Once you have spent time in Oriental, NC, you will find this sailing and fishing village of 900 people is not quite like anywhere else. The history of Oriental NC is part of that feeling.
Oriental NC was settled by Louis B. Midyette in the 1870’s. Legend says that "Uncle Lou", as he was known, anchored his sailboat in the protected waters of Oriental North Carolina to escape a gale. He was sailing from New Bern NC back to his home in Dare County where he was a farmer and a fisherman. Storytellers claim that the next morning Lou went ashore and climbed a tree. He was captivated by the beautiful landscape and all of the waterfront created by the many creeks. He returned home to persuade others to join his family in moving to Oriental NC. Real estate in Oriental, NC has captivated "newcomers" ever since—particularly boating enthusiasts who love the North Carolina waterfront properties, which are becoming rarer in Oriental NC than ever.
Conveniently located along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Oriental NC is a popular stop for "snowbirds" cruising south for the winter or heading north for the summer. Many residents will tell you that their first visit to Oriental NC was by water while cruising coastal North Carolina and that they too decided to make Oriental North Carolina their home. The population of Oriental NC is about 900.
Why is it called Oriental?
Most stories heard around Oriental NC seem to have a boat in them. The origin of the town's name is no different.
|
The United States Post Office Department established a post office here back in 1886. Lou Midyette was named postmaster of what was then known as Smith’s Creek. Lou's wife, Rebecca, thought the village needed a better name.
Rebecca had found the nameplate from the sunken ship "Oriental" on the beaches of the Outer Banks (some stories say she just saw it in a Manteo home - but either way the name "Oriental" made an impression on her).
The sailing steamer Oriental was built in 1861 in Philadelphia, and was used as a Federal transport ship in the Civil War. She met her fate in May of 1862, shipwrecked off Bodie Island 33 miles north of Cape Hatteras. The passengers and crew were saved. Today, one of the Oriental's portholes is on display at the Oriental NC History Museum. The fate of the "Oriental" nameplate is unknown.
The village became known as Oriental NC a few years after the post office was established, and Oriental North Carolina was incorporated in 1899.
Contact Suzanne Gwaltney or Larry Gwaltney at (252) 249-1787
or Anthony French at (252) 633-0663
Email info@riverneusesuites.com
