Hampstead, NC

Hampstead, in Pender County, was once a small fishing village and a whistle stop alongside the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It is a growing suburban town and commercial area popular with anyone who wants to live in a quaint, small town atmosphere. It is served by State highway 210 and US Highway 17, and offers convenient access to Wilmington, NC, Camp Lejune in Jacksonville, NC and Interstate 40.

The county boasts beautiful beaches, lush golf courses, bountiful woodlands, and friendly communities. For those that love the coast and the smell of the sea, explore the wonders nature by boating, fishing or camping. Inland people enjoy shopping for antiques, dining on fresh fish or playing the greens. Hampstead is now home to four of the top golf courses in southeastern North Carolina : Castle Bay Golf Club, Olde Point Golf Club, Belvedere Plantation Golf Club, and Topsail Greens Golf Club. Each of these is centered in residential developments where you can live in the same area you play golf.

Pender County is rich in wildlife - from nesting loggerhead sea turtles to black bear, deer, and wild turkeys.The Holly Shelter Game Preserve is the largest state-controlled hunting preserve on the East Coast. Its game lands also contain rare and endangered species of plants, such as pitcher plants, venus fly traps, wild orchids, and boggy flora and fauna. Bird watching, turtle watching, and dolphin and whale watching are among the favorite pastimes on Topsail Island. In central and western Pender County, strawberry and blueberry farms offer pick-your-own opportunities in May and June.

Every year, there are area events where Hampstead comes together such as the North Carolina Spot Festival, Pender County Springfest, Scots Heritage Day, Riverwalk Festival, Blueberry Festival, North Carolina Seafood Festival and many more. Hampstead is quickly becoming a destination community for many who choose to flee the hustle and bustle of the crowded city to seek the simpler, quieter lifestyle the gracious Southern coastal area offers.