Oak Island North Carolina Map

About Oak Island, North Carolina

Oak Island is a locality in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It has a population of approximately 9,030. The population density is 178.1 people per km². Oak Island is located at 33.9166°N, 78.1611°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 28465.

Oak Island rises gently from the Atlantic, a long, slender barrier island where the Cape Fear River finally surrenders to the sea. It lies 24.4 miles south-south-west of Leland, NC (from Leland, NC: bearing 196°T), and is situated 3.5 miles south-west of St. James. The air here carries the briny tang of salt and the sweet perfume of blooming oleander, a constant reminder of the ocean's proximity. Sunlight, thick and golden in the late afternoon, washes over the low-lying dunes, illuminating the hardy sea oats that grip the sandy soil. The landscape is a mosaic of weathered beach cottages, their paint peeling like sunburnt skin, interspersed with more modern homes, all oriented towards the whisper of the waves. Shallow marshes fringe the western end, a haven for wading birds, while the eastern reaches open onto miles of wide, sandy beaches, a stage for the ceaseless drama of tide and surf. This stretch of coast has long been a place of passage and refuge, its history tied to the ebb and flow of maritime trade and the resilient spirit of those who call it home. For generations, Oak Island's economy has been shaped by the sea, from the fishing fleets that once brought in bountiful catches to the burgeoning tourism that now draws visitors seeking sun and sand. Local businesses, from casual seafood shacks serving up fried shrimp to bait and tackle shops catering to weekend anglers, hum with a quiet, dependable energy. The island’s distinctive character is also marked by the sheer persistence of its development, a testament to human endeavor against the constant, powerful forces of nature, where new structures rise alongside remnants of older eras, each telling a part of Oak Island's ongoing story.

About This Oak Island Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Oak Island, North Carolina — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 33.916562, -78.161106. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Oak Island and Brunswick County.

Detailed location data for Oak Island includes the ZIP code (28465), telephone area code (910), county seat of Brunswick County (Bolivia), and school district assignment (Brunswick County Schools). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Oak Island is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.