Southport Magazine

From Mayor, Cin Brochuire, Mayor of Oak Island

We are so excited to be celebrating 20 years of excellence, and we look forward to a future that’s even bigger and brighter. 

The Town of Oak Island turns 20 on July 1st. The Town was formed when the leaders of two beach towns on the island — Long Beach and Yaupon Beach — decided to merge. We’ve been growing and thriving ever since. 

The Town of Oak Island includes the mainland developments of South Harbour Village, Oakwood Glen, the Preserve and Pine Forest. We have been in a building boom on the island, and we’re starting to see more development on the mainland too. But as we grow, we’re still keeping our family-friendly island vibe. 

It’s such an exciting time to live or visit here! Our Oak Island Pier has been rebuilt and it is absolutely beautiful. We’re also excited to open our new Events Center at 801 Ocean Drive, adjacent to the Pier. 

We have a fantastic celebration planned for this milestone birthday. Oak Island always hosts Beach Day events as part of the official NC 4th of July Festival, and this year is no exception. Join us on the beach by the Cabanas and at the Middleton Park fields on July 1st for a sand castle contest, volleyball, horseshoes, other games and activities, and a shag contest. Later that night, we’ll have a band at the Pier, and we’ll stage our fireworks display from the end of the Pier too.

Whether you’re just visiting or you’re a local, it’s a great time to make wonderful memories at Oak Island!

From Mayor Jean Toner, mayor of the Town of St. James

This year the Town of St. James is celebrating its 20th birthday. So much has happened and so many residents have contributed over the past 20 years to make St. James what it is today. In a relatively short period, the Town has grown to become the 4th largest municipality in Brunswick County. The Town is mostly residential, but does include a small business district and a municipal campus that includes town offices as well as a community center, which is very popular with our residents. The St. James Property Owners Association office is also conveniently located on the campus.  What began as a vision by a small number of residents over 20 years ago has evolved into a thriving community of over 5,000 citizens. When fully developed, we anticipate a population of approximately 9,000.

We will be celebrating our 20-year milestone with a variety of events including a car show, cruises on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a scavenger hunt, a parade, a fishing derby, games for kids and several concerts from local musicians. A picnic with fireworks on July 1 will close out the four-day festivity.

St. James is proud of our brief history and we are also proud to be a part of the greater southeast coastal North Carolina community.

 – Mayor Jean Toner