Holden Beach, originally settled before the American Revolution, extends east to west, from Lockwood's Folly Inlet to the Shallotte Inlet. The island was initially purchased back in 1756 after a land grant was issued from British Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs, and it was often used for fishing and cattle grazing. The beautiful beach got its name from John Holden who started a commercial fishery on the island and, in 1924, surveyed a section which he called Holden Beach Resort. This plot represented the first subdivision of beach property in Brunswick County.