Hatteras Island (historically,
Croatoan Island) is a
barrier island located off the North Carolina coast. Dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the
Pamlico Sound, it runs parallel to the coast, forming a bend at
Cape Hatteras. It is part of North Carolina's
Outer Banks and includes the towns of
Rodanthe,
Waves,
Salvo,
Avon,
Buxton,
Frisco, and
Hatteras. It contains the largest part of the
Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is almost entirely in
Dare County, North Carolina, but there is a very small sliver of about which extends southwest into
Hyde County.