Swansboro is a small port town on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast
Life revolves around the water in Swansboro, a small Colonial-era port town that has been a tourist destination for more than 200 years. The community, set where the White Oak River meets the Intracoastal Waterway, first thrived from shipbuilding. Notably, in 1818, Captain Otway Burns built North Carolina’s first steamboat, the Prometheus, in Swansboro. Today, tourism and commercial fishing are the main pillars of the economy. Around 3,800 people live in this enclave that reels in newcomers with its water access, proximity to Emerald Isle Beach and its historic downtown, where longtime residents and tourists mix with boaters who just moored their vessels at the town docks. “We also have military buyers because we’re between two bases,” says Carla Buckhold, a Swansboro native and Realtor with Bogue Banks Realty. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a little over 30 miles away, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is about 25 miles away.
Historic homes and contemporary styles close to the White Oak River
The median price for a single-family home in Swansboro is around $410,000, slightly below the national median. Most homes fall between $275,000 and $675,000, but some waterfront properties can exceed $1 million. Victorian homes with Charleston-style porches sit between small bungalows and cottages near historic downtown Swansboro, while ranch-style homes and neotraditional dwellings fill subdivisions branching off state Highway 24. Some homes near waterways rest on stilts to mitigate potential flooding. Condos have views of the White Oak River and range from $425,000 to around $800,000. Townhouses sit farther inland and cost between $170,000 and $280,000.
Outdoor fun from watersports and pickleball to camping on Bear Island
Boating, fishing and kayaking are popular pastimes in Swansboro, with the Intracoastal Waterway, the White Oak River and the Atlantic Ocean nearby. A marina and several docks dot the waterfront downtown, and those without a vessel can book a private charter. Southwest of town, Hammocks Beach State Park is a destination for oceanside camping. A seasonal ferry takes riders from the park’s dock on the mainland to Bear Island, a 4-mile-long barrier island not reachable by car. Emerald Isle Beach is about 7 miles away. Carteret County is home to the Croatan National Forest, which offers hunting and hiking. Golfing is close by at Star Hill Golf Club, which features a public 27-hole course.
Swansboro parks range from waterside green spaces like Bicentennial Park, where a statue of the town’s famed shipbuilder Captain Otway Burns overlooks a boardwalk and kayak launch along the White Oak River, to the expansive Swansboro Municipal Park, which features a playground, recreation center and tennis courts that are often used for pickleball. “Swansboro has a big pickleball group. People drive from all over to play,” Buckhead says.
Water is nearly always in view in historic downtown Swansboro
Swansboro’s small-town feel is best illustrated in its historic downtown, where Colonial and Victorian buildings are home to longtime mom-and-pop shops, lively watering holes and restaurants. Regulars pack Yana’s Ye Olde Drugstore Restaurant for diner fare in retro-inspired digs. Around the corner, seafood is the star of the plate at the waterfront Boro Low Country Kitchen. Front Street Groceries stocks local goods, while chain grocery stores and national retailers are a few miles away along state Highway 24. More shopping and dining options are available in nearby towns. “People go between all of the cities,” Buckhold says. “Morehead City has more boutiques and box stores.” Primary care is available close by at Western Carteret Medical Center in Cedar Point. The closest full-service hospital, Carteret Health Care, is about 22 miles away in Morehead City.
Swansboro events involve pirates, art and fish
From annual festivals to informal get-togethers, Swansboro’s community calendar is packed with events. “Every Sunday, they block the streets and people bring their lawn chairs and have concerts,” Buckhold says. In May, the town is filled with costumed revelers for the annual Pirate Fest, where people can enjoy sword-fighting demonstrations, a sunset cruise and other pirate-related activities. Then in June, Swansboro Arts by the Sea highlights local makers and musicians with a street-fair-style party featuring vendors, live music and a juried art competition. One of Swansboro’s biggest celebrations, though, is the Mullet Festival of North Carolina, held each October. The three-day festival that includes a parade and fish fry honors not the beloved hairstyle, but the native mullet fish species, which the region has long relied on. The Mullet Festival first happened in 1954 to celebrate the completion of the White Oak River Bridge. Today, it’s considered the region’s oldest festival.
Onslow County Schools offers some school choice
Onslow County Schools earns a B overall rating from Niche and lets students apply to magnet programs and schools outside their assigned zone. The district has more than 40 schools and specialized centers serving more than 28,000 students. Three schools serve all of Swansboro: Swansboro Elementary and Swansboro Middle, which earn B-plus ratings, and Swansboro High, which gets a B.
Getting around Eastern North Carolina by car, boat and bike
Cars share the road with bikes and street-legal golf carts in Swansboro. State Highway 24 runs through town and connects communities along the Crystal Coast from Morehead City to Jacksonville, which is about 20 miles west of Swansboro. The Intracoastal Waterway serves as a highway for commercial and recreational boaters traveling to destinations like Wilmington and the Outer Banks. Coastal Carolina Regional Airport is 45 miles away.
Important to know
Hurricanes, high winds and flooding are realities of coastal living. In 2018, Hurricane Florence dumped more than 30 inches of rain on Swansboro, where storm surge flooded roadways and buildings downtown. Mandatory evacuations are possible throughout the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts in June and lasts through November.
