Carolina Beach, town (1990 pop. 3,630), New Hanover co., SE N.C., 14 mi/23 km S of Wilmington, bet. Cape Fear R. and the Atlantic Ocean to E, on Pleasant Isl., Cape Fear R. estuary to W, Carolina Beach Inlet (Intracoastal Waterway; bridged) to N; 34°2'N 77°54'W. Mfg. (machine parts). Carolina Beach State Park is here.