Approximately 20 miles south of Jacksonville on U.S. 17, there are nearly 400 businesses based in Holly Ridge, including restaurants, healthcare facilities, construction services and churches. The local police department sponsors a youth league. Each year, the community sponsors the Little Miss Holly Pageant in November, in addition to the Holly Festival during the Christmas holiday season.

In the 1940's, thousands of Army and Navy troops lived at Camp Davis, a military base on U.S. Highway 17. Missile testing on nearby Topsail Island was based at Holly Ridge, and the town was once considered as a possible site for the U.S. space program.

The missile project that evolved into the space program moved south to Florida and Holly Ridge secured its place in the history of the U.S. Missile Program.

Situated along the New River next door to Camp Lejeune is the city of Jacksonville in Onslow County. Settled in the early 1700’s, Onslow County has a rich and diverse history stemming from the agricultural, timber and fishing pursuits begun by the English and Scottish natives who settled here.

Since 1941 Onslow County has been home to Camp Lejeune Marines and sailors, many of whom relocate here following retirement or discharge. Onslow County offers a wide range of services for service members and their families including a public school system consisting of 19 elementary schools, eight middle schools and seven high schools; Coastal Carolina Community College, which offers programs in general studies, fine arts, natural sciences and technical skills; a public library system with branches throughout the county; a commercial airport served by two major carriers and a 150-bed hospital in Jacksonville.

Approximately 152,000 people make up the metropolitan area population of Jacksonville. The city is the business, retail, medical, banking and cultural center for Onslow County. Marines, sailors and their families use a wide variety of services provided by the city and join in many community events held there throughout the year. A visible link between Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune is the United Services Organization located near the downtown area along the Jacksonville Waterfront Park. The Jacksonville USO is the oldest continuously operating USO, having been founded in 1941. Another symbol of this bond is the Beirut Memorial, located off Lejeune Boulevard near Camp Johnson. The Beirut Memorial project was started by a Jacksonville citizens committee to honor the 271 Marines, sailors and soldiers killed in the Oct. 23, 1983 bombing of the Marines Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Dedicated on the third anniversary of the bombing, this memorial serves as the community’s tribute to those whose lives were taken in Beirut and showcases the close bond shared by Marines and the community here. For families resettling here, Onslow County offers a diversity in landscape, people and culture. Part southern and part cosmopolitan, Onslow County has grown and developed with Camp Lejeune. The area welcomes newly arriving Marines, Sailors and their families.