The nearby picturesque waterfront community of Southport is in the running for the title of one of the country’s happiest seaside towns.
The small southern Brunswick County city made the list of 10 finalists for the distinction in an online contest sponsored by Coastal Living, a home and travel magazine. Coastal Living is asking readers to decide the “Happiest Seaside Town in America” by voting now through March 31.
Southport is the only North Carolina locale to make the list, which includes towns in California, Florida, Rhode Island and Georgia, among others.
“This pretty little harbor town of 2,800 on the banks of the tidal Cape Fear River has made a name for itself in films because of its lush coastal beauty and charming village of historic homes,” Coastal Living said of Southport.
Coastal Living editors selected this year’s finalists for the contest by looking over the places the magazine has previously dubbed “Dream Towns,” as well as nominations from readers via social media.
The magazine collected each town’s rank on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, its percentage of sunny days, air quality, healthiness of its beaches, commute times, crime ratings, walkability, standard of living and financial well-being of locals and geographic diversity, then added it to editors’ assessment of each town’s overall “coastal vibe,” according to the Coastal Living website.
Voters can cast multiple votes once per hour until the deadline. The winner will be revealed in Coastal Living’s July/August issue.
