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Off the beaten path, you'll find three communities
with their own unique character, yet still intertwined
with the oceanfront area. All have special histories
and are within the current city boundaries.
Dam Neck may
have gotten its name from the profusion of beaver
dams that were used as reference points in colonial
deeds. The "Neck" would have come from
the common usage of the term "neck" as
a piece of land surrounded by bays and creeks. The
area was famous for the Dam Neck Windmills,
with the first mills recorded as being in use by
1780. Using wind power from the ocean breezes, the
mills would grind corn and grains into meal and flour.
The U.S. Lifesaving Service built Dam Neck Mills
Lifesaving Station in 1881 and as with other
stations, a village grew up around this structure.
With its proximity to Back Bay and the many
other lakes and woodlands in the immediate area,
Dam Neck became a popular spot for fresh water fishing
and hunting. A corporation was set up in the late
1920s to develop the area into a resort, but the
timing was a bit late. The Depression forced the
group into bankruptcy.
During World War II, the U. S. Navy bought the property
at Dam Neck and built a training center. Today the
Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic sits
where the windmills and lifesaving station once stood.
Just to the south of Dam Neck sits Sandbridge.
Its name was derived from the narrow sliver of land
it is situated on that protects the Back Bay area
from the encroachment of the sea. Developed in the
sixties as a cottage resort community, the southernmost
end of the area was once part of the Little Island
Station community of 1881. Only a few buildings
sprang up around this most remote of the stations
and in 1933 the hurricane swept all but the main
Coast Guard Station away.
Little Island City Park is one of the primary
access points into the Back Bay National Wildlife
Refuge. Established in 1938, the refuge including
False Cape State Park, encompasses 4,600 acres
of beaches, dunes, woodland and tidal marsh that
is home to over 200 species of waterfowl and other
birds. A new service has opened Back Bay access to
those other than hikers. From April through October,
Transit Back Bay, an electric tram system,
allows visitors to get a good look at all aspects
of this varied wildlife community.
Today, Sandbridge is still a cottage and residential
community. With beach erosion occurring during every
northeast storm or hurricane, the residents continually
battle the sea for every inch of land.
Founded as a township in 1870, Pungo
was annexed by the city in 1963. The area has a human
history that goes back over 3,000 years. The name
derives from Pungo Ridge, an ancient dune line that
runs from Princess Anne Road southeast through the
current area called Pungo. The main road that follows
the dune line was formerly an old Indian trail and
it leads to "Downtown" Pungo with
its famous "Stoplight". This area was once
the site of an old Indian village. Still rural in
its nature and appearance, Pungo has some outstanding
restaurants and is famous for its Annual Strawberry
Festival that takes place each May on Memorial
Day Weekend. Boat ramps providing access into the
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge can be found
in the Pungo area.
Reserve Early...while
your preferred accommodations are still available.
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