Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA

Wilmington is a port city on the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina, about 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. A historic riverfront and live-oak-lined neighborhoods connect the downtown core with beaches and tidal landscapes across New Hanover County. Incorporated in 1739, Wilmington prospered through maritime trade and later became an important railroad center, leaving a rich architectural and cultural legacy. The city had about 126,800 residents in 2025. Port commerce, tourism, health care, the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a well-established film industry shape its modern economy.