Census Data for North Topsail Beach
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave North Topsail Beach a population of 743 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave North Topsail Beach a population of 743 people.
The city of North Topsail Beach is located in Onslow County. The 2010 Census gave Onslow County; a population of 177,772 people. This means that North Topsail Beach had 0.42% of the county's total population, making it Onslow's 7th most populous community.
At the same time, North Carolina had a population of 9,535,483 people.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for North Topsail Beach has a total area of 10.52 square miles [27.3 km²]. Of this total, 6.35 square miles [16.4 km²] is land, with the balance (39.65%) being water (4.17 square miles [10.8 km²]).
Onslow County has a land area of 762 square miles [1,975.5 km²]. At 6.35 square miles [16.4 km²], North Topsail Beach has 0.83% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like North Topsail Beach, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for North Topsail Beach reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of North Topsail Beach might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 34° 29' 19" (or 34.49°)
- Lon: -77° 26' 14" (or -77.44°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Onslow County ...
The community of North Topsail Beach is located in Onslow County<3>.
The county had a population of 177,772 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 743 people, North Topsail Beach represented 0.42% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of North Topsail Beach has a population density of 70.6 people per square mile [27.26 people/km²], Onslow County averages 233.1 people per square mile [90 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Onslow County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for North Topsail Beach, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of North Topsail Beach. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for North Topsail Beach or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of North Topsail Beach, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for North Topsail Beach.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 34.488732° (or 34°29'19" N)
- Lon: -77.437384° (or -77°26'14" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 34.476925° (or 34°28'36" N)
- Lon: -77.461091° (or -77°27'39" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 8,324 feet to the northeast<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2407008) to North Topsail Beach. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of North Topsail Beach. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 34.494252° (or 34°29'39" N)
- Lon: -77.431478° (or -77°25'53" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 2,683 feet to the southwest<5> of the point given by the GNIS for North Topsail Beach. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Topsail Beach.
Miscellaneous Information for North Topsail Beach ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Onslow County or the city of North Topsail Beach:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 37 (North Carolina)
- County Code: 133 (Onslow County)
- Place Code: 47845 (North Topsail Beach)
- State & County Code: 37/133 (North Carolina / Onslow County)
- State & Place Code: 37/47845 (North Carolina / North Topsail Beach)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- North Topsail Beach is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Topsail Beach.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for North Topsail Beach: www.north-topsail-beach.org/
The official website for Onslow County: www.co.onslow.nc.us/
The official website for State of North Carolina: https://www.nc.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of North Carolina's counties, including Onslow, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 301 degrees and a distance of 8,324 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 138 degrees and a distance of 2,683 feet. |