Nags Head, North Carolina
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| Nags Head, North Carolina | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Dare |
| Area | |
| - Total | 6.6 sq mi (17.2 km²) |
| - Land | 6.5 sq mi (16.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 2,700 |
| - Density | 413.2/sq mi (159.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 27959 |
| Area code(s) | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-45880[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1021599[2] |
Nags Head is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,700 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Early maps of the area show Nags Head as a promontory of land characterized by high sand dunes visible from miles at sea. Tales of land pirates that lured ships ashore in stormy weather may be the possible origin of the town's name. Or it may have been carried across the sea by English explorers who were reminded of a similar location of the English coast, a high point on the Isles of Scilly, the last sight of old England that the earlier explorers were to see on their voyage to the New World.
The true origin is obscured, but legend and lore insists that early 18th century bandits known as Bankers, realized how profitable piracy was for sea-going scoundrels such as Blackbeard, and developed their own unique method as land-based pirates. Mules, or Nags as they were known in the area, with lanterns tied to their necks were walked up and down the beach at night. Merchant skippers in the off-shore waters would mistakenly think the lights were of other ships closer to shore. They would then change course and run aground, with the Bankers pillaging their cargoes.
Around 1830, Nags Head became known as a plush resort area and so remains today. Jockey's Ridge is the last vestige of the giant moving sand dunes that once towered over the beaches and greeted the first explorers, as the area is now highly developed, featuring a variety of rental properties, restaurants, shops, bars, and other activities of entertainment.
[edit] Geography
Nags Head is located at (35.932004, -75.615085)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.2 km²), of which, 6.5 square miles (16.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.51%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,700 people, 1,138 households, and 726 families residing in the town. The population density was 413.2 people per square mile (159.4/km²). There were 4,149 housing units at an average density of 634.9/sq mi (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.96% White, 1.33% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 1,138 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,095, and the median income for a family was $61,302. Males had a median income of $33,289 versus $30,139 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,157. About 4.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Attractions
Located in Nags Head is the largest sand dune on the East Coast, Jockey's Ridge. The sand dune has migrated over the years from wind and erosion, and has buried a miniature golf course along the way. A castle is still visible and is a major landmark. There is also a buried hotel. The area surrounding Jockey's Ridge is good for biking, or hiking. Jockey's Ridge has been popular with Hang-gliders since the advent of the sport, as well as kite flyers and sand gliders. The Ridge includes an informative museum with exhibits on sand, weather, and area animals. The creatures outside are numerous and includes bird species, foxes, mice, squirels, occasional deer and friendly wild rabbits. One of the most exciting features of the Ridge is its capriciousness. Annual visitors find that lagoons can spring up, the sand can shift making for a fresh experience every time. From the top of the Ridge, the ocean as well as the sound can be seen. Jockey's Ridge has a sound beach on the Roanoke Sound side that visitors can swim in.
As in any other beach town, the ocean and shoreline are the major attractions, providing beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and a variety of water sports. A series of historic cottages overlook the beach in sections. There are three piers, Nags Head Pier, Jeanette's Pier, and Outer Banks Pier which are popular for fishing. To the south, is Coquina Beach, an unpopulated area that has huge, natural and clean beaches with its famous inhabitants, the coquina clam, which vary from purple to pink, and are the size of a pinky nail. Coquina Beach also holds the remnants of the Laura Barnes shipwreck, which perished in the beginning of the twentieth century. This remains are out in the open and visible.
Nags Head also has a wide variety of restaurants, most of which overlook the sound rather than the ocean.
Nags Head is often a starting base for exploring the surrounding beaches and towns. Bodie Island Lighthouse, to the south, has horizontal black and white stripes. Further south, the symbolic and charming Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is donned with black and white stripes in a diagonal "candy cane stripe" pattern and is the tallest of the lighthouses in the area. Several years ago, the whole lighthouse was moved to delay erosion. The northernly Currituck Beach Lighthouse is left in a natural state of exposed brick and is located near the scenic Whalehead Club and a romantic bridge. A huge achievement to the world, the Wright Brother's first flight is located in Kitty Hawk, which in reality is in Kill Devil Hills. There are large monuments for each brother, model gliders, replica huts used for storing their supplies, and a center that explains the science and the history of flying in depth, with special centennial exhibits.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Official website of Nags Head, NC
- Web cam of Nags Head, NC - East
- Web cam of Nags Head, NC - West
- Nags Head community web site
- Nags Head MLS
- OBX Wiki Spot
- Nags Head, North Carolina is at coordinates Coordinates:
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