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 (or simply Ocean Isle, or OIB ) is a small seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It was incorporated as a town in 1959 and is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 867 at the 2020 census. Located at the southern end of North Carolina's Atlantic coastline, along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Ocean Isle Beach has private homes, seasonal rentals, and tourist attractions.
Contents
History
Ocean Isle Beach completed a roundabout located at North Carolina Highway 179. This design includes a brick retaining wall with "Welcome to Ocean Isle Beach" along with three bronze statues of children playing with kites.
The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association named Ocean Isle Beach the winner of its 2008 Best Restored Beach Award. Ocean Isle Beach's quest for a federal beach restoration program began after Hurricane Hugo devastated the area in 1989. The town lobbied members of Congress for federal funding and opened a capital reserve savings account to provide the local share of funding necessary for restoration. Coastal engineers began the project in 2001 and provided high-quality sand for the beach and created a deeper channel for boaters. Judging for the award was based on three criteria: the economic and ecological benefits the beach brings to its community; the short and long-term success of the restoration project; and the challenges each community overcame during the course of the project.
Geography
Ocean Isle Beach is located in southwest Brunswick County. The town spans the barrier island of Ocean Isle Beach, extending 5 miles (8 km) from Tubbs Inlet on the west to Shallotte Inlet on the east, and a section of the mainland to the north along North Carolina Highway 904.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km2); 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) is land (74.79%) and the balance water.
Weather
Weather in Ocean Isle tends to be warm but varied, with the temperature averaging around 88F (31C) during the Summer of 2021, and 58F (14C) during the Winter of 2020. Rainfall is normal during the end of the Summer, and lightning storms are frequent. Hurricanes are also common and have been known to cause fires. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo devastated the area. In 2020, Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, as high end Category 1, causing significant damage to waterfront properties and the fishing pier.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
2020 census
| 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% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 867 people, 374 households, and 289 families residing in the town.
Arts and culture
Known as the "Gem of the Brunswick Islands", Ocean Isle Beach is located along the coastal corridor between Wilmington, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The beach runs east to west and offers a fishing pier, public boat launch facility, direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway, and beach paths every 500 feet (150 m). The Museum of Coastal Carolina offers dioramas on coastal life, a touch tank, a collection of Civil War and Native American artifacts, and a variety of interactive exhibits.
A popular myth in Ocean Isle beach are the mysterious lights which float over the ocean during the nighttime. It is unknown whether it is a drone, stars, or fishing boats. It has been reported to split apart into multiple lights before joining back together.
One of the eastern streets of Ocean Isle was, at one point, flooded and is now engulfed underwater. Pieces of the remaining asphalt from the street have washed up on the beaches. To defend against future flooding, sandbags have been installed under the stilted houses on "second street" and the beaches have been manually expanded. As of 2022, the beaches on the east side of the island have been heavily cleaned and restored.
Parks and recreation
Brunswick County has completed a new 58-acre (23 ha) recreational park on the mainland. The park offers a variety of amenities, such as an amphitheater, festival grounds, ball parks, lighted tennis courts, and biking trails. This recreational park is located on Old Georgetown Road and is part of a $500,000 federal grant for parks throughout the county. Other projects scheduled is the Shallotte Blvd Recreation Area, which is a joint project between Ocean Isle Beach Land Conservancy and the Town of Ocean Isle Beach. The park will be at Shallotte Blvd and the ferry landing at the East end of the island. The recreation area will have a gazebo, picnic tables, a fishing pier, and a walkway with steps to the sand.
On the island of Ocean Isle Beach the town has recently finished a community area with an amphitheater, playground, small water area and bathrooms. Likewise. a children's play area and public gazebo are located on the eastern end of the island adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway, along with a concert stage. The Town of Ocean Isle is also about to finish a new town Hall with administration office next to the Fire station.
See also
In Spanish: Ocean Isle Beach (Carolina del Norte) para niños
