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Hampstead, NC

Once only a small fishing village, Hampstead is one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina, as newcomers of all ages are making the quaint little waterfront community their permanent home. Of all the people flocking to the area, the majority are retirees, seeking the peace of mind towns like Hampstead provide.

The community first gained notoriety in the late 1700s when it served as a temporary home for George Washington. When residents say, “George Washington slept here,” they mean it. He bunked in a local public house in 1791 on his tour of Southern states. In honor of his visit, the Washington Oak, now a massive live oak tree, was planted as part of a monument by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1925, and today it is still the town centerpiece.

Hampstead actually is the largest of many small communities in the area that make up Topsail Township. Though, with the recent population boom, many of the smaller communities are catching Hampstead population wise. However, there are still some rustic fishing shacks on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway, where generations have lived and plied their trade in the nearby waters. Sadly, as progress and land values have dictated, many of those quaint relics of another time are being replaced by large, modern homes.

Despite the encroachment of the modern world, the history of the area is cherished, and locals work hard preserving their heritage. The area was a famous target for pirates, as Topsail Inlet was seen as a stealth entrance to Topsail Sound, a notorious hideout for some of the most famous pirates of the time, most notably, Blackbeard, Steed Bonnett and Captain Kidd. Township residents are proud of the area’s heritage and celebrate it whenever possible.

“The history of the area is cherished, and locals work hard preserving their heritage."

Part of the reason the area is so popular is because of the many recreation alternatives in the area. Hampstead offers a full service marina and boat yard, and there are over a dozen golf courses within a ten-minute drive from the township’s diminutive borders. Commercial trade in the area is strong, and with the recent widening of Highway 17 to four lanes, several national chain restaurants have been attracted to the area.