An archipelago (series of islands) and complex barrier island system extending generally southward from the North Carolina-Virginia boundary area to Cape Lookout and then generally westward to Bogue Inlet (q.v.). Some consider the Outer Banks to extend further, but beyond Bogue Inlet, they are mostly offshore marsh islands although barrier isalnds exist further south in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
The Outer Banks, and specifically Roanoke Island (q.v.), is the site of the first attempted English Colony in North America in 1587. The governor, White, left for England to re-supply the colony, but was delayed by the impending attack by the Spanish Armada. When he finally was able to return in 1590, no trace of the colony was found, only the word CROATOAN carved in a post, which was the name of some local Indians in the area. Rough weather made searching impossible. Numerous attempts were made over the years to find "The Lost Colony", even by the settlers at Jamestown, but no trace was ever found. The first English child born in the "New World", Virginia Dare, was born here.