Oriental is a very small harbor town located on the Neuse River within the inner banks of North Carolina. It is named after the Sailing Steamer Oriental, built in Philadelphia in 1861, but unfortunately, was wrecked just a year later. The town, considered the "Sailing Capital of North Carolina", has a population of about 900 (2013 census), with a median age of 60. It sits midpoint on the Intracoastal Waterway, making it a popular destination for hundreds of boaters as they travel up and down the coast between their summer and winter homes. Oriental has a town dock and marina, seafood companies and fishing charters, but it is also home to photographers, artists, and galleries. The popular television show Dawson's Creek was written by Kevin Williamson, a native of Oriental, and much of the show was filmed here. |