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Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Population: 4,238
Located in Dare County

Not to be confused with nearby Kill Devil Hill, where the Memorial Pylon stands, Kill Devil Hills is the largest incorporated municipality in Dare County.

Kill Devil Hills is the Outer Banks' oldest township, established in 1952. But the landmark that lends the town its distinctive name has been around much longer. At one time, the northern Outer Banks was characterized by a series of sand mountains over 100 feet high. These dunes stretched from sound to sea, from Corolla south to Nags Head. Kill Devil Hill was one of the larger of the dunes, and stories about how the monolith got its name are varied and colorful; the generally accepted one is that it is named for 'Kill Devil,' a brand of rum found washed ashore during the colonial period.

Whatever the origins of its name, the dune was the site of the Wright Brothers first heavier-than-air flight in 1903, which placed Kill Devil Hills forever in the history books. In the 1930s, workers planted hearty grasses on the dune to prevent it from continually shifting, then constructed the impressive Wright Brothers Memorial which is visible for miles.

Today, Kill Devil Hills is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the Outer Banks. With thousands of rental homes, great restaurants, sports and activities, and shopping, Kill Devil Hills is at the center of an Outer Banks vacation.

But the area has a lot more than miles of beautiful pristine beaches, it is steeped in history, enhanced by legends and brimming with things to do! This is also where you can find a 400-acre park that encompasses the highest living sand dune on the East Coast.

See the site where Sir Walter Raleigh's explorers and colonists established settlements in 1585 and in 1587 and the birthplace of Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in America before the colony's mysterious disappearance.

This is a rather select area in which to live, and although there are lots available and even some houses, the prices are steep, as land is limited; much of the area is protected. However, for those who can, be prepared to start your bidding at $450,000 for a 1,400 square foot home, and the prices go on up from there. The homes are beautiful though, and many of the newer ones have spectacular views of the Outer Banks.

Come and see whether Kill Devil Hills is the place you want to call home - with so many interesting facts and history about the place, you are sure to feel like you are living in a piece of history yourself!

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