Community Honors

Wilmington's History

Wilmington was named in honor of Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington, who was Prime Minister under George II. Incorporated in 1739, Wilmington became a city in 1866. In 1840 it was the largest town in the state and remained so through the early 1900s, thanks to the thriving ports along the Cape Fear River and the arrival of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad (renamed the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad in 1854). When the railroad was completed in 1840, it was the largest continuous railroad track in the world.

The Port City is the childhood home of basketball great Michael Jordan and journalist David Brinkley. Other famous Wilmington natives include Althea Gibson, Minnie Evans, Kevin Beasley, Sonny Jurgenson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Charles Kuralt, Charlie Daniels, Roman Gabriel, Meadowlark Lemon and Alge Crumpler. It is also home to the WWII Battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) and hosted the commissioning of the Virginia Class USS North Carolina (777) submarine in May 2008 and the missile-guided destroyer USS Gravely in November 2010.

About

Wilmington, located in New Hanover County, is a coastal town situated in southeastern North Carolina. The city is bordered by the Cape Fear River to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Following is some general information about the city.

• View a profile on Wilmington(PDF, 3MB)
• View a guide to Wilmington's African-American heritage: places of interest(PDF, 2MB)
• View the Cape Fear Museum's online exhibit on the Coup D'état of 1898

Certifications

Rich in history and culture, Wilmington has made a name for itself with a number of prominent designations that highlight the city's community commitments.

Bee City

Wilmington received Bee City certification in June 2015 and is joined by more than 200 Bee City USA affiliates nationwide.

Coast Guard City

In 2003, Wilmington became the first Coast Guard City on the East Coast. With that honor, Wilmington became the fourth Coast Guard City in the nation. As of 2024, there are 34 designations across the country.

World War II City

On Sept. 2, 2020, the City of Wilmington was officially named the first World War II Heritage City in the country.

Tree City USA

To qualify as a Tree City USA community, the city must meet four core standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.