Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach Pier
Carolina Beach Pier
Flag of Carolina Beach
Official seal of Carolina Beach
Nickname: 
C.B.
Motto(s): 
"Relax, you’re here."
Location in New Hanover County and the state of North Carolina.
Location in New Hanover County and the state of North Carolina.
Coordinates: 34°02′23″N 77°53′46″W / 34.03972°N 77.89611°W / 34.03972; -77.89611
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyNew Hanover
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorLynn Barbee[1]
 • Mayor Pro TemJay Healy
Area
 • Total
2.74 sq mi (7.09 km2)
 • Land2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2)
 • Water0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,564
 • Density2,677.00/sq mi (1,033.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28428
Area codes910, 472
FIPS code37-10500[4]
GNIS feature ID2405381[3]
Websitecarolinabeach.org

Carolina Beach is a beach town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States, situated about 12 miles (19 km) south of Wilmington International Airport in southeastern coastal North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,564. It is part of the Wilmington metropolitan area. The community of Wilmington Beach was annexed by the town in 2000.

Carolina Beach lies at the northern end of Pleasure Island, which it shares with the community of Kure Beach, south of the inlet that separates the island from the unincorporated community of Sea Breeze. The town has a land area of 2.45 square miles (6.3 km2), extending along the island from Freeman Park in the north to Alabama Avenue in the south. The town borders Kure Beach, which is directly to the south of Carolina Beach. During the summer months, the town of Carolina Beach has live Beach music every Friday night on the boardwalk right near town center.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2).2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (8.13%) is water.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
193095
1940637570.5%
19501,08069.5%
19601,19210.4%
19701,66339.5%
19802,00020.3%
19903,63081.5%
20004,70129.5%
20105,70621.4%
20206,56415.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

2020 census

[edit]
Carolina Beach racial composition[6]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 5,982 91.13%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 53 0.81%
Native American 17 0.26%
Asian 50 0.76%
Pacific Islander 1 0.02%
Other/Mixed 277 4.22%
Hispanic or Latino 184 2.8%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,564 people, 2,876 households, and 1,764 families residing in the town.

2013 census estimate

[edit]

At the 2013 census estimate,[4] there were 2,296 households, and 1,253 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,086.4 people per square mile (805.6 people/km2). There were 4,086 housing units at an average density of 1,813.5 per square mile (700.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.94% White, 0.39% African American,0.50% Asian, and 0.17% from other races.

There were 2,296 households, out of which 18.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03, and the average family size was 2.59.

The population was spread out in the town, with 14.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 34.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,662, and the median income for a family was $44,882. Males had a median income of $31,013 versus $21,241 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,128. About 8.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education

[edit]

The New Hanover County Schools district covers Carolina Beach. Only Carolina Beach Elementary School, founded in 1937, is located in the town.[7] Older students are assigned to Charles P. Murray Middle School and Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington.[8]

History

[edit]

The town was "wiped off the map" by Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Reportedly, 362 buildings were destroyed in the town.[9]

Points of interest

[edit]

Pictures

[edit]
Business front on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk during the off season
Carolina Beach waterfront homes and hotels
Water tower on Dow Road

References

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  1. ^ "Elected Officials". New Hanover County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Carolina Beach, North Carolina
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "History - Carolina Beach School". carolinabeach.nhcs.net.
  8. ^ "New Hanover County, NC". www.croppermap.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  9. ^ John, Schwartz; Timothy, Williams (September 11, 2018). "As Florence's Power Nears the Carolinas, Residents Brace for the Worst". New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  11. ^ "PI Sea Turtle Project".
  12. ^ "Island Greenway".
  13. ^ "Federal Point Historic Preservation Society".
  14. ^ "Britts donuts"."Top 50 Donut Shops in the United States". March 14, 2013.
  15. ^ "Carolina Beach Mooring Field".
[edit]
Preceded by Beaches of Southeastern North Carolina Succeeded by