Carolina Beach is a beach town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States, situated about 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 , 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

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it (8.13%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,564 people and 3,090 households in the town, including 1,764 family households.

The median age was 50.8 years. 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.

Of the town's 3,090 households, 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 48.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Older students are assigned to Charles P. Murray Middle School and Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington.

History

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

Points of interest

  • Carolina Beach Pier
  • LORAN-C transmitter Carolina Beach
  • Fort Fisher
  • North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
  • Carolina Beach State Park
  • Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex, and Newton Homesite and Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Freeman Park - Located on the North end of Carolina Beach where beachgoers can drive onto the beach with a 4WD vehicle and camp overnight.
  • Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project
  • Island Greenway
  • Federal Point Historic Preservation Society
  • Britt's Donuts
  • Carolina Beach Mooring Field

Pictures

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|thumb|left|Business front on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk during the off season

|thumb|Carolina Beach waterfront homes and hotels

|thumb|upright|Water tower on Dow Road

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References

  • Official Town of Carolina Beach, NC website