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Rocky Point is an unincorporated community in southern Pender County, positioned north of New Hanover County and within convenient reach of Wilmington. Long before European settlement, Indigenous peoples inhabited the broader Cape Fear region and depended on its rivers, creeks, forests, wetlands, and wildlife. European-American settlement expanded through the area during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as farms, plantations, timber operations, churches, and rural settlements appeared along transportation routes. When Pender County was created from New Hanover County in 1875, Rocky Point became part of a predominantly agricultural county whose economy was closely connected to Wilmington and the Cape Fear region.

Agriculture played a particularly important role in Rocky Point's development. The fertile soils and long growing season of southeastern North Carolina supported a variety of crops, including tobacco, corn, vegetables, soybeans, and other agricultural products. The wider area also became associated with commercial fruit and vegetable production, reflecting the importance of farming to Pender County's economy. Forestry complemented agriculture, with pine forests supplying naval stores in earlier periods and timber and lumber as markets evolved. Farms and forestland remain visible throughout Rocky Point and continue to contribute to the community's rural character.

Transportation infrastructure helped Rocky Point develop strong connections with both Burgaw and Wilmington. U.S. Highway 117 became an important north-south route through the community, providing direct access toward the county seat and the Wilmington area. Interstate 40, constructed nearby, dramatically improved regional travel and made Rocky Point more accessible to commuters and businesses. The interstate provides a direct route toward Wilmington while connecting Pender County with communities farther inland, including the Raleigh metropolitan region.

Rocky Point's location became increasingly advantageous as the Wilmington metropolitan area expanded beyond New Hanover County. Residents could live in a lower-density environment while remaining within commuting distance of employment, healthcare, shopping, higher education, and entertainment in Wilmington. This accessibility encouraged residential development, particularly along major roads and on former agricultural or wooded properties. New neighborhoods gradually appeared alongside older homes, farms, and rural properties, producing a mix of traditional and suburban development patterns.

Community character remains closely connected to the area's rural surroundings. Churches, schools, family farms, local businesses, and community organizations have historically provided important gathering places and social connections. The nearby Northeast Cape Fear River and its associated creeks and wetlands add to the area's natural character. Pender County's low-lying terrain, wooded landscapes, and waterways have influenced development patterns and remain important environmental features for residents and property owners.

Today, Rocky Point has become an increasingly attractive location for homeowners who want convenient access to Wilmington without living in the city's denser neighborhoods. The housing landscape includes older single-family homes, properties with acreage, established subdivisions, and substantial newer construction. Residents can reach Burgaw, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, and Wilmington while maintaining close connections to the forests and agricultural landscapes of southern Pender County. Rocky Point's combination of transportation access, available land, and proximity to Wilmington positions it as an important residential growth area within the greater Cape Fear region.