Wilmington is a city in New Hanover County , North Carolina, United States. The population is 100,000 as of 2006;^[1] 2005 Census Bureau estimates indicate a population of 95,476. It is the county seat of New Hanover County^GR6 . It was named in honor of Spencer Compton, the Earl of Wilmington , who was Prime Minister under George II.

Wilmington was settled on the Cape Fear River and is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. Wilmington offers its historic downtown as a main tourist attraction and business center and is minutes away from nearby beaches. The city residents have the advantage of living nestled between a river and the ocean.

Wilmington is also known as the childhood home of basketball great Michael Jordan and journalist David Brinkley; famous Wilmington natives include Sugar Ray Leonard, Charles Kuralt, Charlie Daniels, Roman Gabriel, Meadowlark Lemon, Trot Nixon, Alge Crumpler and Robert Demetrious. It is also home to the WWII Battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55). Now a war memorial, the ship is open to public tours and is on display across from the downtown port area. The town is home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington , the Wilmington Hammerheads USL soccer team, the training camp site for the Charlotte Bobcats and the Cape Fear Museum. The city has become a major center of American film and television production; motion pictures such as The Crow and Blue Velvet as well as television shows such as Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill have been produced there.

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Wilmington is a 250-year-old port city, nestled between North Carolina 's mighty Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean . The city's riverbanks boast a major container seaport, a charming historical district, the Battleship North Carolina , Gothic churches, and riverfront shops.

To the south lie majestic plantations, the North Carolina Aquarium, Fort Fisher , miles of unspoiled beaches, and some of the most outstanding seafood restaurants along the Cape Fear Coast . The Wilmington area is blessed with many natural attributes, however, its most valuable asset is its people; they are warm, friendly, sincere, and productive. Wilmington proper is the epitome of what the emerging New South is all about. Its inviting business climate has attracted giants like G.E., DuPont, and Corning , as well as smaller high-tech firms such as AAI and Pharmaceutical Product Development. Much of the city's growth is taking place along College Road , where incidentally, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) is located. UNCW's Marine Science Program, ranked fifth in the world, is at the forefront of teaching. Located downtown on the Cape Fear River is our award winning Cape Fear Community College (CFCC), offering state of the art training in a multitude of disciplines. Although Wilmington is the largest city in southeastern North Carolina , it retains a small town atmosphere. Visitors are treated hospitably and immediately sense the strong community pride Wilmingtonians exhibit. Residents continuously strive to improve all aspects of life in the Port City , because they know it is possible for the Wilmington area to maintain the same charm and natural beauty that has been celebrated for over 250 years.