Photo: Seaview Pier, North Topsail Beach
Compare Past to Present
Topsail Island is not the same today as it was several years ago. To begin with, the island has changed physically being a barrier island. Where there used to be sand at the north end of the island has been transferred to the southern end the island (Peters, 2013). During an interview with Rose Peters, a permanent resident and the director of Missiles and More Museum, stated that “no one should be on the island…environmentally, the erosion and the sand; the island probably won’t be here forever, maybe not within our lifetime but at one point.” However, the island has not only changed physically but the island’s purposes have changed over the years. The island began as a place for seasonal hunting trip for Indians and farmers, to a military base for Camp Davis and Operation Bumblebee, to a major tourist attraction. Furthermore, all that used to be on the island was sand and trees with no houses, residents, or people populating the area. Once the military came to the island, a small handful of buildings were built on the island and there were a small number of residents on the island. Today, there are houses everywhere up and down the island. There are also several shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions located in the middle of the island. Topsail Island has a number of residents whom reside on the island year round but there is an even larger extent of people who visit the island for tourism purposes during the summer season.
When the towns were first incorporated, Topsail Beach only had around a hundred people residents year round, Surf City had about thirty to forty families, and North Topsail Beach had around two hundred residents (McAllister, 2006). Today, North Topsail Beach has 843 residents year round, Surf City has 1700 residents, and Topsail Beach has 539 permanent residents year round (Wilmington Today, 2009). These numbers become even larger during the seasonal months with individuals that come to visit for vacations. Topsail Island has become a major attraction for families who are looking for a place to bring their family for their yearly beach trip. People come from all over the United States, especially from the northern states, to visit any of the three towns on the island.
When the towns were first incorporated, Topsail Beach only had around a hundred people residents year round, Surf City had about thirty to forty families, and North Topsail Beach had around two hundred residents (McAllister, 2006). Today, North Topsail Beach has 843 residents year round, Surf City has 1700 residents, and Topsail Beach has 539 permanent residents year round (Wilmington Today, 2009). These numbers become even larger during the seasonal months with individuals that come to visit for vacations. Topsail Island has become a major attraction for families who are looking for a place to bring their family for their yearly beach trip. People come from all over the United States, especially from the northern states, to visit any of the three towns on the island.