Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, USA

Jacksonville is the county seat and largest city of Onslow County, located in the Coastal Plain of southeastern North Carolina along the New River, about 45 miles northeast of Wilmington and roughly 15 miles inland from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The city is closely associated with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, whose personnel and operations have shaped Jacksonville’s rapid growth, unusually young population and economy since World War II. Its developed area extends along U.S. Route 17, North Carolina Highway 24 and Western Boulevard, while the New River, Wilson Bay and surrounding wetlands define much of its physical setting. Jacksonville serves as Onslow County’s principal center for government, commerce, healthcare, education and services supporting the military community. The city had 72,723 residents at the 2020 census and covers approximately 48.65 square miles of land.