Wilmington is a city located in New Hanover County North Carolina. Wilmington has a 2024 population of 125,007. Wilmington is currently growing at a rate of 1.88% annually and its population has increased by 7.98% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 115,770 in 2020.
The average household income in Wilmington is $91,678 with a poverty rate of 17.79%. The median age in Wilmington is 37.6 years: 36.5 years for males, and 39 years for females.
Wilmington serves as the county seat for New Hanover County. Wilmington is a significant port city and has been designated as a “Coast Guard City.”
Just over 47% of the population has a religious affiliation. Most of the people that do practice a religion observe Christianity. Baptists and Methodists make up the largest portion of the religious population.
The population of Wilmington, for the most part, has grown every ten years when the census is taken. There have been brief periods where the population declined, but the number shows that Wilmington has always bounced back. The city has seen significant growth since the 1990s. A population of over 55,000 in 1990 had increased by 36.6% in 2000. It grew again in 2010 by over 40% to exceed 100,000. Recent estimates show that the population has grown by over 10% since the last census. It’s likely that this city will continue to see continued growth based on these trends in recent years.
Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to spot the current location of Wilmington during the early 16th century. The city before European settlement was inhabited by multiple indigenous tribes for thousands of years. However, the area wasn’t settled by the Europeans until the 1720s. An area along the Cape Fear River was originally named New Carthage. The name was later changed to New Liverpool, before becoming known as New Town or Newton. It was in 1739 or 1740 when the city took on the name of Wilmington.
People from other regions in North Carolina, as well as Virginia and South Carolina settled in Wilmington. The majority of the settlers came from the British Isles, the West Indies, and British colonies. Indentured servants made up quite a bit of the early population. As the demand for labor increased in the region, slaves were brought from Africa, making up about 62% of the region’s total population in 1767.
In its earliest years, the economy was fueled by naval stores and the lumber industry. It was also an essential major port. With the arrival of the 1800s came the need for railroad transportation. Plans were created to build a railroad from Raleigh to Wilmington, but plans fell through when there wasn’t enough money raised for the project. The terminus was then changed to Weldon. Later in the century, the Wilmington Gas Light Company was established, and gas-powered street lights were installed. Soon after that, a new City Hall was built. The city over the next few years also opened its first public school and an opera house.
Wilmington’s port served as a base for the Confederates during the Civil War. The city was captured by the Union in 1865, although battles took place some distance away so that homes and buildings were preserved within Wilmington. At the end of the decade, free and emancipated blacks created a community within Wilmington. This eventually led to the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898.
Today, the city still holds its position as one of the most important port cities in the United States. The city has many historic buildings still intact, bringing in tourists. There are also nearby beaches, the downtown Riverwalk that has been named one of the best in the country, museums and other attractions that appeal to visitors and residents.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Wilmington was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 86,966 | 74.37% |
Black or African American | 18,955 | 16.21% |
Two or more races | 5,465 | 4.67% |
Other race | 3,677 | 3.14% |
Asian | 1,518 | 1.3% |
Native American | 327 | 0.28% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 25 | 0.02% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 53,374 | 2.1 | 45.9 | 54.1 |
Non Family | 28,192 | 1.34 | 31.6 | 68.4 |
Married | 18,324 | 2.85 | 72.5 | 27.5 |
Female | 5,410 | 3.18 | 32.3 | 67.7 |
Male | 1,448 | 3.11 | 39.2 | 60.8 |
2.87
Average Family Size
2.1
Average Household Size
45.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 3,508 | 4.46% |
Associates Degree | 8,377 | 10.65% |
Bachelors Degree | 22,152 | 28.16% |
Graduate Degree | 12,167 | 15.46% |
High School Graduate | 15,561 | 19.78% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 1,760 | 2.24% |
Some College | 15,153 | 19.26% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 59,284 | 56,838 | 29,406 |
Black | 12,526 | 10,741 | 2,721 |
Hispanic | 3,663 | 2,864 | 925 |
2+ Races | 2,483 | 2,254 | 862 |
Other Race | 1,528 | 1,117 | 187 |
Asian | 946 | 807 | 574 |
Native American | 178 | 100 | 47 |
Islander | 25 | 25 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 60.68%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $51,338 | $61,292 | $42,466 |
Graduate Degree | $72,147 | $84,698 | $67,159 |
High School Graduate | $29,954 | $34,708 | $26,641 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $25,130 | $26,172 | $18,563 |
Overall | $43,932 | $49,636 | $38,661 |
Some College | $40,056 | $43,597 | $34,713 |
$43,932
Average Earnings
$49,636
Average Male
$38,661
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
92.21% of Wilmington residents speak only English, while 7.79% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 4.92% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 80,286 | 10,491 | 13.07% |
Black | 18,833 | 6,737 | 35.77% |
Multiple | 5,232 | 1,519 | 29.03% |
Hispanic | 7,823 | 1,429 | 18.27% |
Other | 3,462 | 309 | 8.93% |
Asian | 1,345 | 186 | 13.83% |
Native | 310 | 79 | 25.48% |
17.79%
Overall Poverty Rate
15.49%
Male Poverty Rate
19.83%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Wilmington is Black, with 35.77% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Wilmington is Other, with 8.93% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.44%. Among those working part-time, it was 27.49%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 27.06%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 36.47% |
High School | 21.1% |
Some College | 13.5% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.63% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 40.67% |
Male Unemployed | 32.93% |
Female Employed | 13.22% |
Male Employed | 7.65% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $84,883 | $127,809 |
Households | $58,908 | $91,678 |
Married Families | $110,267 | $155,340 |
Non Families | $42,882 | $57,886 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
38.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
41.8%
Male Marriage Rate
35.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
5,970
Number of Veterans
5,169
Male Veterans
801
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 1,906 |
Second Gulf War | 1,489 |
First Gulf War | 1,116 |
Korea | 644 |
World War II | 87 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
75+ | 1,704 |
35 to 54 | 1,231 |
65 to 74 | 1,226 |
55 to 64 | 1,118 |
18 to 34 | 691 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 4,952 | 6.55% |
Black | 701 | 4.83% |
Hispanic | 215 | 4.31% |
2+ Races | 166 | 4.67% |
Other Race | 145 | 7.95% |
Native American | 6 | 3.08% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.95%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.02%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
64.2%
Labor Force Participation
60.7%
Employment Rate
4.9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
49.93%
Born in Wilmington
94.98%
Native Born
5.02%
Foreign Born
2.73%
Non Citizen
2.29%
Naturalized
94.98% of Wilmington residents were born in the United States, with 49.93% having been born in North Carolina. 2.73% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 136,554 | 2,310 | 1.72% |
2028 | 134,244 | 2,309 | 1.75% |
2027 | 131,935 | 2,310 | 1.78% |
2026 | 129,625 | 2,309 | 1.81% |
2025 | 127,316 | 2,309 | 1.85% |
2024 | 125,007 | 2,309 | 1.88% |
2023 | 122,698 | 1,578 | 1.3% |
2022 | 121,120 | 3,283 | 2.79% |
2021 | 117,837 | 2,067 | 1.79% |
2020 | 115,770 | -7,752 | -6.28% |
2019 | 123,522 | 736 | 0.6% |
2018 | 122,786 | 1,869 | 1.55% |
2017 | 120,917 | 2,078 | 1.75% |
2016 | 118,839 | 3,676 | 3.19% |
2015 | 115,163 | 1,755 | 1.55% |
2014 | 113,408 | 1,655 | 1.48% |
2013 | 111,753 | 2,047 | 1.87% |
2012 | 109,706 | 1,535 | 1.42% |
2011 | 108,171 | 1,402 | 1.31% |
2010 | 106,769 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 75,838 | 20,308 | 36.57% |
1990 | 55,530 | 11,530 | 26.2% |
1980 | 44,000 | -2,169 | -4.7% |
1970 | 46,169 | 2,156 | 4.9% |
1960 | 44,013 | -1,030 | -2.29% |
1950 | 45,043 | 11,636 | 34.83% |
1940 | 33,407 | 1,137 | 3.52% |
1930 | 32,270 | -1,102 | -3.3% |
1920 | 33,372 | 7,624 | 29.61% |
1910 | 25,748 | 4,772 | 22.75% |
1900 | 20,976 | 920 | 4.59% |
1890 | 20,056 | 2,706 | 15.6% |
1880 | 17,350 | 3,904 | 29.03% |
1870 | 13,446 | 3,894 | 40.77% |
1860 | 9,552 | 2,288 | 31.5% |
1850 | 7,264 | 1,929 | 36.16% |
1840 | 5,335 | 1,544 | 40.73% |
1830 | 3,791 | 1,158 | 43.98% |
1820 | 2,633 | -133,921 | -98.07% |