At Sunset Beach, you will find the most beautiful three miles of coastline in North Carolina. Sunset Beach, incorporated in 1963, is the smallest and quietest of three barrier islands which together, make up the modestly famed South Brunswick Islands.

This small island is crowned with a naturally wide, gently sloping, white sand beach and undisturbed sand dunes. This is a natural habitat and nesting ground for the abundant coastal wildlife, including the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle and beloved Wood Storks. See photos at right side of this page.

The Town of Sunset Beach  is actually much more than the island alone. Several square miles of mainland offer a variety of necessities, amusements, and educational activities. Residents and visitors frequent the many local shopping centers, golf courses and dining spots and find comfort in the security of first-rate local medical facilities. Cultural, spiritual, and educational activities are all nearby, including Ingram Planetarium. Calabash, the Seafood Capital of the World,is just a few miles away. Bird Island, which is a natural area and 1300 acre State Preserve on the barrier island, is connected to Sunset Beach and reachable by boat, walking, or biking along the beach and is home to Loggerhead turtles. The shoreline, dunes, maritime forest, and marshland are also an important hibitat and nesting area for various species of birds that are threatened or endangered. One can walk from the public parking area and gazebo at Sunset Beach, along the Bird Island beachfront, all the way to South Carolina. 

The Town of  Sunset Beach is dedicated to preserving the small-town character of its community. The goal is to preserve the tranquility of the coastal environment--which has become the basis for visiting and living in Sunset Beach.