Holly Ridge
The mainland gateway to Topsail—and a town with its own story. WWII Camp Davis heritage, small-town festivals, and beaches just minutes down the road.
Holly Ridge has grown more than 40% since the 2020 Census, driven by US Highway 17 access to both Jacksonville and Wilmington and by strong household incomes. It combines new-rooftop retail demand with the Camp Davis industrial sites that Onslow Coastal Alliance (OCA) is marketing for manufacturing and distribution users.
Retail and consumer market
Housing market
Workforce and education
Competitive assets
- US Highway 17 four-lane corridor with 45-minute reach to Wilmington and its port.
- Camp Davis industrial sites — utilities and highway access for industrial users.
- Highest educational attainment and per capita income among Onslow municipalities.
- Growth-stage housing pipeline supporting employer recruitment.
Development opportunities
- Camp Davis III, Lots 14 & 17 at Camp Davis II, and the US Highway 17 commercial outparcel for manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
- Neighborhood and convenience retail capturing spending that leaks to Jacksonville and Wilmington.
- Professional and medical offices serving the fast-growing US Highway 17 corridor.
Considering Holly Ridge for a project?
We build custom market packets — demographics, labor sheds, wage data, retail leakage, sites, and incentives — for any Onslow County community, at no cost and in confidence.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2025 population estimates; ACS 2020–2024 5-year housing, income, and education; 2022 Economic Census retail sales), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW (2024 Onslow County average annual wage), and NC Department of Commerce / NCWorks labor force data. Place-level Census detail is published only for communities of 5,000 or more residents; where it is unavailable, this profile shows 2020 Census counts and county context, and Onslow Coastal Alliance (OCA) can compile a full ACS packet on request.