Knotts Island is a marshy island and a small

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

. The island is shared by Currituck County, North Carolina and

Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...

, United States, bounded by the

Currituck Sound Currituck Sound ()
, from the North Carolina Collection's website at the

, North Landing River, Back Bay, and Knotts Island Bay. Knotts Island is home to Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. Knotts Island is accessible overland from

Virginia Beach Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous ci ...

using Princess Anne Road, or by water from the Currituck County mainland; the

North Carolina Department of Transportation The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina. History The North Carolina ...

operates a free

ferry A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water ta ...

between Knotts Island and Currituck on the mainland. The ZIP Code for Knotts Island is 27950. This island is a hunting and fishing community. It has numerous duck hunting blinds located in the bay as well as on land and is home to the Swan Island Hunting Club, a guided duck hunting club located across the bay on Swan Island. It is a favorite winter travel destination of artist/painter Bob Timberlake, among others. Over the years, many residents of the former

Outer Banks The Outer Banks (frequently abbreviated OBX) are a string of barrier islands and spits off the coast of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, on the east coast of the United States. They line most of the North Carolina coastline, separating ...

community of

Wash Woods, Virginia Wash Woods was an unincorporated town on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the former Princess Anne County (now the independent City of Virginia Beach), in the southeastern corner of Virginia. It has been abandoned since the 1930s, except for th ...

moved across the sound to settle on Knotts Island. Eventually, Wash Woods became a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...

, but descendants continue to live on Knotts Island to this day. The island supports an elementary school, two churches, a post office, and a community park. There are several businesses located on the island. Knotts Island Market is the original general store on the island. Next to the market now there is a Dollar General store. The only restaurant and bar on the island is Pearl's Bay Villa, commonly referred to as "Pearl's" in reference to the former owner. There are no lodgings except for a single Airbnb on Knotts Island Bay. There is also a winery on the Island: Martin Farm and Winery which offers waterfront views with a wine tasting room and ‘pick-your-own’ peaches, apples, and muscadine grapes. Knotts Island hosts a Peach Festival every year in June.

References

External links

Knotts Island Web SiteCurrituck County Visitors Site
{{authority control Populated places in Currituck County, North Carolina Landforms of Virginia Beach, Virginia Islands of North Carolina Populated coastal places in North Carolina