Sunset Beach is a seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,175 at the 2020 census, up from 3,572 in 2010 and 1,824 in 2000. It is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area and the southernmost beach in the state.

History

The seaside town of Sunset Beach got its start in 1955 when the land it occupies was bought by Mannon C. Gore. Impressed by the sunsets the southeast-facing island offered, he renamed 'Bald Beach,' as it had been called previously, to 'Sunset Beach.' Development began in earnest with the completion of a bridge connecting the beach island to the mainland in 1958, modeled by Gore and operated by him until 1961 when it was taken over by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. With the help of his son, Edward, Gore began selling property on the island in 1958. Additionally, Gore built the original pier on the island, named the 'Vesta Pier' for the beached civil war blockade-runner which sat beneath the structure, though is now completely covered by sand. Sunset Beach was later incorporated as a town in 1963.

On February 15, 2021, an EF3 tornado hit the north side of town around midnight, damaging multiple homes in several neighborhoods, including some that were completely destroyed. Three people were killed and 10 others were injured.

Geography

Sunset Beach is located in southwestern Brunswick County. It is the last developed Atlantic Ocean beach before the South Carolina border. One-third of the town's area occupies a barrier island between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway; the remainder of the town extends onto the mainland to the north. Undeveloped Bird Island is directly to the west, Calabash is the closest town to the west on the mainland. Ocean Isle Beach is to the east, just past the easternmost point of Sunset Beach, Krause Point.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Sunset Beach has a total area of , of which is land, and (12.22%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Sunset Beach had a population of 4,175. The median age was 68.0 years. 4.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 60.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.3 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,276 households in Sunset Beach, of which 5.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 60.1% were married-couple households, 12.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.The Old Bridge has been moved and now serves as a museum and gift shop, sitting almost directly under the Mannon C. Gore bridge. The new bridge eliminates the need for a bridge keeper and provides for a continual flow of vehicle traffic on and off the island, and water traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway.

thumb|Sunset Beach Beach Houses at Dusk

thumb|A beach house at Sunset Beach, NC named "SandTrap"

Housing in Sunset Beach

The town consists of both mainland neighborhoods and a barrier island of approximately 1,200 homes. Three of the larger mainland neighborhoods in the town are golf course developments at Oyster Bay, Sea Trail Resort and Sandpiper Bay. Ocean Ridge Plantation, while not in the town limits, has one of its "sister communities" in Sunset Beach's ETJ. Ocean Ridge has an amenities center/clubhouse on the island, while Sea Trail Home Owners Association has a designated parking lot for members. The island is primarily home to vacation rental homes and cottages, although there are close to 100 full-time residents as well.

References

The Old Bridge has been moved and is now a museum and gift shop, sitting almost directly under the new Mannon C. Gore bridge.

  • Town of Sunset Beach official website
  • Visitors' website
  • SunsetBeach InsiderInfo.us Area Guide
  • Pictures of Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge
  • Old Bridge Preservation Society