News Summary
Charleston, South Carolina has been named the happiest beach town in the U.S. by Beach.com. Researchers analyzed over 100,000 beach photos to determine happiness scores, with Charleston scoring 54 thanks to the smiles in 606 out of 1,060 faces analyzed. It outperformed other towns, including Mount Pleasant and Huntington Beach. The study showcases how technology can analyze happiness through social media, while also revealing Newport News, Virginia as the least happy beach town.
Charleston Crowned as America’s Happiest Beach Town
When you imagine a sun-soaked beach with people beaming from ear to ear, you might just picture Charleston, South Carolina. According to some cutting-edge research, this charming coastal city has been named the happiest beach town in the entire United States! The study, conducted by Beach.com, used an innovative approach to analyze just what makes a beach town a happy place to be.
The Science Behind the Smiles
So, how did researchers arrive at this sunny conclusion? They examined a whopping 100,000 beach photos using emotion-recognition software known as DeepFace. This nifty technology can detect seven distinct emotions, including happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise. Imagine a digital smile-detecting superhero working tirelessly to spread joy!
They collected around 1,000 location-tagged beach photos from Instagram, capturing the essence of 100 different beach towns across the nation. Each town was then assigned a happiness score ranging from one to 100 based on how frequently people displayed happiness in their photos and how confident the AI was in recognizing those smiles. This meticulous method truly shows how technology can be harnessed to analyze happiness—even at the beach!
Charleston Shines Bright
After sifting through all the smiles, Charleston emerged at the top of the list with a solid happiness score of 54. The researchers analyzed a total of 1,060 faces, and a remarkable 606 of those were showing off their happy expressions. No wonder Charleston has earned its title as the happiest beach town in America!
Other Happy Beach Towns
But Charleston isn’t alone on this joyous journey. Coming in a close second is Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with a happiness score of 50.2. Solid proof that the Palmetto State is full of cheerfulness! Rounding out the top four, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach in California claimed the third and fourth spots, respectively. Huntington Beach stood out for having some of the most expressive faces in its beach photos. Who could resist a good beach day and a big smile?
Not one to be left behind, Carlsbad, California also made it into the top 10, likely due to its dog-friendly environment. After all, who wouldn’t be happy playing fetch on the beach with their furry best friend?
The Least Happy Spot
What About Hawaii?
Interestingly, the study didn’t dive into beach towns in Hawaii, focusing instead on towns with populations under 250,000. This research has turned out to be a unique application of AI, creating buzz around determining happiness levels based on photographs shared on social media. The full rankings and all the delightful details are available in the Beach.com report.
Conclusion
So, whether you’re planning a visit or already call it home, Charleston stands tall as a beacon of happiness in the beach town realm. Next time you’re capturing those beach moments, remember—your smile could be more than just a moment; it may contribute to the records of joy!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
California Happiness Rankings: Who’s on Top?
Additional Resources
- Live 5 News: Charleston Judge Accused of Having Child Sex Abuse Material
- Google Search: Charleston Judge Accused of Having Child Sex Abuse Material
- Post and Courier: Charleston Business Localist Card Deals
- Wikipedia: Charleston, South Carolina
- WLTX: Federal Investigators Seek Possible Victims
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Charleston
- Post and Courier: Commercial Club Meeting
- Google News: Charleston news
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTINGTON BEACH
The Huntington Beach Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntington Beach, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Huntington Beach Surf City USA Marathon, the U.S. Open of Surfing, Fourth of July celebrations at the Huntington Beach Pier, and community festivals at Huntington Beach Central Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visit Huntington Beach, plus leading businesses in retail, hospitality, and outdoor recreation that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERESantaAna.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
