Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
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Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Pier
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| Motto(s):
"Unchanged"
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 Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Brunswick | |
| Township | Shallotte Township | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.72 sq mi (12.22 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.74 sq mi (9.69 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.98 sq mi (2.53 km2) | |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 867 | |
| • Density | 231.69/sq mi (89.47/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
28469
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| Area codes | 910, 472 | |
| FIPS code | 37-48700 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407032 | |
Ocean Isle Beach, often called Ocean Isle or OIB, is a charming seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It officially became a town in 1959. This small town is part of the larger Wilmington metropolitan area. In 2020, about 867 people lived here.
Ocean Isle Beach is located at the very southern end of North Carolina's Atlantic coastline. It sits right along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The town is a popular spot with private homes, vacation rentals, and fun things for visitors to do.
Contents
History of Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach has a cool roundabout at North Carolina Highway 179. This special traffic circle has a brick wall that says "Welcome to Ocean Isle Beach." It also features three bronze statues of children happily playing with kites.
The town received a special award in 2008 for being the "Best Restored Beach." This award came from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. Ocean Isle Beach started working on its beach restoration after Hurricane Hugo caused a lot of damage in 1989. The town worked hard to get money from the government and saved up its own funds.
Engineers began the restoration project in 2001. They added high-quality sand to the beach. They also made the channel deeper for boats. The award judges looked at how the beach helped the local economy and nature. They also checked how successful the project was in the short and long term. Finally, they considered the challenges the community overcame.
Geography and Weather
Ocean Isle Beach is located in the southwest part of Brunswick County. The town covers a barrier island that stretches about 5 miles (8 km). This island goes from Tubbs Inlet in the west to Shallotte Inlet in the east. A part of the town is also on the mainland to the north, along North Carolina Highway 904.
The town's total area is about 4.5 square miles (11.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.3 square miles (8.8 square kilometers), is land. The rest is water.
Ocean Isle Beach Weather
The weather in Ocean Isle is usually warm, but it can change. In the summer of 2021, the average temperature was around 88°F (31°C). In the winter of 2020, it was about 58°F (14°C).
It often rains at the end of summer, and lightning storms happen frequently. Hurricanes are also common in this area. For example, Hurricane Hugo caused a lot of damage in 1989. In 2020, Hurricane Isaias hit near Ocean Isle Beach. It was a strong Category 1 hurricane. It caused significant damage to homes near the water and to the fishing pier.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 5 | — | |
| 1970 | 78 | 1,460.0% | |
| 1980 | 143 | 83.3% | |
| 1990 | 523 | 265.7% | |
| 2000 | 426 | −18.5% | |
| 2010 | 550 | 29.1% | |
| 2020 | 867 | 57.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
A census is like a big count of all the people living in a place. It helps us understand how communities are growing and changing.
2020 Census Information
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 822 | 94.81% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.35% |
| Asian | 6 | 0.69% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.12% |
| Other/Mixed | 20 | 2.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15 | 1.73% |
According to the 2020 United States census, 867 people lived in Ocean Isle Beach. There were 374 households and 289 families living in the town at that time.
Arts and Culture in Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach is often called the "Gem of the Brunswick Islands." It is located along the coast between Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The beach runs from east to west. It offers a fishing pier and a public boat launch. You can also directly access the Intracoastal Waterway here. There are beach paths every 500 feet (150 meters).
The Museum of Coastal Carolina is a great place to visit. It has cool displays about coastal life. There's even a touch tank where you can feel sea creatures. The museum also has collections of artifacts from the Civil War and Native American history. Plus, it offers many interactive exhibits for visitors.
Mysterious Lights and Beach Changes
There's a popular myth in Ocean Isle Beach about mysterious lights. People sometimes see these lights floating over the ocean at night. No one knows for sure what they are. Some think they might be drones, stars, or even fishing boats. People have reported seeing the lights split apart and then join back together.
One of the streets on the eastern side of Ocean Isle was once flooded. Now, it is completely underwater. Pieces of the old asphalt from this street have washed up on the beaches. To help protect against future flooding, sandbags have been placed under the stilted houses on "second street." The beaches have also been manually expanded. As of 2022, the beaches on the east side of the island have been greatly cleaned and restored.
Parks and Recreation
Brunswick County has built a new 58-acre (23-hectare) recreational park on the mainland. This park offers many fun things to do. It has an amphitheater for performances and festival grounds. There are also ball parks and lighted tennis courts. You can enjoy biking trails too. This park is located on Old Georgetown Road. It was partly funded by a $500,000 federal grant for parks in the county.
Another project is the Shallotte Blvd Recreation Area. This is a joint effort between the Ocean Isle Beach Land Conservancy and the Town of Ocean Isle Beach. This park will be at Shallotte Blvd, near the ferry landing on the east end of the island. It will have a gazebo, picnic tables, and a fishing pier. There will also be a walkway with steps leading down to the sand.
On Ocean Isle Beach island itself, the town recently finished a community area. This area includes an amphitheater, a playground, a small water play area, and bathrooms. Also, a children's play area and a public gazebo are on the eastern end of the island. They are right next to the Intracoastal Waterway. There is also a concert stage there. The Town of Ocean Isle is also about to finish building a new town hall with administration offices next to the Fire station.
See also
In Spanish: Ocean Isle Beach (Carolina del Norte) para niños
