Hampstead, North Carolina

The small village of Hampstead, North Carolina is an unincorporated town in Pender County between Wilmington and Jacksonville on U.S. Route 17. It reaches from the Onslow County line in the north to New Hanover county line in the south and its width is limited by Topsail Island on the east to the Holly Shelter Game Preserve in the west. It is known as the "sea-food capital of the Carolina's".

Schools

There are two elementary schools, North and South Topsail Elementary. Plans for a third titled Central Topsail Elementary have been approved. There is one middle school named Topsail Middle School and one high school, Topsail High School, which is located right next to Topsail Middle and within walking distance of the Hampstead Branch Library. There are also plans for a new High School that have been approved and construcion has begun as of fall 2006.

Golfing and Golf Courses

Hampstead is well known for the golfing amenities that it offers. Only a few miles away from "Wilmington, N.C.", the area has four golf courses that attract golfers with beautiful amenities and competitive prices. From budget golfing (Topsail Greens) to high quality mid-range golf courses (Olde Golf and Country Club and Castle Bay) there is ample choice. Several golf course communities of which the Olde Point community is the Oldest and established.

Emergency Services

The Hampstead area is served by two volunteer fire departments: Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department and Sloop Point Volunteer Fire Department. Hampstead also has Topsail Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Hampstead is also served by Pender EMS for medical emergencies and the Pender County Sheriff’s Department.

Expansion

Pender County is presently developing and expanding their county water system for the Hampstead area and is planning to add a sewer system in the future. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has now built a bypass around Hampstead that ties in to the new I-140 bypass around Wilmington to the south and west. The Hampstead area now also has upgraded highway 17 to a four lane road, hereby preventing upcoming traffic problems when the area grows larger.

Local Events

Every year, there are events where Hampstead comes together such as the Spot Festival, the Relay For Life and the Hampstead Expo. The Spot Festival is a long held tradition that celebrates one of the most abundant and favorite fish found in the area, held in 2006 on September 23 and 24. The Relay For Life is a walkathon sponsored by local groups to raise support for the American Cancer Association. The Hampstead Expo is an event sponsored by the Greater Hampstead Chamber of Commerce that brings local businesses together with the people of the community, encouraging local people to support their local businesses.

See Also

• Topsail High School
• Topsail Island
• Topsail Beach, North Carolina
• North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
• Topsail Island News, Real Estate & Events