By McKenzie Brown, Special to Nighthawk News
For many, the Outer Banks is the perfect place to live. Endless beach days, a welcoming community, and unique charm. What’s not to love? Sure we may have lots of traffic and tourists in the summer, but that’s just part of the package. There is a different kind of beauty here that you may not be able to experience in other places. Growing up on the Outer Banks creates memories that can last a lifetime.
“I always call the Outer Banks the Island of Misfit Toys because I feel like it attracts people who may not want to be in the cities and things like that and it’s so far away that it’s kind of like its own world,” Social Studies teacher Savannah Wallace said.
Wallace, who grew up here and graduated from FFHS, describes the Outer Banks perfectly. In the movie “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the Island of Misfit Toys is a place where toys go if they don’t fit the traditional mold of what a toy should be, just like the Outer Banks is a place for people who are looking for something different than the typical city or suburban life. Both places have a unique appeal.
Wallace also said that finding your group of people here is easy because “most people that come here all come for kind of the same reason, and so once you find the people that you connect with, you just kind of hit it off and stay friends.”
Freshman Ellery Knight agreed, saying that, “When a new kid comes to school, they definitely have friends by the first day.”
It is amazing how quickly friendships can form on the Outer Banks thanks to people who share common attributes. Freshman Camdyn Sawyer said that some of her favorite parts of living here are “being by the beach and just having such a small community.”
Whether you like soaking up the sun or surfing every chance you get, the beaches are a big part of the OBX life. But it’s more than sand that makes the Outer Banks so special. It’s also the laidback lifestyle and close-knit community that many cherish.
Living here allows you to truly savor each moment. It’s like having extended family all around you, where everyone knows each other and is there to lend a helping hand. It’s a place where you can enjoy life to its fullest.
Of course, the Outer Banks is not for everyone. Some people find it their forever home, while others need to explore elsewhere and create a different path for their life.
When asked if she was going to live here long term or temporarily, Sawyer said, “I’m definitely going to live here temporarily. I really want to move somewhere else where I have more opportunities when I get older.”
Freshman Myla Lamm has other ideas, though: “I’ll definitely live here long term because I really enjoyed growing up here, so I feel like if I had kids to raise here, they would enjoy it, too.”
When choosing if to stay or leave the OBX, it comes down to what works best for each person and what opportunities and experiences people are looking for. The Outer Banks has experienced tremendous growth over the years, with more than 36,000 full-time residents in Dare County according to the latest U.S. Census.
In 1990, that number stood at just 22,746, meaning the population has grown more than 62 percent over the past 30 years.
“It’s crazy how much it’s changed,” Wallace said. “I mean, when I was here, we really only had a Walmart and a Food Lion, and now you can count a grocery store every quarter of a mile.”
It just goes to show how the Outer Banks has evolved and adapted to meet the needs of its growing population. It will be exciting to see how it continues to grow.
Freshman McKenzie Brown wrote this story for her Intro to Publications semester project. She can be reached at BrownMc9271@daretolearn.org.
