Carolina Beach, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carolina Beach
Town
Carolina Beach Pier
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  C.B.
Motto(s):  "Relax, you’re here."
Location in New Hanover County and the state of North Carolina.
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	New Hanover
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	2.74 sq mi (7.09 km2)
• Land	2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2)
• Water	0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,564
• Density	2,677.00/sq mi (1,033.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28428
Area codes	910, 472
FIPS code	37-10500
GNIS feature ID	2405381

Carolina Beach is a fun beach town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA. It's located about 12 miles (19 km) south of Wilmington International Airport. In 2020, about 6,564 people lived here. The town of Wilmington Beach became part of Carolina Beach in 2000.

Carolina Beach is at the northern end of Pleasure Island. It shares the island with Kure Beach to the south. The town stretches from Freeman Park in the north to Alabama Avenue in the south. During summer, you can enjoy live beach music every Friday night on the boardwalk!

Geography of Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach covers a total area of about 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²). Most of this area, about 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), is water.

People Living in Carolina Beach

Population Growth Over Time

The number of people living in Carolina Beach has grown a lot over the years:

Who Lives Here (2020)

In 2020, there were 6,564 people living in Carolina Beach. There were 2,876 households and 1,764 families. Most people in Carolina Beach are White (about 91%). Other groups include Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. About 2.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Carolina Beach

The New Hanover County Schools district manages the schools in Carolina Beach. The only school located directly in the town is Carolina Beach Elementary School, which opened in 1937. Older students attend Charles P. Murray Middle School and Eugene Ashley High School, both located in Wilmington.

History of Carolina Beach

A major event in the town's history was Hurricane Hazel in 1954. This powerful hurricane caused a lot of damage, destroying 362 buildings in Carolina Beach.

Fun Places to Visit

Carolina Beach has many interesting places to explore:

• Carolina Beach Pier: A great spot for fishing and enjoying ocean views.
• LORAN-C transmitter Carolina Beach: A tall tower that was once part of a navigation system.
• Fort Fisher: A historic site from the American Civil War.
• North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher: A fun place to see marine animals and learn about ocean life.
• Carolina Beach State Park: Offers hiking trails, camping, and a marina.
• Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex and Newton Homesite and Cemetery: These are historic places listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Freeman Park: You can drive your 4WD vehicle right onto the beach here and even camp overnight!
• Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project: Learn about sea turtles and how to protect them.
• Island Greenway: A beautiful path for walking and biking.
• Federal Point Historic Preservation Society: Discover the local history of the area.
• Britt's Donuts: A famous local spot known for its delicious donuts.
• Carolina Beach Mooring Field: A place where boats can safely anchor.

Images for kids

Business front on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk during the off season

Carolina Beach waterfront homes and hotels

Water tower on Dow Road