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Rodanthe, North Carolina
Rodanthe, Outer Banks, North Carolina, Highway 12 (14474723963).jpg
Location in Dare County and the state of North Carolina
Location in Dare County and the state of North Carolina
Rodanthe, North Carolina is located in North Carolina
Rodanthe, North Carolina
Rodanthe, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
Country United States
State North Carolina
County Dare County
Area
 • Total 0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Land 0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
5 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 213
 • Density 222.80/sq mi (86.02/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
27968
Area code(s) 252
GNIS feature ID 1022381
FIPS code 37-57580

Rodanthe (/rˈdænθi/ roh-DAN-thee) is a small community located in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. It is found on Hatteras Island, which is part of North Carolina's famous Outer Banks. In 2020, about 213 people lived here.

Rodanthe is one of three communities that make up the area called Chicamacomico. The others are Waves and Salvo. A special place in Rodanthe is the original Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. This station helped rescue people from shipwrecks until 1954. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about its history.

The main road through Rodanthe is North Carolina Highway 12. This highway runs north and south through the town. Rodanthe is surrounded by nature. To the north is the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area for animals. To the south is the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, another beautiful natural park. These areas help keep Rodanthe's natural beauty safe. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east, and Pamlico Sound is to the west.

Rodanthe is the easternmost point in North Carolina. It is known for a unique tradition called "Old Christmas" on January 6. This custom comes from the first settlers who used an older calendar. During this celebration, a mythical creature called "Old Buck" is said to appear. Old Buck might be similar to characters like Belsnickel or Krampus from other Christmas traditions.

The people of Rodanthe are governed by the Dare County Board of Commissioners. Rodanthe is part of District 4, which also includes nearby towns like Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, Waves, and Salvo. The Chicamacomico Life Saving Station and Oregon Inlet Station are important historical sites in the area. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

MirloBeachSign
Mirlo Beach

Rodanthe's Population

Rodanthe is a small community. Here's how its population has changed:

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 213
U.S. Decennial Census

Who Lives in Rodanthe?

In 2020, there were 213 people living in Rodanthe. There were 81 households and 44 families. Most of the people living in Rodanthe are White (non-Hispanic).

Rodanthe racial composition
Group Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 195 91.55%
Other/Mixed 10 4.69%
Hispanic or Latino 8 3.76%

Fun for Visitors

Rodanthe is a popular spot for tourists, especially during the warmer months.

Shops and Restaurants

Many of the restaurants, shops, and markets in Rodanthe are open only during the spring and summer. They often close for the winter. Many of these businesses are owned by families, not big chains. If you visit in winter, you might need to drive a short distance to Avon or Nags Head to find more open stores.

Places to Stay

There are a few motels in the Chicamacomico area. You can also find inns or bed and breakfasts on Hatteras Island. Many people rent houses for their vacations. There are also several campgrounds, some of which are perfect for people who love water sports.

Water Sports and Activities

Rodanthe is a great place for water activities. You can enjoy:

Weather in Rodanthe

Rodanthe has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers, cool winters, and rain all year round.

Summer Weather

In summer, a cool sea breeze often blows. However, it can sometimes get very hot and humid. The "heat index" (how hot it feels with humidity) can reach 100°F (38°C) or more.

Hurricanes and Storms

Rodanthe is in an area where hurricanes can happen. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes are most likely in late August and September. In winter, cold and windy weather can occur. The "wind chill" (how cold it feels with wind) can drop below 10°F (-12°C).

Plant Life

The area is good for many plants. The average coldest temperature in winter is about 16.9°F (-8.4°C). There is usually less than 2 inches (5 cm) of snow each winter. The strongest winter storms, called "nor'easters," usually happen in February.

Climate data for Rodanthe, NC (1981–2010 averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 53.0
(11.7)
54.7
(12.6)
59.4
(15.2)
66.3
(19.1)
73.4
(23.0)
80.6
(27.0)
84.2
(29.0)
83.7
(28.7)
79.9
(26.6)
72.0
(22.2)
64.6
(18.1)
56.9
(13.8)
69.1
(20.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.1
(7.8)
47.5
(8.6)
52.3
(11.3)
59.7
(15.4)
67.3
(19.6)
75.4
(24.1)
79.2
(26.2)
78.7
(25.9)
74.9
(23.8)
66.5
(19.2)
58.3
(14.6)
50.1
(10.1)
63.1
(17.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 39.1
(3.9)
40.4
(4.7)
45.2
(7.3)
53.1
(11.7)
61.2
(16.2)
70.1
(21.2)
74.3
(23.5)
73.7
(23.2)
69.9
(21.1)
60.9
(16.1)
52.0
(11.1)
43.4
(6.3)
57.0
(13.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.53
(115)
3.80
(97)
4.06
(103)
3.43
(87)
3.70
(94)
4.21
(107)
5.22
(133)
6.33
(161)
5.96
(151)
4.33
(110)
4.11
(104)
3.91
(99)
53.59
(1,361)
Average relative humidity (%) 69.8 69.4 68.1 69.7 72.9 76.2 78.7 77.0 74.4 71.0 72.0 70.3 72.5
Average dew point °F (°C) 36.8
(2.7)
38.0
(3.3)
42.1
(5.6)
49.8
(9.9)
58.3
(14.6)
67.4
(19.7)
72.0
(22.2)
70.9
(21.6)
66.2
(19.0)
56.8
(13.8)
49.3
(9.6)
40.8
(4.9)
54.1
(12.3)
Source: PRISM


Climate data for Duck, NC, ocean water temperature (44 NW Rodanthe)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °F (°C) 45
(7)
44
(7)
46
(8)
59
(15)
67
(19)
74
(23)
71
(22)
74
(23)
75
(24)
69
(21)
59
(15)
52
(11)
61
(16)
Source: NOAA

Nature in Rodanthe

The natural plants in Rodanthe are mostly live oak trees and sea oats. Sea oats are a type of grass that grows on beaches. This area is like a Coastal Prairie.

Schools in Rodanthe

Children living in Rodanthe go to schools managed by Dare County Schools. The schools they attend are Cape Hatteras Elementary School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School.

Rodanthe in Pop Culture

Rodanthe has been featured in a famous story and movie.

Nights in Rodanthe Book and Movie

In 2002, author Nicholas Sparks wrote a romance novel called Nights in Rodanthe. The story is about two visitors to Rodanthe. Later, a movie with the same name was made. It was partly filmed in Rodanthe and other places in eastern North Carolina.

The movie came out on September 26, 2008. Some real places in Rodanthe, like the Rodanthe Pier, were used in the film. A rental house called "Serendipity" was turned into the "Inn at Rodanthe" for the movie.

After a big storm in 2009, the house was damaged. But a businessman named Ben Huss saved it from being torn down. He moved the house a short distance south to protect it from erosion. The inside and outside of the house were carefully fixed to look just like they did in the movie. Now, the "Inn at Rodanthe" is a popular vacation rental and a famous spot on the Outer Banks.

Nights in Rodanthe house south side 2009
The rental house Serendipity, used in filming Nights in Rodanthe

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rodanthe (Carolina del Norte) para niños

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