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Kure Beach is a small coastal town in New Hanover County on Pleasure Island, south of Carolina Beach and immediately north of the historic Fort Fisher area. The surrounding lower Cape Fear region was inhabited by Indigenous peoples long before European colonization, with its ocean waters, estuaries, marshes, and river systems providing abundant natural resources. European settlement expanded along the Cape Fear River during the colonial period, but the narrow coastal lands that would eventually become Kure Beach remained sparsely developed for generations. The area's relative isolation, exposure to Atlantic storms, and difficult transportation limited permanent settlement until improvements in access made beach development increasingly practical.

The community's modern history is closely associated with the Kure family, whose development efforts helped transform the area into a recreational and residential destination during the early twentieth century. Fishing quickly became one of the defining activities of the community. The Kure Beach Fishing Pier traces its origins to the 1920s and is widely recognized as one of the oldest fishing piers on the Atlantic coast. The pier became both a practical fishing facility and an important gathering place, helping establish the town's reputation among anglers and vacationing families.

Transportation improvements fundamentally changed the southern portion of Pleasure Island. Better road connections and bridges made it easier for residents of Wilmington and other inland communities to reach Kure Beach by automobile. U.S. Highway 421 became the primary route running south through Carolina Beach and Kure Beach toward Fort Fisher. These improvements supported the construction of cottages, permanent homes, businesses, and visitor accommodations while allowing Kure Beach to develop a year-round population alongside its tourism economy.

Kure Beach is closely connected to one of North Carolina's most important Civil War sites. Fort Fisher, located immediately south of town, protected the Cape Fear River and Wilmington during the Civil War. Because Wilmington remained a crucial Confederate port, the fort became strategically important to blockade-running operations. Union forces captured Fort Fisher in January 1865, effectively closing Wilmington to Confederate maritime trade. Today, the Fort Fisher State Historic Site preserves and interprets this history, making the southern end of Pleasure Island an important destination for residents, visitors, and students of American history.

The natural environment is equally important to the area's character. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area protects undeveloped oceanfront, marsh, and maritime habitats, while the nearby North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher introduces visitors to the aquatic ecosystems of the state. The area's beaches, dunes, tidal waters, and maritime vegetation provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, wildlife observation, and other outdoor activities. These resources have helped Kure Beach retain a strong connection to the natural coast despite residential development.

Today, Kure Beach is known for its quieter residential atmosphere, historic fishing pier, beachfront neighborhoods, and proximity to Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher. Homes range from traditional beach cottages and established residences to elevated coastal homes, townhomes, condominiums, and newer construction. Property owners live in an environment shaped by salt air, wind, humidity, storms, and coastal flooding considerations, all of which have influenced construction and maintenance practices over time. Kure Beach's combination of maritime history, natural resources, recreational amenities, and small-town character continues to distinguish it within the greater Wilmington coastal region.