Bogue Banks form a 21mi barrier island off the mainland of North Carolina in Carteret County. The island, separated from the mainland by Bogue Sound, runs east to west, with the ocean beaches facing due south. Bogue Banks is the only island on the Carteret County shore that has been developed with housing: numerous communities are located on the island and can be accessed by one of two bridges across Bogue Sound, either from Morehead City to Atlantic Beach, which is the more heavily traveled bridge, or from Cape Carteret to Emerald Isle. The communities of Bogue Banks are the most prominent of the Crystal Coast. NC 58 traverses a majority of the island's length. There are several hotels that dot the island, but most of the land contains private houses, which are rented out during the summer, or maritime forest. Stores and other commercial properties are limited to the five main communities.HistoryDuring a survey titled "The Greater Beaufort Area at 1800" completed by the North Carolina State College, or present-day North Carolina State University's School of Design preserves the original place names for the area surrounding Beaufort. The School of Design delineators were; L. B. Askew Jr., W. M. Coble and E. H. Williams Jr. and show the place name of present-day Bogue Banks as Bordens Banks with the present-day inlet near Beaufort, North Carolina as Topsail Inlet. Also represented is the present-day location of Morehead City, North Carolina, known in 1800 as Shepard's Point, which was owned by the Shepards Point Land Company.
