AREA INFORMATION

Since its settlement in 1729, Wilmington has been known as New Liverpool, New Carthage, New Town and Newton, and finally came to be known as it is today, when Governor Gabriel Johnston named the city in honor of Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington. Wilmington flourished as a major port, shipbuilding center and producer of naval stores. Tar, pitch and turpentine were produced from the abundant pine forests that were found in the area and are still referenced in place names, such as Long Leaf Acres and Pine Hills, today. Other street names, subdivision monikers and businesses reflect the English heritage (Queen Street, King's Grant), Civil War heroes (Longstreet Drive, Robert E. Lee Drive) or other bits of area history (Salt Works, The Cotton Exchange). Moore's Creek Battlefield, the site of a Revolutionary War battle and Fort Fisher, which protected the most important Confederate port and was the last fort to fall in the Civil War, have been preserved as monuments to the sacrifice of men from New Hanover County.

Shipbuilding has continued to be an important economic force in the region and Wilmington is affectionately known as The Port City. The Cape Fear region is dominated by the water as it rests at the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing, water skiing, boating, swimming and surfing all figure prominently as favorite leisure activities. A mild and decidedly pleasant year round climate also lends itself to other recreational pursuits like golf, tennis and community sports leagues for soccer, baseball and football. In recent years, the New Hanover County area has become home to some semi-professional sports teams: the Wilmington Hammerheads (soccer), the Wilmington Sharks (baseball) and the Port City Diesel (football).

In 1947, Wilmington College was established and grew into UNC-W, part of the distinguished University of North Carolina system. The Seahawks and the community proudly support their sports teams that are standouts within their conference. New Hanover County is also home to Cape Fear Community College, which is a crown jewel with the North Carolina community college system. This strong academic tradition is also reflected in the area schools, public and private, that offer varied programs as well as traditional and year round schedules.

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The Wilmington area has had its economic up and downs over the years. An effort begun in the 1980's has revitalized downtown into a city center thriving with restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries and antique stores. Wilmington has gained some recognition for a burgeoning art and music scene. Thalian Hall, also located downtown, has been hosting the performing arts for over 150 years. The presence of Screen Gems Studios has brought an influx of movies and TV shows filmed in the surrounding localities. All of which give Wilmington a very trendy vibe. But, the region is also home to major corporate branches for Corning and GE, as well as diverse companies such as Applied Analytical Industry and Takeda Chemical Products. Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) started up here and continues to thrive as an international success story. And these are to name but a few!

Varied and vast, warm and wonderful...Wilmington and the Cape Fear Region are wonderful places to put down roots!