Topsail Beach, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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Location of Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| County | Pender | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5.88 sq mi (15.23 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.39 sq mi (11.37 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 461 | ||
| • Density | 105.01/sq mi (40.54/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| FIPS code | 37-68040 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2406743 | ||
| Website | www.topsailbeach.org | ||
Topsail Beach is a small town located in Pender County, North Carolina, in the United States. It is part of the greater Wilmington area. In 2012, about 383 people lived there. By 2020, the population grew to 461 residents.
Contents
History of Topsail Beach
Pirates and the Name "Topsail"
Local stories say the name "Topsail" (pronounced Tops'l) came from the 1700s. This was a time when pirate ships, like those led by the famous pirate Blackbeard, sailed along the coast.
Historians explain that pirates would hide their ships in the channel behind the island. They would wait for merchant ships, which were boats carrying valuable goods, to pass by. When a merchant ship appeared, the pirates would chase and attack it, taking all the cargo for themselves.
Eventually, the merchants learned about this secret hiding spot. They started watching for the very tops of the pirates' sails peeking over the sand dunes. This is how the island supposedly got its name: "Topsail Island."
Topsail Island Before World War II
Before World War II, the only way to get to Topsail Island was by boat. People from nearby areas often took short trips to the island. They would have picnics and search for Blackbeard's rumored buried treasure.
Operation Bumblebee and Rocket Testing
During World War II, the U.S. Navy took control of Topsail Island. They started a special project with Johns Hopkins University called Operation Bumblebee. This project was very important because it was the beginning of the space program for the United States Government.
As part of Operation Bumblebee, the waterway was made deeper, new roads were built, and fresh water was brought to the island through pipes. A center was built on the sound side of the island to put together and store rockets. Launching pads were also built on the oceanfront for testing.
Concrete observation towers were constructed all over the island. These towers were used to watch the experimental rocket launches. Between 1946 and 1948, more than 200 rockets were launched from the island.
After the Testing Program
When the rocket testing program ended, the government sold the island to the public. The Town of Topsail Beach officially became a town in 1963. Many of the original military buildings from that time are still standing today. Some of the concrete observation towers have even been turned into homes or businesses.
Several historic sites in Topsail Beach are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Cape Fear Civil War Shipwreck Discontiguous District, the US Naval Ordnance Testing Facility Assembly Building, the US Naval Ordnance Testing Facility Control Tower, and the US Naval Ordnance Testing Facility Observation Tower No. 2.
Recreation and Museums
Missiles and More Museum
The Missiles and More Museum is a great place to visit in Topsail Beach. It is located in the historic Assembly Building at 720 Channel Blvd. The museum has many interesting exhibits, including:
- Pirates of the Carolinas: Learn about the pirates who once roamed these waters.
- Operation Bumblebee: Discover the island's role in early rocket science.
- Camp Davis: Find out about a nearby military training camp.
- The Towns of Topsail Island: Explore the history of the island's communities.
- Topsail's Natural Beauty and Fragility: Learn about the island's environment.
- Traces of Native Americans on the Island: See evidence of the first people here.
- International Shell Exhibit: View a collection of shells from around the world.
On April 4, 2011, a special exhibit about the WASP (Women's Air-force Service Pilots) opened. This exhibit shares the amazing story of the first women who were trained to fly American military aircraft.
Geography of Topsail Beach
Topsail Beach is the southernmost town on Topsail Island. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers about 5.8 square miles (15.23 square kilometers) in total.
Most of this area, about 4.4 square miles (11.37 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square miles (3.86 square kilometers), is water.
Population of Topsail Beach
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 108 | — | |
| 1980 | 264 | 144.4% | |
| 1990 | 346 | 31.1% | |
| 2000 | 471 | 36.1% | |
| 2010 | 368 | −21.9% | |
| 2020 | 461 | 25.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Data
In the 2020 United States census, there were 461 people living in Topsail Beach. These people made up 202 households, and 131 of these were families.
The population of Topsail Beach in 2020 was mostly White (non-Hispanic), making up about 96.31% of residents. There were also smaller percentages of Asian residents (1.08%), people of other or mixed races (0.87%), and Hispanic or Latino residents (1.74%).
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 444 | 96.31% |
| Asian | 5 | 1.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 4 | 0.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8 | 1.74% |
See also
In Spanish: Topsail Beach para niños
