The Southport tourism office now has a new selling point to attract visitors – the people here are friendly. According to World Atlas, the Brunswick County community has been named one of the friendliest towns in America.
It’s not entirely clear how the online magazine compiled its list, as the standards and criteria were not shared. In a brief statement, the publication mentioned, “Strolling through downtown Southport on the weekend, you can find many residents leisurely walking their dogs, taking in the views from the pier, or engaging in conversations with their neighbors and friends. During the summer months, the city comes alive as vacationers flock to the area because of its seaside atmosphere and welcoming energy.”
A popular destination for retirees, Southport is currently home to roughly 4,000 residents, a majority of whom are over the age of 60. Sitting atop the northwest bank of the Cape Fear River, Southport hosts a variety of community events and traditions, such as the annual North Carolina Fourth of July Festival. Other notable events include the Easter Spring Festival, the Southport Wooden Boat Show, the Christmas Tour of Homes, and numerous vintage car shows, according to the mayor.
Last year, we posted an in-depth article about the Southport lifestyle, which you can read here.
Southport is one of only seven North Carolina towns to make the list of friendly locations; the others are:
- Blowing Rock
- Bryson City
- Hillsborough
- Mount Airy
- Manteo
- Sylva
[The photo used for this article was taken by JFB agents Jason and Kelly Holley, who moved to Southport from Virginia. They are passionate about where they live. If you would like to chat with them about this friendly location, give us a call today at 910-202-4813.]