Holden Beach, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holden Beach, North Carolina
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Intracoastal Waterway with Holden Beach Bridge in the background
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| Motto(s):
"The Family Beach"
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 Holden Beach, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| County | Brunswick | ||
| Township | Lockwoods Folly Township | ||
| Incorporated | 1969 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.75 sq mi (9.70 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 921 | ||
| • Density | 303.66/sq mi (117.23/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
28462
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| Area codes | 910, 472 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-31960 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2405849 | ||
Holden Beach is a lovely seaside town located in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It's a popular spot for families to visit! In 2020, about 921 people lived here. The town is known for its beautiful beaches and calm atmosphere.
Contents
Exploring Holden Beach Geography
Holden Beach is found in the southern part of Brunswick County. It sits on a long, narrow piece of land called a barrier island. This island is about 8 miles (13 km) long. It has the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other.
To the west, you'll find Shallotte Inlet, and to the east, Lockwoods Folly Inlet. A single road, North Carolina Highway 130, connects Holden Beach to the mainland. This road crosses the Intracoastal Waterway. From Holden Beach, it's about 10 miles (16 km) northwest to the town of Shallotte.
The town of Holden Beach covers a total area of about 3.75 square miles (9.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 20% is water.
The History of Holden Beach
Early Settlers and Land Grants
Long ago, even before the American Revolution, people started settling near the Lockwood's Folly River. They wanted land and applied for special permits. After paying a small fee, they could get a permanent grant from the Royal Governor, Arthur Dobbs.
In 1756, a man named Benjamin Holden bought four pieces of land on the mainland. He also bought the island between his land and the ocean. This island stretched about 6 miles (10 km) from Lockwood's Folly Inlet to Bacon Inlet. Benjamin and his sons used the island for fishing and raising cattle.
Shipwrecks and the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Holden Beach and Lockwood's Folly Inlet became the resting place for several ships. These included Confederate blockade runners like the CSS Elizabeth and CSS Bendigo. A Union blockade ship, the USS Iron Age, also sank here.
You can still see parts of the Bendigo on the eastern end of the island when the tide is low. Its wreck is marked with an orange buoy. The ship is about 200 feet (61 meters) long, but only a small part of its engine and top are visible. It's possible to swim to the wreck at low tide, but be careful! It's covered in old fishing hooks and gear.
Developing the Beach Resort
John Holden, Benjamin's grandson, started a fishing business on the island. In 1924, he planned out a section of the island and called it "Holden Beach Resort." This was the first time beach property in Brunswick County was divided up for sale.
In 1925, John built the first Holden Beach bridge. Sadly, it was later destroyed when the Inland Waterway was built. He worked with North Carolina to get a public ferry service to the island, but he passed away before it started in 1934.
Luther S. Holden, John's son, took over the old hotel his father built. He started developing the nearby land and moved to the island permanently in 1946. Later, Luther's son, John F. Holden, began building more homes and renting them to people on vacation.
In the early 1940s, you could buy a house right on the ocean with land for about $600! John F. Holden and his wife, Johnsie, really helped Holden Beach grow into the popular resort area it is today. Their sons, Lyn and J. Alan Holden, are the seventh generation of Holdens to live on Holden Beach.
Hurricane Hazel and Rebuilding
In 1954, there were about 300 homes on the island and a turnbridge. On October 15, 1954, a very strong storm called Hurricane Hazel hit the area. It caused a lot of damage, and rebuilding was slow.
On February 14, 1969, Holden Beach officially became an incorporated town. This meant it could have its own local government. On May 13, 1986, a new, tall steel and concrete bridge was opened. This made it much easier to get to the island, which by then had over 1,900 homes.
Holden Beach Chapel
The only church on the island, the Holden Beach Chapel, started as a Bible study in Luther S. Holden's home. Land was eventually given, and the church was built in the 1940s. Hurricane Hazel destroyed it in 1954, but it was quickly rebuilt. Today, the chapel serves many people who live in and visit Holden Beach.
Holden Beach Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 136 | — | |
| 1980 | 232 | 70.6% | |
| 1990 | 626 | 169.8% | |
| 2000 | 787 | 25.7% | |
| 2010 | 575 | −26.9% | |
| 2020 | 921 | 60.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2010 census, 575 people lived in Holden Beach. There were 296 households, which are groups of people living together. Most of the people living in Holden Beach were White (99.3%).
About 6.4% of the population was under 18 years old. Most people (54.3%) were between 18 and 64. A large number, 39.3%, were 65 years old or older. The average age in Holden Beach was 62.1 years. There were slightly more females (51.7%) than males (48.3%).
