Gulf, North Carolina, 2020
Gulf’s story
166 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2020 and a map from 1970 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1860Gulf is settled
GulfNC
Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alston House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Gulf a good place to live?
100% of households live in a home they own in Gulf, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 67% and U.S. towns at 73%. Its National Register listings include Alston House and Endor Iron Furnace. Gulf has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Gulf stand out
Where Gulf beats most towns.
Small town
178 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Gulf: who provides what
Gulf is unincorporated, so Chatham County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerCentral Electric Membership15.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGoldston-Gulf Sanitary Dist water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers72% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesChatham CountyChatham County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereChatham County Board of ElectionsChatham County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP codes27256, 27252, 2733027256 75% · 27252 20% · 27330 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gulf.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter32–55°
Spring48–73°
Summer67–89°
Fall49–73°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: low risk in Gulf, mostly inland flooding
One declared disaster, in 2018, has brought federal aid to Gulf households. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in nearly two thirds of U.S. communities. 57% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by hurricanes at 15%.
34risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Gulf is
22% of Gulf adults get no exercise outside work. CDC measures, 32 in all: Gulf beats North Carolina on 9 and trails on 2. Among adults locally, 31% sleep under 7 hours and 41% have high blood pressure.
| Gulf | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 33% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
9 better21 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Gulf | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.4% | 15.2% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.9% | 8.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10% | 7.9% |
Central Carolina Hospital
8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gulf
14pages on Gulf
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Gulf
About 12 of every 100 Gulf residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Gulf
Census-designated place in North Carolina, United States
Gulf is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southwestern Chatham County, North Carolina, United States, southeast of the town of Goldston. As of the 2020 census, Gulf had a population of 122. The community is home to a general store and several historic homes. It received its name from its location at a wide bend in the Deep River. Gulf is an interconnection point between the Norfolk Southern Railway and the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 262 ft
- ZIP code
- 27256
Questions about Gulf
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gulf, NC a good place to live?
Gulf has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.