Governor McCrory Congratulates Southport on Being Named Happiest Seaside Town in America

RALEIGH, N.C. — Governor Pat McCrory congratulated Southport, N.C. on its recognition as the Happiest Seaside Town in America by Coastal Living Magazine. Southport will be featured in the magazine’s July/August issue.

“Southport’s beauty and spirit make it truly deserving of this honor,” Governor McCrory said. “I commend the residents of Southport for their hard work and dedication in bringing this award home to North Carolina.”

Coastal Living announced the contest in February and gave the public until the end of March to vote on the happiest seaside town. 10 coastal towns and cities around the country were chosen from nominations by readers, and Southport is the first North Carolina city to make it to the top 10 list of finalists.

With help from a social media campaign started by two Southport residents, the town brought in the most online votes and took the No. 1 spot.

Along with votes, Coastal Living Magazine considered other factors including the percentage of clear and sunny days, quality of life, health of beaches, and coastal vibe to determine the rankings. Southport surpassed popular, larger cities including Venice, Florida and Monterey, California to make it to the top.

* Source: Press Release from the Office of the Governor