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Hampstead is an unincorporated community in southeastern Pender County along the coastal corridor between Wilmington and the Topsail Island area. The region was inhabited by Indigenous peoples long before European settlement, with coastal waterways, forests, tidal creeks, and wetlands providing important natural resources. European-American settlement gradually expanded through what later became Pender County as farms, timber operations, fisheries, and small communities developed. Hampstead remained predominantly rural for much of its early history, characterized by forests, agricultural land, scattered residences, churches, and businesses serving local families.

Agriculture and forestry formed much of the area's traditional economic base. Pine forests supported timber and naval-stores production throughout southeastern North Carolina, while local farms produced crops and livestock suited to the Coastal Plain. Hampstead's proximity to tidal creeks, the Intracoastal Waterway, and coastal sounds also supported fishing, shellfish harvesting, and other water-related activities. The area's waterways gradually became increasingly important for recreation as well as commerce, laying the groundwork for the boating-oriented lifestyle associated with modern Hampstead.

Transportation has been one of the most important influences on Hampstead's transformation. U.S. Highway 17 runs directly through the community and connects it with Wilmington to the southwest and Jacksonville to the northeast. As the highway improved and regional automobile travel increased, Hampstead became a practical residential location for people working in Wilmington, coastal Pender County, Onslow County, and nearby military communities. Roads leading east also provide access to Surf City and Topsail Island, strengthening the community's relationship with the Atlantic coast.

The growth of Wilmington and the popularity of the Topsail Island area dramatically increased residential demand in Hampstead during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Subdivisions, golf communities, waterfront neighborhoods, townhomes, commercial centers, and new construction expanded throughout the area. What had once been primarily a rural corridor evolved into one of Pender County's most prominent residential growth areas. Despite this expansion, wooded tracts, creeks, wetlands, and established rural properties remain visible throughout the community.

Hampstead has developed a strong community identity around coastal living, schools, recreation, and access to the water. Boating, fishing, kayaking, golf, and beach activities are common parts of the local lifestyle. The community's location near the Intracoastal Waterway makes waterfront and water-access properties particularly desirable. Local businesses, restaurants, healthcare services, schools, and recreational facilities have expanded as the population has grown, reducing the need for residents to travel into Wilmington for every service.

Today, Hampstead is one of the most active residential markets in the Wilmington-Pender County corridor. Homeowners can choose among established single-family neighborhoods, waterfront properties, golf communities, townhomes, rural residences, and extensive new construction. The area offers convenient access to Wilmington while placing residents close to Surf City, Topsail Beach, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Hampstead's combination of coastal recreation, expanding amenities, transportation access, and residential growth has transformed it from a rural community into an increasingly important part of the greater Wilmington region.