parks in the country. The Appalachian Trail is also accessible from the canal, and Brunswick has been designated an Appalachian Trail Community.

The city hosts several annual events, including Railroad Days, a festival celebrating its railroading heritage, and the Veterans Day Parade, held annually since 1932. Other notable events include the Wine and Chocolate Walk, the Farmers' Market, and Arts in the Parks.

Brunswick County Library System

The Brunswick County Library System is made up of five branches spread across Brunswick County, North Carolina. These are:

• The Southport Branch - Margaret and James Harper, Jr. Library
• The Shallotte Branch - Rourk Library
• The Leland Branch - Leland Library
• The Oak Island Branch - G.V. Barbee, Sr. Library
• The Carolina Shores Branch - Southwest Brunswick Library

Each branch is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 6 pm; Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm; and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. The Brunswick County Library System offers a wide range of materials and services to the community. These include books, magazines, movies, audiobooks, and kits for loan, as well as computer and internet access, educational and community events, and e-books. The library also provides free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, fax services, and access to ancestry.com at all locations.

The library's mission is to support the informational, cultural, recreational, and lifelong learning interests of the community. It aims to develop vibrant library branches that are vital community destinations for learning, inspiration, innovation, and opportunity. The library also seeks to provide free access to a broad spectrum of ideas and information in various formats and media, including recreational reading, viewing, and listening materials suitable for all ages.

To access library services, individuals can create a website account to manage notification subscriptions and save form progress. They can also obtain a library card to borrow items, access online resources, and use NoveList Plus for reading recommendations. The library card can also be used to access NCLIVE.org, which offers a range of resources provided by the State Library of North Carolina, such as eBooks, periodical archives, historical information, and genealogy databases.

Brunswick County's landfill

Brunswick County Landfill, located in Bolivia, North Carolina, is the county's primary waste disposal site. The landfill is situated at 172 Landfill Road NE, SR 1401-Highway 17, with the zip code NC 28422. It can be contacted by phone at (910) 253-2515 or fax at (910) 253-2539. The landfill is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm, and on Saturday from 7:30 am to 3 pm.

The Brunswick County Landfill serves as a vital component of the county's solid waste management system. It accepts a range of waste materials exclusively from Brunswick County property owners, residents, and businesses. This includes household trash, land-clearing debris, construction debris, and other types of debris. The landfill is committed to proper waste management and adheres to environmental regulations to ensure the safe disposal of solid waste materials.

In addition to the landfill, Brunswick County also operates convenience centers located in Sunset Beach, Leland, Supply, and Southport. These centers provide residents with a convenient option for disposing of residential solid waste and recycling. They are open four days a week—Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday—from 8 am to 6 pm. It is important to note that these convenience centers only accept residential waste and have specific size limitations for trucks. Trucks larger than a standard pickup truck must dispose of waste at the Brunswick County Landfill and are subject to landfill tipping fees.

The Solid Waste Division of Brunswick County plays a crucial role in coordinating household solid waste pickup and providing additional services through their contract with GFL Environmental. Residents can contact GFL Environmental at 910-253-4177 to find out their designated collection day. The Solid Waste Division also offers a book swap program at each convenience center, where residents can bring and take books and magazines free of charge.

Frequently asked questions