Dare County – 150 years old: Land of beginnings

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Wright Brothers National Memorial.

by Danielle Puleo danielle.puleo@thecoastlandtimes.com

Dare County was founded in 1870 with a population of 2,778 and an already rich history. Today, around 35,000 residents call Dare their home and contribute to the beautiful landscapes, growing industries and preserved past that the county holds.

Dare County was named after the first English child born not only to this particular area, but to the New World. That would be the start of many firsts for Dare.

Dorothy Hester, public information officer for the county, said, “If you look at our

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Kill Devil Hills Lifesaving Station. seal, it says we are the land of beginnings.” Beginnings such as the first flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright, who flew their plane 120-ft. in 12 seconds in 1903 along the dunes of Kitty Hawk.

Beginnings like the first wireless trans mission that took place on Roanoke Island in 1903 by a man named Reginald Fessenden. He successfully transmitted the first varying musical notes from Buxton, which were received 48 miles away on the island.

Beginnings like the formation of the lifesaving stations started by local surfmen who would respond to shipwrecks along the coast. The Kill Devil Hills lifesaving crew aided the Wright brothers off duty; the Pea Island crew rescued nine passengers off a ship that was steered off course by storms.

Dare County has served as a spot for many beginnings. Through its growth, the county has paved the way for an influx of cultures, ideas and people that have all shaped Dare to become the successful place we know and love.

Robert Woodard, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, explained that he has watched the county grow over the past 50 years: “I can remember as a kid coming down here to Kill Devil Hills. We had 300 yards of beaches . . . it was quiet.” Woodard thought back to when the county was established; the only means of transportation to the island was by boat or ferry.

Over the last 150 years, bridges have been built to connect the mainland to Roanoke Island to the beaches of the Outer Banks. The fishing industry has thrived due to the easy access of the Gulf Stream from the inlets that line the shores. The education system has made progress, now allowing students to continue their education at the area’s community college and providing dual enrollment opportunities as well as state-of-the-art institutions for learning.

Although the Outer Banks was not the first beach community in the country, it has long served as a resort area, attract

COURTESY NANCY AND WAYNE GRAY

Left: Boatbuilding has long been a prominent industry on Roanoke Island.

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Below: Main Street in Manteo.

ing people from around the world to its pristine beaches. Due to the economic engineering that surrounds the county, Woodard said it is everyone’s mission to protect the beach as much as possible. Over $100 million has been spent in the last ten years to preserve one of the most sacred components of the county; one that has been around long before the first colonists ever found Dare.

Through all this change, the county has been able to safeguard one crucial part what makes Dare so unique: its atmo sphere.

Woodard explained it best: “You can still come down here and park your car, climb the tallest sand dune on the east coast, take a piece of cardboard with you and sit on it and slide down. You can still drive to the beach, park at a beach access, take your chair down to the ocean and watch some of the most pristine sunrises that you’ll ever see. You can drive over to the soundside and watch the prettiest sunsets. You can still go to a restaurant and eat some of the finest seafood that you will ever eat on the east coast. You can still drive down to Oregon Inlet and throw your fishing line in the water and none of that has changed. That is what makes us

so unique.”

Dare County has witnessed a lot of firsts. Beginnings are an important part of the process involving success. However, this county has managed to perpetuate its small town feel, its welcoming community and its gorgeous views.

Moving forward, there is no doubt the next 150 years will bring about more change to Dare. But the overall feeling that this county offers so much more than a place to live will never go away.

Learn. Grow. Explore.

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