wilmington NC

An Old City with a New Feel

Wilmington NC

Wilmington is an old Colonial port city and is known for its trade in shipping, agricultural processing, and, yes, flowers. The historic town center and waterfront are located along Cape Fear River is attractive in its historic beauty.

Its historic interest and its location on the peninsula formed by the Cape Fear River on the west and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway on the east, cause the housing costs and cost of living to be a bit higher than other small North Carolina cities but any local will tell you the small jump in cost is worth it.

 

Get to Work!

Employment growth is very strong in Wilmington and continues to grow as more find the area.  Because of the strong economy – the Wilmington real estate market is very strong too.  The area is a healthy mix of new and old economy employers, and include International Paper and Louisiana Pacific, GE Nuclear Systems and Corning optical fiber, with a few pharmaceutical and biotech equipment firms thrown in for a pretty attractive mix of potential employers. There is a large regional hospital and medical complex. Wilmington may be a little far from big-city amenities and services, but there is nothing that you will miss here and there is the plus of the pleasant climate and family friendly residential sections.

The Fauna

orlando real estate

Wilmington is located along the southern Atlantic Coast of North Carolina. Because of the way that the coastline curves it puts the ocean about 5 miles east and 20 miles south. The surrounding area is typical of any coastal area, with low-lying land that sport rivers, creeks, and lakes. There is a considerable amount of swamp and marshland adjoining them with large wooded areas that alternate between cultivated fields.

 

A Fisherman’s Paradise

If fishing is what you live for, Wilmington has it all with black sea bass, grouper, snappers, and kings being common when offshore fishing. You can always catch a fishing charter to catch some huge yellowfin tuna! You might even catch the occasional wahoo or mahi that have been know to be caught here, depending on the season. These are fish you don’t typically find outside of the Gulf Stream. Fishing from the pier, you might snag a flounder, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, and more. These great seafood options inspire locals to fish year-round.

 

orlando real estateSeahawks: The Carolina Pride

The Seahawks’ team colors are is an ocean themed palette of teal, gold, and blue, but teal is the color that really means team pride in Wilmington. The main colors were originally green and gold, but the recent shift to a less-standard color combination has let UNCW really stand out from the pack.


Seahawk pride is #1, especially during during baseball, volleyball, and basketball seasons, the university’s stand-out sports.

 

Family and Festivals

Wilmington is a city that is alive and there are always a plethora of events to bring together family and friends making it easy to connect with the local folks and blend in. The city hosts a long list of large, public events every season, including the spring Azalea Festival, and smaller art shows, craft workshops, and tons of active Meetup groups for people with a wide variety of interests like moms, foodies, golfers, you name it.


A Boat Parade?

When you live on the water in Wilmington, the holidays can only mean one thing, the Flotilla: The annual boat parade, which is currently in its 30th year. The parade involves decking boats out with epic Christmas lights and decorations. Some cities have house-decorating competitions, but in Wilmington, it’s all about the boat parade.

One of the oldest festivals of its kind in the country, the North Carolina Jazz Festival has been a yearly tradition in Wilmington for 35 years and features performances from world-renowned musicians. The Festival also includes workshops for aspiring locals that include everything from fishing to crocheting.

 

The Beaches

You won’t have to drive far if you want to dig your toes in the sand as there are many beaches within a half hour drive of Wilmington, and, just ask anyone living there, the truth is that Carolina beaches are among the prettiest in America. Three of the local favorites are Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach.

 

So, whether you’re in the mood for walking on the boardwalks, deep sea fishing, early morning swims, or evening nature walks, Wilmington, North Carolina has you covered.