2022 Map of Holden Beach

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway separates the barrier island of Holden Beach from the mainland marshes and riverine landscapes of Brunswick County in the early 21st century. This coastal geography is defined by the convergence of the Shallotte River and Lockwoods Folly River, which frame a series of small, established communities like Sivey Town, Fulford, and Secession. The transition from the dense town grid of Shallotte in the northwest to the maritime forests and swamps, such as Bell Swamp and Ox Pen Swamp, illustrates the region's balance between residential development and its natural estuarine systems.