Wilmington, NC, nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, is a large, but growing city on the southeastern coast of North Carolina. While the 2000 census put its population at 75,838, a 2007 US Census Bureau has the city pushing 100,000 residents at 99,623. Economist forecast that the Wilmington area will be the fastest growing region in North Carolina between 2004-2010.
Wilmington, named in honor of the Earl of Wilmington, Spencer Compton, is home to one of the state’s largest historic districts and can be toured via carriage, riverboat, trolley car, or by foot. The city is also home to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, which is the oldest museum in the state. The historic theme continues as the public can take a tour of Battleship North Carolina. The battleship, which saw action in the Pacific Theater in World War II, still stands with dignity today.
While Wilmington has plenty to see from historic standpoint it is currently making history everyday. Nicknamed the “Hollywood of the East” Wilmington has attracted many movies and television shows to do their filming within the city. More than 400 feature films, as well as television show hits Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, have been filmed in the Wilmington area. One film producer attributes the boom in filming to the quality of the light in the sky during twilight hours. Recently “Dream Stage 10” the largest filming studio east of California will be open in Wilmington. The studio will be home to the largest special effects water tank in North America.
Wilmington is also friendly to the residents that seek entertainment in their leisure time. Fans can catch the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s 19 athletic squads in competition all throughout the year. The city is also home to the Wilmington Sharks, a summer collegiate baseball team, the Wilmington Sea Dogs, a professional basketball team and the Wilmington Hammerheads a professional soccer team. These teams compete at Buck Hardee Field, the Schwartz Center and Legion Stadium, respectively. The city is also home to arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan.
Fans of theater and live music can check out the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, The Soapbox, which is downtown’s biggest music venue, or UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium.
Wilmington has four television stations that cover news in the area (WWAY News Channel 3, WECT TV6, WSFX Fox26 and WUNJ UNC-TV. The Star News serves as the local newspaper.
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