Farms and land in Onslow County are great investments for developers, businesses and home buyers. Situated in the Coastal Plain, the 906-square-mile Onslow County is bordered by Jones, Carteret, Pender and Duplin counties. The population of 197,938 depends on diverse activities for its economic base. US Highway 17 and US Highway 258 allow easy access for travel and shipping. The Camp Lejeune Marine Base, fishing, tourism, farming and lumbering all contribute to the county’s economic base. The 156,000-acre Camp Lejeune is home to about 43,000 Marines and sailors, and the civilian workforce on the base is a dominant economic factor. Farmland includes 52,500 acres, and 86% of agricultural sales are from livestock and poultry. Topsail Island, situated on the Atlantic Ocean brings in thousands of vacationers and tourists each year. Most of the largest employers are government entities or healthcare related. Fishing and hunting are popular sports, and the extensive coastline, New River, Onslow Bay, Stones Creek, Catherine Lake, Onslow Beach and Wolf and Bachelors Delight swamps provide access to a variety of species of fish. Hunters take advantage of the plentiful numbers of bear, deer and turkeys. Attractions include Lejeune Memorial Gardens honoring lost troops, Lynnwood Park Zoo, African-American Heritage Trail and Huffman Vineyards. Onslow County Schools provides K-12 public education, and Coastal Carolina Community College offers higher education.
