Wrightsville Beach North Carolina Map

About Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach is a locality in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. It has a population of approximately 2,665. The population density is 741.8 people per km². Wrightsville Beach is located at 34.2085°N, 77.7964°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 28480.

Wrightsville Beach stretches its sandy fingers into the Atlantic, a slender barrier island where the air always carries the tang of salt and the distant cry of gulls. It lies 8.6 miles east of Wilmington, NC (from Wilmington, NC: bearing 98°T), and is situated 6.7 miles south-south-east of Murraysville. The landscape here is one of soft, shifting dunes crowned with sea oats, their feathery heads nodding in the perpetual breeze that combs the coast. Beyond the vibrant, often sun-bleached facades of beach houses and shops, the broad expanse of the Intracoastal Waterway lies calm and reflective, a stark contrast to the restless energy of the ocean waves that crash onto the eastern shore. Here, the light at dusk often paints the sky in hues of peach and lavender, a quiet spectacle that settles over the island like a warm blanket after a day of sun-drenched activity. The story of Wrightsville Beach is one of transformation, from a quiet fishing outpost to a beloved summer destination. Early settlers recognized the bounty of its waters, a tradition that still echoes in the bustling seafood restaurants that line the main street, their menus testament to the rich catches brought in daily. The island’s connection to the wider world was solidified by the arrival of the railroad, a development that ushered in an era of tourism and cemented its identity as a place for recreation and relaxation. Today, the local economy thrives on this enduring appeal, drawing visitors who come for the sun, the surf, and the laid-back rhythm of island life, a pace that feels both energetic and reassuringly timeless.

About This Wrightsville Beach Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 34.208504, -77.796371. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Wrightsville Beach and New Hanover County.

Detailed location data for Wrightsville Beach includes the ZIP code (28480), telephone area code (910), county seat of New Hanover County (Wilmington), and school district assignment (New Hanover County Schools). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Wrightsville Beach is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.