Wilmington

Wilmington is located in New Hanover County (of which it is the county seat) southeast of Fayetteville along Interstate 40 on the banks of the Cape Fear River near the Intracoastal Waterway and altocean. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 68,062, an increase of 12,532 since 1990.

Wilmington was incorporated in 1739/40. It was originally situated on seven hills or bluffs located on the east side of the Cape Fear River about twenty-eight nautical miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It was known as New Liverpool, New Town and Newton before the permanent name of Wilmington was chosen to honor Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, an Englishman and patron of Gabriel Johnston, North Carolina’s Governor at the time.

Wilmington is part of the Wilmington, North Carolina metro area.