Editing Emerald Isle, North Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Emerald Isle, North Carolina
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Emerald Isle, North Carolina (April 2023) 6.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Emerald Isle shoreline
| image_flag         = Emerald Isle, NC Town Flag.gif
| image_seal         = Emerald Isle, NC Town Seal.png
| motto              = Nice Matters!
| image_map          = NCMap-doton-EmeraldIsle.PNG
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Emerald Isle, North Carolina
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[North Carolina]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in North Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Carteret County, North Carolina|Carteret]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 12.98
| area_land_km2      = 12.75
| area_water_km2     = 0.23
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.01
| area_land_sq_mi    = 4.92
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.09

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 3847
| population_density_km2 = 301.70
| population_density_sq_mi = 781.43

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 16
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|39|53|N|77|01|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 28594
| area_code          = [[Area code 252|252]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 37-21160 <ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2406448<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406448}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.emeraldisle-nc.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}
'''Emerald Isle''' is a town in [[Carteret County, North Carolina|Carteret County]], [[North Carolina]], United States. It is part of the [[Crystal Coast]] and is located entirely on [[Bogue Banks]]. The population was 3,847 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3721160| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212185714/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3721160| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Emerald Isle town, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> but as many as 50,000 tourists each week inhabit the area during the summer season, filling up vacant rental properties that do not count toward official census results.<ref name="indyweek">{{cite web| url=http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A24954| title=We're killing our beaches| last=Pilkey| first=Orrin| date=August 17, 2005| publisher=Independent Weekly| access-date=June 7, 2009| archive-date=September 29, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083350/http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:24954| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Today, the oceanfront is lined with large and small homes, duplexes, [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]]s, and one oceanfront hotel. Emerald Isle has a family-oriented atmosphere.

Recent [[beach nourishment|beach renourishment]] projects in North Carolina, including Emerald Isle, have been both praised and questioned.<ref name="indyweek" />

==History==
[[Image:Houses at Emerald Isle, North Carolina.JPG|left|thumb|View of an Emerald Isle neighborhood.]]
From about 1 AD to [[Colonial history of the United States|colonial times]], Emerald Isle was home to [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. Later, the area was settled by a small number of [[Whaling|whalers]] and [[Fisherman|fishermen]].<ref>[http://www.emeraldisle.net www.emeraldisle.net]</ref>

In the 1920s, Henry Fort, who owned the Emerald Isle beaches and land surrounding them, hoped to open a large summer tourist attraction and ocean resort. Fort worked with developers, but the plans never materialized. After his death, his daughter Anita Maulick inherited Emerald Isle.<ref>[http://www.ncbeaches.com/CrystalCoast/EmeraldIsle Emerald Isle at ncbeaches.com]</ref>

In 1951, seven people purchased the {{convert|12|mi|adj=on}} stretch of island for $350,000 from Anita Maulick.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/history.htm |title=History of Emerald Isle |access-date=September 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724181808/http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/history.htm |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Emerald Isle was sliced into 54 blocks of {{convert|1000|ft}}, each going from ocean to sound. The partners drew from a hat for the ownership of blocks. Because they wanted Emerald Isle to be family-oriented, the owners limited commercial development and [[mobile home]]s to five blocks each.

In 1960, [[ferry]] service began, providing wider access to the Bogue Banks beaches of modern-day Emerald Isle.<ref name="Emerald Isle at insiders.com">[http://www.insiders.com/crystalcoast/main-overview2c.htm#Heading6 Emerald Isle at insiders.com]</ref>

In 1971, the Cameron Langston Bridge was opened to provide access from [[Cedar Point, North Carolina|Cedar Point]] to the western end of Bogue Banks and Emerald Isle. The bridge, spanning the [[Intracoastal Waterway]], offers a great view of [[Bogue Sound]] and Bogue Banks. The opening of the bridge increased island development.<ref name="Emerald Isle at insiders.com"/>

Emerald Isle is a popular vacation spot for families and is also known for excellent fishing and a wealth of marine life. Its beaches are a favorite location for nesting [[sea turtle]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/turtles/default.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505015038/http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/turtles/default.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which are protected by federal law.

==Geography==
Emerald Isle is located in southwestern [[Carteret County]] at the western end of [[Bogue Banks]], a [[barrier island]]. To the south is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the north is [[Bogue Sound]] separating the island from mainland [[North Carolina]]. The town extends to the western tip of the island, ending at Bogue Inlet, while to the east the town is bordered by [[Indian Beach, North Carolina|Indian Beach]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|13.1|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|12.9|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.2|km2|disp=flip|2}}, or 1.67%, is water.<ref name="Census 2020" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 14
|1970= 122
|1980= 865
|1990= 2434
|2000= 3488
|2010= 3655
|2020= 3847
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Emerald Isle Beach Erosion.JPEG|right|thumb|The beach has partially eroded at the western end of Emerald Isle.]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,847 people, 1,769 households, and 1,188 families residing in the town.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,488 people, 1,644 households, and 1,088 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|665.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,017 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,147.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.67% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.63% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.12% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 1,644 households, out of which 16.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no male present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.49.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the town was $84,457, and the median income for a family was $60,257. Males had a median income of $53,365 versus $28,4875<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/emerald-isle-nc | title=Emerald Isle, NC &#124; Data USA }}</ref> for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $31,316. About 2.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Emerald Isle}}
* [http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/ Town of Emerald Isle official website]
* [http://emeraldisle.insiderinfo.us Emerald Isle InsiderInfo.us Area Guide]
* [https://archive.today/20130129184457/http://www.nccoast.com/meet_our_communities/emerald_isle/ Emerald Isle Attractions and Restaurants]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| title  = Beaches of Southeastern North Carolina
| years  =
| with   =
| before = [[Indian Beach, North Carolina|Indian Beach]]
| after  = [[Hammocks Beach State Park|Hammocks Beach]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Emerald Isle, North Carolina
|North     = [[Cape Carteret, North Carolina|Cape Carteret]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Indian Beach, North Carolina|Indian Beach]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Bogue Inlet]]
|Northwest = [[Cedar Point, North Carolina|Cedar Point]]
}}

{{Carteret County, North Carolina}}
{{Crystal Coast}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1951]]
[[Category:Towns in Carteret County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Beaches of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Bogue Banks]]
[[Category:Landforms of Carteret County, North Carolina]]