Salvo, North Carolina

Salvo is the southernmost and quietest of Hatteras Island's Tri-Villages, a few miles past Waves on NC-12. Originally called Clarksville, the village got its present name, the story goes, from a Union gunboat commander during the Civil War who, unable to find the settlement on his charts, ordered his crew to "give it a salvo anyway" — the name stuck and became official when the post office opened in 1901.

The Smallest Post Office in America

For decades, Salvo was known nationally for its post office, a tiny wooden building so small that visitors regularly mistook it for an information booth or an outhouse. It operated from 1901 until 1988; the original structure later burned down in 1992, and an exact replica now stands in the village as a local landmark and unofficial photo stop.

Purely Residential

With a population of just over 300, Salvo has essentially no commercial strip — no shopping center, chain restaurants, or nightlife — just a scatter of vacation cottages, a campground, and direct beach and soundside access. It's the pick on Hatteras Island for travelers who want quiet above all else, with Rodanthe's and Avon's services still just a short drive away.