North Carolina Reserve

Currituck Banks - North Carolina Reserve

Cultural History

Before the settlement of northeastern North Carolina, the area known as Currituck County was home to the Poteskeet Indians. Although their main village was located on the mainland, the Poteskeet hunted and fished Currituck Sound and on Currituck Banks. In 1584, the English first attempted settlement in the New World on nearby Roanoke Island. English settlers started moving into the region by the late seventeenth century and survived by farming and fishing. They lived on the Currituck mainland and transported cattle and sheep to the Banks to feed on the abundant marsh grasses.

Until the early 1800's, Currituck Sound was directly connected to the Atlantic Ocean by one or more inlets through the Banks. By 1680, shifting sands began to fill the inlet(s) and eventually closed it. This began the transformation of Currituck Sound from a high-salinity estuarine environment to a low-salinity estuarine environment. The marshes and waters of Currituck Sound became well known throughout the nation as prime waterfowl and hunting grounds. Hunting clubhouses sprung up around the Sound.

During the late 1800's and early 1900's, several small farming and fishing communities were established on the Banks. Lifesaving stations and a lighthouse were built in the area following a series of shipwrecks in the 1870's. The area was used for gill-netting, after a permanent settlement was established in the late 1890's. As fishing and farming declined during the 20th century, waterfowl hunting and sport fishing became increasingly popular. Since WWII, real estate development has played an important role in shaping the character of Currituck Banks. Although the Banks remain sparsely settled compared to other parts of the North Carolina coast, the area is changing rapidly.