About the City . . . Wilmington is the principal city in and the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina. We are bordered on the west by the Cape Fear River and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Wilmington NC and the beaches of the Cape Fear Coast -- Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach -- hold delights and curiosities around every corner. Set sail or learn to surf. Explore a Civil War battlefield or a WWII battleship. Wilmington, NC was rated number 11 in a recent Forbes survey as the best place to live in the United States. We have a four year university - UNCW, an historic district surrounding the downtown waterfront, art museums, movie studios, good industries, and a wide variety of private home communities - both modest and upscale. We have a friendly population of around 100,000 composed of natives and transplants from all over the world. Traffic at our airport has increased each of the last three years and provides direct flights to both local and international destinations. The area is growing rapidly, with population growth estimated at about 4.7% per year. Business growth has also been phenomenal, ranking at one point in the 1990s as the second fastest growing city in the country, second only to Las Vegas. State economists have forecast growth in the Greater Wilmington area from 2004 - 2010 to be the fastest in the state, averaging around 7%. Fortunately, in spite of our growth, we still retain our small town atmosphere. Climate . . . Wilmington has a humid, subtropical climate. Overall, it can be considered pleasant. Winters are cool with daytime temperatures generally in the 50s and 60s. Night time temperatures are generally in the 30s and 40s, with occasional dips into the 20s, or, rarely, the high teens. Spring and fall temperatures are generally in the 60s, 70s and low 80s. Heavy pollen is common in the spring. Humidity climbs late in the spring and is present throughout the summer and early fall. Summer is hot, with higher humidity and temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Summer and early fall can bring tropical cyclones (hurricanes) at an average of once every 7 years. Recreation and Entertainment . . . The City of Wilmington Parks Department maintains approximately 250 acres of landscaped parks, green spaces, medians, public buildings, and athletic facilities citywide. Among these are 13 citywide parks and 17 neighborhood parks, including Legion Stadium, the home of several semi professional and high school sports teams and Greenfield Park, where the Greenfield amphi-theatre hosts a variety of theatre and musical presentations. No discussion of Wilmington entertainment would be complete without mentioning Thalian Hall. Since its construction in 1855-1858, the City/Thalian Hall building has served as both the area's political and cultural center. The building has housed the town government, the library and the "Opera House". In 1963 the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts was incorporated to restore and operate the historic building as a regional center for the performing arts. The center supports a wide range of local performing arts organizations and attracts nationally recognized touring companies. Recently actress Linda Lavin and husband Steve Bakunas have opened the Red Barn Theatre, an increasingly popular venue for quality theatre in the area. Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina -Wilmington. The music and theatre arts departments sponsor and participate in an increasingly varied list educational and entertainment programs varying from local to nationally renowned entertainers and groups. Of course our most popular and enduring recreation and entertainment sources are the nearby Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean. Fishing, boating and water sports dominate the scene from early spring through late fall. Piers, marinas and state sponsored recreation areas dot the landscape and attract visitors from all over the southeastern United States. |