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Search By Area MapHolden Beach, SC
Geographic Features
Holden Beach is a small island town among the Brunswick Islands of North Carolina. It offers unspoiled natural beauty and southern charm. It has been named one of the best family beaches in the nation by National Geographic Traveler Magazine and is proud to be a relaxing beach goer's paradise. Holden Beach is a predominantly residential community of just over 750 year round residents but swells during the popular summer months. It features a small town center that offers delicious restaurants and cute shops.
The miles of white sand beach are perfect for soaking up the sun and playing in ocean, where dolphins will be a frequent visitor. Surfing, fishing, and boating are all popular area sports. Holden Beach is ideal for nature loves who want to explore sand dunes and the tidal estuary. Here you can row a canoe or kayak along the Intracoastal Waterway and bird watch. The endangered loggerhead sea turtles make these shores their homes and can be found nesting and hatching along the beach. Golfers have the luxury of playing golf year round at one of the magnificent golf courses located in Holden Beach or some of the famous Myrtle Beach courses that are just a short drive away.
Price Range
Homes in Holden Beach have a high cost in comparison with other areas in North Carolina but are average for the United States. The median price is $184,164. There are a lot of mobile homes and single-family homes built with 3 to 4 bedrooms built between 1974 and 1995.
Price Range:
- $1,052,001 - $1,579,000 1%
- $842,001 - $1,052,000 2%
- $631,001 - $1,052,000 5%
- $420,001 - $631,000 11%
- $210,001 - $420,000 26%
- $105,001 - $210,000 32%
- Less than $105,000 24%
Daily Life
Holden Beach is a small beach town with a decidedly laid back feeling. Living here offers residents and visitors a chance to enjoy the sandy beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, and mild weather all year round. Holden Beach is a predominantly residential community and has just over 750 year round residents. The population swells significantly during the popular summer months. Families flock here to rent cute summer homes and play by the sea. Many retirees come seeking lovely weather and a break from harsh winters and stay to enjoy the year round golf, tennis, and fishing.
Traffic is never a problem in Holden Beach even though there is no public transportation system available and the majority of residents drive to work. There are a high number of people who work from home. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge based professions. An interesting fact is that locals are more highly educated than the average American, having a much higher percentage of college degrees.
The ocean and estuary offer a daily life rich with activity. Imagine paddling a kayak around the lagoon, deep sea fishing, taking walks along the ocean, and watching the sun rise and set over the water.
Recreation and Sports
From lounging on the beach to deep-sea fishing, recreation on Holden Beach keeps everyone entertained. The miles of white sand beach are perfect for soaking up the sun and playing in ocean, where dolphins will be a frequent visitor. Many people go ocean swimming, surfing, and even diving. Zoom through the ocean on a jet ski or go boating. Inshore and deep-sea fishing are both widespread. Typical catches include bass, bream, snapper, grouper, sea bass, and tuna.
Holden Beach has great access to the Intracoastal Waterway, where you can row a canoe or kayak through the estuary. This is a great place for bird watching. Everyday guests include piping plover, wood stork, and black skimmer.
Endangered loggerhead sea turtles call the Holden Beach shores their home. May through October is the prime season to see the turtles. Experience the wonder of a nesting loggerhead turtle or a hatching nest. During their hatching volunteers watch the nests at night, assist the babies into the sea, and protect them from predators.
Night Life
Holden Beach offers a relaxing nightlife. In the summer, Concerts in the Coast is the perfect way to spend an evening with family and friends dancing to live music and having a dinner picnic.
From fresh seafood to southern favorites, local restaurants feature delicious fare to satisfy every one's tastes. Restaurants are located along the water to allow patrons to gaze at the shrimp boats slowly passing by on the Intracoastal Waterway. The Provision Company at Holden Beach is so close to the water that you can even arrive for dinner by boat.
Nighttime strolls along the beach afford striking views of the stars and the fun activity of scaring ghost crabs with flashlights.
Festivals and Events
Holden Beach hosts the not to be missed North Carolina Festival by the Sea. This two day event is features a parade down the Holden Beach causeway, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and yummy food. This is the only day of the year that pedestrians can walk along the Holden Beach bridge; many enjoy the parade from this awe-worthy spot. The festival has a sand building contest and horseshoe tournament. Kids will enjoy rides, face painting, and flying kites.
Concerts in the Coast are Holden Beach's summer concert series. It is the perfect way to spend a summer evening with family and friends dancing to music and having a dinner picnic.
Neighboring towns host many popular festivals and events throughout the year. Ocean Isle Beach has many fishing tournaments and the popular North Carolina Oyster Festival. This event has won many awards and brings together thousands of people to enjoy the highly delectable local oysters. The Fall Brawl King Classic is held every October when the King Mackerel are at its peak and even features great food, entertainment, and a cast net throwing contest. Sunset at Sunset is every October at the Ingram Planetarium to enjoy the fabulous vendors, music, and fun.
Parks
Holden Beach Pier is an excellent destination for families and features a snack bar and grill, gift shop, and live bait. Nets and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the pier. Holden Beach Marina offers full service with a friendly laid-back atmosphere.
Holden Beach also has a pavilion and a small park on main street called Rourk Garden.
Enjoy rides down a refreshing water slide at Magic Mountain Slide and Ice Cream Parlor. You can cool off in the warm summer months while playing in the water and enjoying a delicious ice cream.
The Brunswick Islands showcase nature and conservation efforts where you can enjoy the wildlife. Neighboring Sunset Beach is home to the dedicated North Carolina Coastal Reserve of Bird Island. It was once a separated from Sunset Beach island and only accessible by walking through the shallow inlet at low tide, but today it is connected by the sand filled inlet. Its nearly 1,300 acres of beach, marsh, and wetlands protects habitat used by several threatened or endangered species, including loggerhead sea turtles, sea beach amaranth, piping plover, wood stork, and black skimmer.
A short drive to the mainland presents numerous wildlife exploration opportunities at area preserves. The Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, Green Swamp Preserve, and Boiling Lakes Preserve are all popular destinations.
Schools
Holden Beach is part of the Brunswick County School District. There are approximately 11,500 students enrolled in this district's 16 public schools. This is an above average school district for compared to both North Carolina and the United States. They rate 37.4% higher than North Carolina school districts and 33.3% higher than US school districts. There is an average of 15 students per classroom and spend an average of $9,141 per child enrolled compared to the national average of $5,678.
Neighborhoods
Holden Beach is a small beach community of over 750 year round residents and remains a single neighborhood.
Area History and Culture
Holden Beach's popular beach going history begins in 1756 with Benjamin Holden buying four mainland tracks and the island between his plantation and the sea. He used the island for cattle grazing and fishing. His grandson, John Holden, started a commercial fishery here and in 1924 began building the Holden Beach Resort. This development was the first subdivision of beach property in the county.
In 1925 John built the Holden Beach Bridge, which was destroyed during the construction of the Intracoastal Waterway. The US Army Corps of Engineers dredged this waterway during the 1930s, creating barrier islands like Holden Beach and the other Brunswick Islands. The waterway is over 3,000 miles long and consists of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea.
John Holden tried to get the government to create a ferry system that would reach the island and did not live to see the ferry begin operation in 1934. John's son maintained operation of the hotel and his grandson and other developers built homes to sell and rent to tourists. In the early 1940's an ocean front house with land was sold for around $600.
Before 1954's destructive Hurricane Hazel, the island had about 300 homes and a bridge. The rebuilding was slow but in 1969 the island was incorporated and in 1986 a new high-rise steel and concrete bridge was built that has allowed better access to Holden Beach's relaxing charm.
