Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina. Wilmington is the principal city of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties in southeastern North Carolina, which has a population of 362,315 according to Census 2010 official results. It was named in honor of Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, who was Prime Minister under King George II.

Wilmington was settled on the Cape Fear River. It offers a historic downtown with a one-mile-long Riverwalk as a main tourist attraction. It is minutes away from nearby beaches. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Wilmington, North Carolina, one of its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. City residents have the advantage of living between the river and the ocean. Wilmington has three beach communities in the surrounding area. Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure beach are all 20 to 30 minute drives from downtown Wilmington.

In 2003 the city was designated by the US Congress, as "A Coast Guard City". The city is home port for the USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616), a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter.

It is the site of the World War II battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55). Now a war memorial, the ship is open to public tours and is on display across from the downtown port area. Other attractions include the Cape Fear Museum, the Wilmington Hammerheads USL soccer team, and the training camp site for the Charlotte Bobcats. The University of North Carolina Wilmington provides a wide variety of programs for undergraduates, graduate students and adult learners, in addition to cultural and sports events open to the community.

Wilmington is the home of EUE Screen Gems Studios, the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. "Dream Stage 10," the facility's newest sound stage, is the third-largest in the US. It houses the largest special-effects water tank in North America. Since the studio's opening in 1984, Wilmington has become a major center of American film and television production. Movies such as A Walk To Remember, Blue Velvet, Weekend at Bernie's, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Empire Records, Cape Fear, Black Knight, 28 Days, The Crow, Nights in Rodanthe, Firestarter, Maximum Overdrive, The Jackal, Sleeping with the Enemy, The Hudsucker Proxy, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Message in a Bottle, Domestic Disturbance, Cat's Eye, The Road to Wellville, No Mercy and Hounddog; as well as television shows such as Matlock, Surface, The WB's Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill and the HBO series Eastbound & Down have been produced there. Hundreds of films, documentaries, and television series have been filmed here.

History
After the French, and the Spanish, it was not until the 1720s that English colonists established the first permanent European settlement in the area. The town of Wilmington was incorporated in 1739. Numerous early settlers came from the colonies of South Carolina and Barbados, bringing with them their reliance on African slave labor, which was soon part of the culture in the area.

Planters and small farmers used slave labor to exploit the region's natural resources. The forest provided the region's major industries through the 18th and most of the 19th centuries: naval stores and lumber fueled the economy both before and after the American Revolution. During the Revolutionary War, the British maintained a garrison at Fort Johnson near Wilmington.

Civil War
During the Civil War, the port was a major base for Confederate blockade runners. It was captured by Union forces in the Battle of Wilmington in February 1865, approximately one month after the fall of Fort Fisher had closed the port. Since almost all the military action took place some distance from the city, a number of antebellum homes and other buildings are still extant.

Massacre of 1898
In November 1898 Wilmington was the scene of a violent attack by a well-organized group of whites who destroyed the printing press of the African American newspaper The Daily Record and set fire to the building in retaliation for an editorial which they said "insulted white womanhood". It was attributed to the paper's editor Alex Manly. The mob went to the north side of town, an area of concentrated black residents, where it lynched and murdered an unknown number of African Americans. The city then had a black majority with a rising middle class; the racial violence turned back the clock for many families. The number reported killed in the white press was nine; oral traditions of African-American families say scores were killed. Many hundreds of blacks were run out of town; some hid in the swamp for safety. No whites were killed during the events, but both black and white prominent business and community leaders opposed to white supremacy were driven off.

At the same time, the mob with the threat of paramilitary force turned out the biracial government of the city: the Republican mayor and city council were forced to resign their offices. The mob installed their leader as mayor, effectively establishing a de facto coup d'état in the city, the only successful such action in U.S. history. The events in Wilmington—which was then the largest city in the state—contributed to white conservative Democrats in North Carolina regaining political power and taking over the state legislature. Democrats turned out the previous Fusionist government. The state legislature proceeded to pass laws to disfranchise black voters by constitutional amendments and laws that raised obstacles for registration and voting, and proceeded to pass Jim Crow laws for public segregation, conditions which lasted until the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the second half of the 20th century.

Before the centennial of the event, a grassroots effort arose in the city to grapple with the complex and emotional history associated with it. A number of events, teaching sessions, and large discussions were held throughout the city to explore the many aspects of this history. Committees associated with this effort were chaired by pairs of African Americans and European Americans, to ensure both races were heard.

Since then, the state and city committed to other work to understand the past and try to correct some of the longstanding effects. They appointed an "1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission" to prepare a report of recommendations to address the wrongs committed. In 2006, the Commission completed its official report on the event. Consisting of thirteen commissioners appointed by the legislature, the governor, mayor and city council of Wilmington, the commission was assisted by the staff of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. They used the experience of the Rosewood Report (completed 1993), and the Tulsa Report (completed 2001) as a model and set out to provide detailed explanations for the causes and effects of the riots and to propose a series of recommendations to address the wrongs perpetrated by earlier generations. The resolution also apologized to those affected by the riots and their repercussions and renounced these actions. In 2008, six 16 ft. tall bronze sculptures by Ayokunle Odeleye went on display as part of a memorial for the city of Wilmington. Wilmington has many things to see, including the Burlie & Wright house. That house was there in the 1700s and before. It used to be a prison.

World War II
During World War II, Wilmington was the home of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company. The shipyard was created as part of the U.S. government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Workers there built 243 ships during the five years it was in operation.

The city also was the site of three prisoner-of-war (POW) camps from February 1944 through April 1946. At their peak, the camps held 550 German prisoners. The first camp was located on the corner of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road; it was moved downtown to Ann Street, between 8th and 10th avenues, when it outgrew the original location. A smaller contingent of prisoners was assigned to a third site, working in the officers’ mess and doing grounds keeping at Bluethenthal Army Air Base, which is now Wilmington International Airport.

Geography
Wilmington is located at °N, °W (34.223232, -77.912122). It is the Eastern Terminus of a major East-West Interstate 40 which ends at Barstow, California, where it joins I-15, the Gateway to Southern California, some 2,554 miles away, passing through many major cities and state capitals along the way.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.5 square miles (107.4 km²). 41.0 square miles (106.2 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km2) of it (1.16%) is water.

Climate
Wilmington has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa), typical of the southeastern US.


 * Winters are generally mild with January highs in the mid 50s °F (12-13 °C) and lows in the mid 30s °F (1-2 °C). Snowfall occurs only on some years, and is generally light.
 * Spring is reasonably lengthy, beginning in late February and lasting to early May. The presence of abundant dense vegetation in the area causes significant pollen dusting in the springtime that tends to turn rooftops and cars yellow.
 * Summer brings high humidity with temperatures frequently in the upper 80s - lower 90s °F (32 - 34 °C). Heat indices can easily break the 100 °F mark, though highs normally do not. Due to the proximity of warm Atlantic Ocean waters, the area may be hit by a tropical cyclone during the summer, at an average of once every seven years.
 * Autumn is also generally humid at the beginning, with the same tropical threats as the summer. Some of the deciduous trees may lose their leaves; however most trees in the area are evergreens and therefore remain green year-round.


 * January mean temperature: 46.1 F
 * July mean temperature: 81.1 F
 * Nights ≤ 32 F: 39
 * Days ≥ 90 F: 46
 * Highest Recorded Temperature: 104 F (June 27, 1952)
 * Lowest Recorded Temperature: 0 F (December 25, 1989)
 * Annual Precipitation: 57.1 in
 * Wettest day: 13.38 in, on September 15, 1999
 * Wettest month on record: 23.41 in, September 1999
 * Winter average snowfall: 2.1 in (the median amount is 0)

Cityscape
Wilmington boasts one of the largest historic districts encompassing nearly 300 blocks. Old abandoned warehouses on downtown's northern end have been recently demolished making room for multi-million dollar projects such as PPD's World Headquarters and a state of the art convention center due to officially open in January 2011.

Downtown/Old Wilmington is home to Historic Neighborhoods and buildings such as the Sir Water Wilmington Hotel Build in the late 20th Century, the restored City Market.

Economy
Wilmington's industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; and pharmaceuticals. Wilmington is part of North Carolina's Research coast,one of the Country's research parts adjacent to the Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, NC. Also important to Wilmington's economy is tourism due to its close proximity to the ocean and vibrant nightlife. Film production also plays an important role in the city's economy. Wilmington North Carolina was #2 in the Nation in a national study for 2007 projected job growth. This list of 25 top cities, compiled by the Milken Institute, an Economic "Think Tank" based in California, also included the NC cities of Charlotte and Raleigh.

Crime
Over the last 3 years crime rates, as reported through the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports, have decreased in 6 of the 8 reported categories.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 75,838 people, 34,359 households, and 17,351 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,849.8 people per square mile (714.2/km²). There were 38,678 housing units at an average density of 943.4 per square mile (364.2/km²). The racial composition of the city was: 70.57% White, 25.82% Black or African American, 2.63% Hispanic or Latino American, 0.90% Asian American, 0.35% Native American, 0.09% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 1.14% some other race, and 1.13% two or more races.

There were 34,359 households out of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.5% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 17.2% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,099, and the median income for a family was $41,891. Males had a median income of $30,803 versus $23,423 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,503. About 13.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Airport
The Wilmington International Airport (ILM) serves the area with commercial air service provided by Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways. US Airways carries a large share of the airport's traffic, and therefore flies the largest of the aircraft in and out of the airport. The airport serves over 800,000 travelers per year. The airport is also home to two fixed base operations (FBO's) which currently house over 100 private aircraft. The airport maintains a separate International Terminal providing a full service Federal Inspection Station to clear international flights. This includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Dept of Agriculture and the U.S. Dept of Immigration. The airport is 4 miles from downtown.

Interstate Highways

 * [[Image:I-40.svg|20px]] - Interstate 40 (eastern terminus is in Wilmington)
 * [[Image:Future plate blue.svg|20px]] [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] - Interstate 20 (Future)
 * [[Image:Future plate blue.svg|20px]] [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] - Interstate 20 (Future)

U.S. Routes

 * runs from the North Carolina border to the Wilmington area and turns west and north into Jacksonville. The road was named in 1933.
 * [[Image:US 74.svg|20px]] - U.S.Route 74 is a more direct path from Charlotte, through Lumberton, North Carolina, and into Wilmington proper. The route crosses the Cape Fear River by means of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and is the popular entrance to the area shown in most photographs and movies.
 * is a route from Florence, South Carolina that runs into the city coexistent with US Route 74 from Whiteville, North Carolina in the west.
 * [[Image:US 117.svg|25px]] - U.S. Route 117
 * [[Image:US 117.svg|25px]] - U.S. Route 117

Alternate transportation options
Public transit in the area is provided by the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority, which operates fixed bus routes, shuttles, and a free downtown trolley under the brand name Wave Transit. A daily intercity bus service to Raleigh is provided by Greyhound Lines.

The NC-DOT Cape Fear Run bicycle route connects Apex to Wilmington and closely parallels the RUSA 600 km brevet route.

The City of Wilmington offers transient docking facilities in the center of Downtown Wilmington along the Cape Fear River approximately 12.5 miles from the Intracoastal Waterway. The river depth in the run up from the ICW is in excess of 40 feet.

Business
Wilmington experienced staggering growth in the 1990s, ranking at one point as the second fastest growing city in the country, behind only Las Vegas. Economists have forecast growth in the Greater Wilmington area to be the fastest in the state between 2004–2010, averaging 7%.

Wilmington Ranks #32nd in the nation on Forbes Magazine's "Best Places for Business and Careers" 2010.

Wilmington Ranks #14 in the nation on Fortune Small Business Magazine's "Best Places for a Start-Up"

Located on the Cape Fear River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is a sizable seaport, including private marine terminals and the North Carolina State Ports Authority's Port of Wilmington.

Wilmington is home to the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the oldest Chamber in North Carolina, organized in 1853.

Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Universities and colleges

 * University of North Carolina at Wilmington
 * Cape Fear Community College
 * Shaw University satellite campus
 * Mount Olive College satellite campus

Schools
Public Schools in Wilmington are operated by the New Hanover County Public School System.

High schools

 * Eugene Ashley High School
 * John T. Hoggard High School
 * Isaac Bear Early College High School
 * Emsley A. Laney High School
 * New Hanover High School
 * Mosley Performance Learning Center
 * Wilmington Early College High School

Middle schools

 * Holly Shelter Middle
 * Murray Middle
 * Myrtle Grove Middle
 * Noble Middle
 * Roland-Grise Middle
 * Trask Middle
 * Williston Middle

Primary schools

 * Walter L. Parsley Elementary School
 * Alderman
 * Anderson
 * Bellamy
 * Blair
 * Bradley Creek
 * Codington
 * College Park
 * Holly Tree
 * Ogden
 * Pine Valley
 * Snipes Academy of Arts and Design
 * Sunset Park
 * Winter Park

Academies and alternate schools

 * Cape Fear Academy
 * The Lyceum Academy
 * Wilmington Christian Academy
 * Coastal Christian
 * St. Mary Catholic School
 * Friends School of Wilmington

Performing arts
The city supports a very active calendar with its showcase theater, the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, hosting about 250 events annually. The complex has been in continuous operation since it opened in 1858 and houses three performance venues, the Main Stage, the Grand Ballroom, and the Studio Theater.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington College of Arts and Science Departments of Theatre, Music and Art share a state-of-the-art, $34 million Cultural Arts Building which opened in December 2006. The production area consists of a music recital hall, art gallery, and two theaters. Sponsored events include 4 theater productions a year.

Local stages include:
 * The Red Barn Studio
 * Level 5 at City Stage
 * Opera House Theater
 * The Brown Coat Pub & Theater
 * The Cape Fear Playhouse (home of Big Dawg Productions)

Film
Since 1995, Wilmington hosts an annual, nationally recognized, independent film festival, the "Cucalorus". It is the keystone event of The Cucalorus Film Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Foundation also sponsors weekly screenings, several short documentary projects and the annual Kids Festival, with hands on film-making workshops.

Music
The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra was established in 1971 and offers throughout the year a series of five classical performances, and a Free Family Concert. Wilmington is also home to numerous music festivals.

One of the largest DIY festivals, the Wilmington Exchange Festival, occurs over a period of 5 days around Memorial Day each year. It is currently in its 13th year.

Celebrating its 29th year, The North Carolina Jazz Festival is a three-day traditional jazz festival which features world-renowned jazz musicians.

The Cape Fear Blues Society is a driving force behind Blues music in Wilmington, N.C. The organization manages, staffs and sponsors weekly Cape Fear Blues Jams and the annual Cape Fear Blues Challenge talent competition (winners travel to Memphis TN for the International Blues Challenge). It's largest endeavor is the Cape Fear Blues Festival, an annual celebration that showcases local, regional & national touring Blues artists performing at a variety of events and venues, including the Cape Fear Blues Cruise, Blues Workshops, an All-Day Blues Jam, and numerous live club shows. Membership in the CFBS is open to listeners and musicians alike.

The local music scene in Wilmington, NC is also very diverse and abundant. The Soapbox Bar and Lounge in downtown Wilmington is known for having the greatest bands around come and play. With bands like Rio Bravo which bring a more modern style of music to wilmington or bands like Root Soul Project, which is exactly what it says it is; music for the soul. Another popular venue is The Rusty Nail at 1310 S. 5th Ave. The Nail is likely the closest thing you'll find to an authentic juke joint in Wilmington and it regularly features Blues, Jazz and Americana music.

Wilmington is also a popular spot for Carolina shag dancing enthusiasts.

Museums and Historic Areas

 * Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
 * The Bellamy Mansion
 * The Confederate Memorial, Wilmington
 * Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
 * The Children's Museum of Wilmington
 * Fort Fisher Historic Area
 * St. James Episcopal Church - the oldest church in Wilmington
 * St. Mary Catholic Church - historic Roman Catholic church in Wilmington
 * First Presbyterian Church - historic Presbyterian church
 * Latimer House Museum
 * Sunset Park Historic District
 * Temple of Israel - the oldest synagogue in North Carolina
 * USS North Carolina Memorial
 * Wilmington Railroad Museum

Newspapers
The Star-News is Wilmington's daily newspaper; read widely throughout the Lower Cape Fear region and now owned by the New York Times. Two historic black newspapers are distributed and published weekly -- The Wilmington Journal and The Challenger Newspapers. Encore Magazine is a weekly arts and entertainment publication.

Broadcast
The Wilmington television market is ranked 133 in the United States, and is the smallest DMA in North Carolina. The broadcast stations are as follows:


 * WWAY, Channel (3), (ABC affiliate): licensed to Wilmington, owned by Morris Multimedia
 * WECT, Channel (6), (NBC affiliate): licensed to Wilmington, owned by Raycom Media
 * WILM-LD, Channel (10), (CBS affiliate): licensed to Wilmington, owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company
 * WSFX-TV, Channel (26), (Fox affiliate): licensed to Wilmington, owned by Raycom Media
 * WUNJ-TV, Channel (39), (PBS member station, part of the UNC-TV Network)
 * W47CK, Channel (47), (MyNetworkTV affiliate, uses fictional WMYW calls on-air): licensed to Shallotte
 * W51CW, Channel (51), (TBN affiliate)

Subscriber
The region is also served by a cable-only affiliate of The CW, WBW (channel 29 on Time Warner Cable and channel 17 on Charter Communications). Cable news station News 14 Carolina also maintains its coastal bureau in Wilmington.

On September 8, 2008, at 12 noon, WWAY, WECT, WSFX, WILM-LP and W51CW all turned off their analog signals, making Wilmington the first market in the nation to go digital-only as part of a test by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to iron out transition and reception concerns before the nationwide shutoff. Wilmington was chosen as the test market because the area's digital channel positions will remain unchanged after the transition. As the area's official conduit of emergency information, WUNJ did not participate in the early analog switchoff, and kept their analog signal on until the national digital switchover date of June 12, 2009. W47CK did not participate due to its low-power status; FCC rules currently exempt low-powered stations from the 2009 analog shutdown. WILM-LP and W51CW chose to participate, even though they are exempt as LPTV stations.

Despite Tropical Storm Hanna making landfall southwest of Wilmington two days before (September 6), the switchover continued as scheduled. The ceremony was marked by governmental and television representatives flipping a large switch (marked with the slogan "First in Flight, First in Digital") from analog to digital.

Radio stations

 * 88.1 FM WGHW - Christian Programs from Church Planters Of America
 * 88.5 FM WZDG - Christian Rock ("88.5, The Edge")
 * 88.9 FM WKVC - Contemporary Christian ("K-Love")
 * 89.7 FM WDVV - Worship & Praise Music ("The Dove, 89.7")
 * 90.5 FM WWIL - Christian Music ("Life 90.5")
 * 91.3 FM WHQR - Public Radio
 * 92.3 FM WQSL - Urban Contemporary ("92.3, The Touch")
 * 92.7 FM WBPL - Wilmington Catholic Radio
 * 93.7 FM WNTB - Talk Radio ("The Big Talker FM")
 * 94.5 FM WKXS - Classic Hits ("94.5, The Hawk")
 * 95.5 FM W238AV - Contemporary Christian ("K-LOVE")
 * 95.9 FM W240AS - Christian Programs from WOTJ, Morehead City
 * 97.3 FM WMNX - Hip Hop/R & B ("Coast 97.3")
 * 98.3 FM WUIN - AAA ("The Penguin")
 * 98.7 FM WRMR - Modern Rock
 * 99.9 FM WKXB - Oldies ("Jammin' 99.9")
 * 100.5 FM W263BA - Contemporary Christian ("K-LOVE")
 * 101.3 FM WWQQ- Country ("Double Q, 101")
 * 102.7 FM WGNI - Hot AC ("102.7 GNI")
 * 103.7 FM WBNE - Classic Rock (103.7,"The Bone")
 * 104.5 FM WILT - Adult Contemporary ("Sunny 104.5")
 * 105.5 FM WXQR - Rock ("Rock 105")
 * 106.3 FM WLTT - Talk Radio ("The Big Talker FM")
 * 106.7 FM WMYT -
 * 107.5 FM WAZO - Top 40 ("Z 107.5")
 * 630 AM WMFD - Sports ("ESPN Radio, AM 630")
 * 980 AM WAAV - News, Talk, Sports ("News, Talk, & Sports 980 The Wave")
 * 1180 AM WSFM - Christian Teaching & Talk ("The Word, 1180 AM")
 * 1340 AM WLSG - Southern Gospel ("God's Country, 1340")
 * 1490 AM WWIL - Urban Gospel ("Gospel Joy, 1490")

Sports
The Wilmington Sharks are a Coastal Plain League (CPL) baseball team in Wilmington that was founded in 1997 and was among the charter organizations when the CPL was formed that same year. The roster is made up of top collegiate baseball players fine-tuning their skills using wood bats to prepare for professional baseball. Their stadium is located at Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium in Wilmington.

The Wilmington Sea Dawgs are a Premier Basketball League (PBL) team in Wilmington that began its inaugural season with the American Basketball Association (ABA) in November 2006.

The Wilmington Hammerheads were a professional soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. They were founded in 1996 and played in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division. Their stadium was the Legion Stadium. After the 2009 season, the USL explained that they had discontinued their relationship with the franchise owner Chuck Sullivan. The Hammerheads franchise will be returning in 2011. The University of North Carolina Wilmington sponsors 19 intercollegiate sports and has held Division 1 membership in the NCAA since 1977. UNCW competes in the Colonial Athletic Association and has been a member since 1984.

The Cape Fear Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby club playing in USA Rugby South Division II. They were founded in 1974 and hosts the annual Cape Fear Sevens Tournament held over 4 July weekend; hosting teams from all over the world. They own their own rugby pitch located at 21st and Chestnut St.

Shopping complexes

 * Independence Mall
 * Cotton Exchange of Wilmington
 * Mayfaire Town Center

Sister cities
Wilmington is a sister city with the following cities:
 * 🇨🇳 Dandong, China — 1986
 * 🇬🇧 Doncaster, United Kingdom — 1989
 * 🇧🇧 Bridgetown, Barbados — 2004

Points of interest

 * Airlie Gardens
 * Cape Fear Serpentarium
 * The Cotton Exchange Shopping Center
 * New Hanover County Extension Service Arboretum
 * North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
 * North Carolina Azalea Festival
 * Screen Gems Studios
 * USS North Carolina Battleship & Museum
 * Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
 * University of North Carolina at Wilmington Arboretum
 * Fourth Friday Gallery Nights

Notable Residents (former and current)

 * Edwin Anderson, Jr. — Medal of Honor recipient
 * Eugene Ashley, Jr. — Medal of Honor recipient
 * Arthur Bluethenthal – football player and World War I pilot
 * Jock Brandis – author, co-founder of the Full Belly Project
 * Pat Hingle - the late actor best know for his role as Commissioner Gordon in the films Batman, Batman Returns & Batman Forever
 * David Brinkley - American television newscaster for NBC and ABC
 * Chelsea Cooley – Miss USA 2005
 * Alge Crumpler – NFL tight end for the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots
 * Kristen Dalton – Miss North Carolina USA 2009, Miss USA 2009
 * Charlie Daniels – Country music legend, inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
 * Wesley A. Gore - Musician/Drummer, Taylor Swifts alternate drummer.
 * Minnie Evans – folk artist
 * Roman Gabriel — Los Angeles Rams quarterback; 1969 NFL Most Valuable Player
 * Althea Gibson – Tennis Hall of Famer
 * Andy Griffith - the actor owned a home in the Wilmington area while filming Matlock
 * Bethany Joy Galeotti – actress; plays Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill
 * Al Gore – former Vice-President has home on Figure Eight Island
 * John Edwards - former U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate has a home on Figure Eight Island
 * Joseph Gallison – actor best known for his role as Dr. Neil Curtis on the daytime drama Days of our Lives
 * Ed Hinton – actor best know for his roles in Western Films
 * Dennis Hopper - the late actor lived in Wilmington for several years after filming multiple movies at Screen Gems Studios
 * Claude Howell - artist (1915–1997)
 * William Hooper – (1742–1790)-- Member Continental Congress; Signer Declaration of Independence; Deputy Attorney General, NC; Federal Judge
 * Michael Jordan — American basketball player, 6 time NBA Champion with the Chicago Bulls, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Sonny Jurgensen - former Washington Redskins quarterback, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Charles Kuralt — award-winning American journalist
 * Jana Kramer - actress; plays Alex Dupre on One Tree Hill
 * Linda Lavin- actress, singer, and arts patron best known for her title role in the television series Alice
 * Meadowlark Lemon — American basketball player best know for being a member of the Harlem Globetrotters
 * Sugar Ray Leonard – won the gold medal in boxing at the 1976 Olympics
 * Quinton McCracken, former Major League Baseball outfielder
 * Charles P. Murray, Jr. — Medal of Honor recipient
 * Trot Nixon - former Major League Baseball outfielder
 * Thomas Peters — early founder of Sierra Leone, who escaped from slavery in Wilmington at the beginning of the American Revolution.
 * Robert Ruark — sportsman and syndicated writer during the 1940s–1950s
 * Captain William Gordon Rutherfurd — commanded the HMS HMS Swiftsure during the Battle of Trafalgar
 * Willie Stargell - former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and 1st baseman, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
 * John Steele - Landed with the 82nd ABN in Normandy during World War II. Made famous in The Longest Day
 * Woodrow Wilson – 28th President of the United States
 * Brittany York - Miss North Carolina USA 2011
 * James Van Der Beek – actor; played Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek and has a recurring role as a movie director on One Tree Hill since 2008
 * Michelle Williams – actress; played Jen Lindley on Dawson's Creek
 * Katie Holmes – actress; played Joey Potter on Dawson's Creek
 * Hilarie Burton – actress; played Peyton Sawyer on One Tree Hill
 * Sophia Bush – actress; plays Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill
 * Chad Michael Murray – actor; played Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill
 * James Lafferty – actor; plays Nathan Scott on One Tree Hill
 * Lee Norris – actor; plays Marvin 'Mouth' McFadden on One Tree Hill
 * Danneel Harris – actress; plays Rachel Gatina on One Tree Hill
 * Ron Vavra - sculptor, named a Best of America artist