Best known as the base camp for Wilbur and Orville Wright during their quest to become the first in flight, Kitty Hawk offers a wide variety of areas and activities that appeal to residents and vacationers alike.  In Kitty Hawk, you can find oceanside communities, sound side communities and a wonderful nature preserve called Kitty Hawk Woods.  There are also an abundance of great locally-owned shops and restaurants. 

Kitty Hawk was home to one of the seven original lifesaving stations on the Outer Banks, constructed in 1874.  One of the great things about Kitty Hawk is its 7 public beach accesses with free parking, making it easy for all to enjoy the beach.  There are also a number of public sound side accesses.

Origin of the name - There are a number of theories on where the name came from but most agree that it has its origins in a Native American word.  This is where different theories emerge.  One theory holds that the name has its origins in the local Native Americans' reference to the time for hunting geese, known as "killy honker".  Through the years the legend has that the name morphed to the current Kitty Hawk. 

Another theory holds that the word originally appeared on English settlers' maps as "Chickehawk" or "Chickahawk" in the early 1700's. The name was mispronounced and by the late 1700's, local residents spelled the name as we do today. You can find old land deeds from the 1700's referring to settlements as "Kittyhuk," "Kittyhark," KittyHawk," and "Kitty Hawk".