Reconstructing Coastal Identity: An Examination of Changing Fisheries and Gentrification in Beaufort, North Carolina

Abstract

Historically, coastal communities across the United States have served as vital industrial and cultural centers. Many have experienced unparalleled changes in the composition of their economy, community, and cultural identity. These shifts can be attributed to the gentrification of coastal landscapes, resulting in a transition away from the dependence on marine resource extraction to a greater reliance on tourism and recreation. Focusing on Beaufort, North Carolina, this project identifies two distinct eras that have significantly impacted and defined the town. Once a productivist-community whose identity and economy centered on commercial fishing, it has now transformed into a consumptive-community focused on garnering the opportunities and amenities of coastal living. Through examination of historical archives, government planning documents, and anthropological studies, this project aims to identify significant trends that led to this restructuring. The results of this research reveal that the process of coastal gentrification cannot be attributed to a single cause. Rather, it is the consequence of numerous regional, national, and global changes in fisheries, tourism, and socioeconomic conditions. The final product of this research is an interactive story map created for the people of Beaufort and other coastal communities. Reframing town-specific trends through the lens of coastal gentrification adds to the present body of literature on this topic and can help those living in coastal communities to make sense of changes happening to their spaces.