Ocracoke

Ocracoke sits at the southern tip of Ocracoke Island and covers 22 square kilometers (8.6 square miles) with residential neighborhoods between coastal forest and sandy lanes. Streets wind through scattered development while the Atlantic Ocean borders the east and Pamlico Sound defines the western shoreline.

The British Navy killed pirate Edward Teach off the coast in 1718 when he used the area as a hideout. During World War II, German submarines sank ships in nearby waters, highlighting the strategic position of the island.

Residents speak a distinct dialect that preserves centuries of geographic isolation on the island. This Hoi Toider accent maintains speech patterns from Elizabethan England and sets the community apart from other coastal towns in North Carolina.

Ferry connections from Hatteras Island to the north or from the mainland at Cedar Island and Swan Quarter provide access. Crossing times range from 40 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes depending on the route, and frequency varies with the season.

A small British cemetery holds the graves of four sailors from HMS Bedfordshire, which sank off the coast in 1942 after a German torpedo attack. The Royal Navy maintains the site to this day, and a memorial service takes place each May.