1990 Map of Holden Beach

About this map

Holden Beach stretches along the Atlantic coast, separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway and the tidal reaches of the Shallotte River. This 1990 edition captures the coastal landscape as residential development concentrated along the barrier island, while the inland Boone Neck and surrounding lowlands retained a network of traditional community anchors. Numerous country churches and family-named cemeteries, such as Lettis Grove Ch and the Riley Hewett Cem, serve as primary markers for small settlements like Sivey Town and Varnamtown. The geography is defined by the transition from agricultural land and sandpits to the maritime environment of Boone Channel and Long Bay. Evidence of older transportation methods remains visible through labels like Holden Ferry, even as boat ramps and modern beach infrastructure began to dominate the shoreline character. The map is a detailed record of Brunswick County’s coastal evolution, showing the persistent presence of inland communities like Oak Grove and Fulford alongside the growing vacation architecture of the strand.