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Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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Ocean Isle Beach
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyBrunswick County
Government
 • MayorDebbie Smith
Area
 • Total4.4 sq mi (11.3 km2)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total426
 • Density124.2/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern Standard)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight)
WebsiteTown of Ocean Isle Beach
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Town
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountyBrunswick
Area
 • Total4.4 sq mi (11.3 km2)
 • Land3.4 sq mi (8.9 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
Elevation
3 ft (1 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total426
 • Density124.2/sq mi (48.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
28469
Area code910
FIPS code37-48700Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1004781Template:GR
Websitewww.oibgov.com

Ocean Isle Beach is a town located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Located at the southern end of North Carolina's Atlantic Ocean coastline, with access to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Ocean Isle Beach has many beach houses and second homes, and is a tourist attraction because of its beauty, atmosphere, and proximity to other major beach towns.

On October 28, 2007, the tiny, normally quiet community found itself in worldwide news as an early Sunday morning four-alarm fire at a three-story beach house occupied by 13 college students claimed seven lives, injuring six more. Widespread publicity and the magnitude of the tragedy of the Ocean Isle Beach house fire renewed public interest on issues in many communities which included fire safety, building codes, flamability of materials, and fire suppression methods such as sprinkler systems, as well as the potential benefits of monitored fire alarm systems, which can be added to existing structures at relatively minimal costs.

Geography

Ocean Isle Beach is located at 33°53′40″N 78°26′20″W / 33.89444°N 78.43889°W / 33.89444; -78.43889Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (33.894558, -78.438895).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.3 km²).3.4 square miles (8.9 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (21.51%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 426 people, 209 households, and 141 families residing in the town. The population density was 124.2 people per square mile (48.0/km²). There were 2,507 housing units at an average density of 731.0/sq mi (282.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.94% Native American and 0.47% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 209 households out of which 11.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.40.

In the town the population was spread out with 10.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 45.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $67,639, and the median income for a family was $65,625. Males had a median income of $37,188 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $42,605. About 3.5% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Location

Known as the "Gem of the Brunswick Islands," Ocean Isle Beach has a current year-round population of 426 and a vibrant seasonal vacation population. Located along the popular coastal corridor between Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC, Ocean Isle Beach is connected to the mainland by a modern bridge spanning marsh savannas. The beach runs east to west, offers a fishing pier, public boat launch facility, direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway, and beach paths every 500 feet. Established with a long history of traditional family vacations, seasonal festivals, sports fishing, quaint eateries and stories, and friendly residents, Ocean Isle Beach is lined with charming family cottages. Ingram Planetarium offers an 85-seat domed theater with learning experiences on astronomy, energy, navigation, and space exploration. The Museum of Coastal Carolina offers family oriented activities with dioramas on coastal life, touch tank, and a science hall. Inland neighborhoods and communities offer planned cottage style living with on-site amenities and private beach clubs. There are over 110 local golf courses from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach, along with boutique shopping, malls, medical facilities, international airports, interstate highways. The Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach offers live entertainment, theater, music concerts, fine dining, the Ripley's Aquarium, Alligator Adventure, and popular outlet shopping.

Parks & Recreation

Brunswick County will soon break ground on a new 58 acre recreational park on the mainland. The Town of Ocean Isle Beach donated the property and the county has set aside $3 million for the project. When completed, the new park will offer a variety of amenities, such as an amphitheater, festival grounds, ball parks, lighted tennis courts, and biking trails. The park should be completed in time for the 2009 Oyster Festival. This recreational park will be located on Old Georgetown Road abutting the Ocean Ridge Plantation community 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.

One of America's Best Restored Beaches

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association recently named Ocean Isle Beach as 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. [1]

Ocean Isle Beach house fire

Main article: Ocean Isle Beach house fire

The town was the scene of a massive house fire on October 28, 2007, which claimed the lives of seven students staying in the house at the time.

References

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