What Is the Roanoke Colony
The Roanoke Colony was an English settlement founded on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. It was established in the 1580s under charter from Queen Elizabeth I and is known as the "Lost Colony" because its settlers disappeared without clear explanation.
Why Is Roanoke Called the Lost Colony
Roanoke is called the lost colony because the 1587 group of about 115 English colonists vanished after Governor John White returned to England for supplies. When he came back in 1590, the settlement was abandoned, and the word "CROATOAN" was carved into a post, but no one was found.
What Happened to the Lost Colony
Historians believe the colonists may have moved to nearby islands, joined local tribes, or scattered, but no definitive evidence has been found. Archaeological work and research continue to examine clues from the site and related records.
For more background on the colony and its history, see the National Park Service overview at The Lost Colony.
