New Hanover County, North Carolina

New Hanover County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 225,702, making it one of the most populous counties in the state, even though it is the second-smallest by land area. The county seat is Wilmington, which is one of the largest communities in North Carolina.

The county was created in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct and became a county in 1739. Today, New Hanover County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes the neighboring counties of Pender and Brunswick. It is an important area for both history and modern life in the region.

History

Early history

Before Europeans arrived, New Hanover County was home to two Native American tribes: the Cape Fear Indians and the Waccamaw Siouan Indians. People lived in the area as far back as 8000 BC. The first European to visit was Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524. Later, in 1526, Spaniard Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón also visited but moved on. In 1662, a group from New England came looking for a better place to live. They named the area "Cape Fear" but eventually left. It wasn’t until 1726 that the area was permanently settled. The county was formed in 1729 and named after the House of Hanover, the German royal family ruling Great Britain at the time. Over the years, parts of the county were split off to form new counties.

Revolutionary War and Antebellum period

After a war between France and Britain, protests against British rules began. In 1776, American forces defeated British troops at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, and soon after, the United States declared its independence. During this time, Wilmington grew as a trading port, especially after improvements to the Cape Fear River and the arrival of steamboats and railroads.

Civil War and Reconstruction

By 1860, Wilmington was very important to the Confederacy because its port helped send supplies to troops. Battles such as the Second Battle of Fort Fisher and the Battle of Wilmington happened here. After the war, new laws allowed freed people to vote, but later changes made it harder for them to do so.

Modern times

Wilmington struggled after the Civil War but saw growth during World War II with shipbuilding. After the war, the city grew with new roads and returning soldiers. The USS North Carolina became a museum in 1961, boosting tourism. In the 1980s, the film industry brought more people to the area, earning it the nickname “Hollywood East.” The county continued to grow, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, with many new residents moving in. Today, New Hanover County is well-developed and continues to grow economically.

Geography

Intersection of South College Road, South 17th Street, and Waltmoor Road from the air

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, New Hanover County has a total area of 328.86 square miles (851.7 km²), with 192.26 square miles (498.0 km²) being land and 136.60 square miles (353.8 km²) being water. This makes it the second-smallest county in North Carolina by land area.

The county has many special places and areas protected by the state or local government. Some of these include Airlie Gardens, Battleship North Carolina, Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Carolina Beach State Park, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, and Wilmington Historic District. There are also many natural areas and parks to explore.

New Hanover County is home to several important water bodies such as the Atlantic Ocean, Brunswick River, Cape Fear River, Intracoastal Waterway, and Onslow Bay. The county also includes several islands like Pleasure Island, Figure Eight Island, Masonboro Island, Wrightsville Beach, and Zeke’s Island.

The county is connected to nearby areas by several highways, including I-40, I-140, US 17, US 74, US 76, US 117, and US 421. There are also important transportation facilities such as the Port of Wilmington and Wilmington International Airport.

Demographics

2020 census

In the year 2020, there were 225,702 people living in New Hanover County. This includes 98,109 households and 56,160 families.

2020 population density of New Hanover County NC by census block

Most people in the county were white, making up 75.7% of the population. About 12.1% were Black or African American, and smaller groups included American Indian, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people. Some people were of two or more races, and about 7.7% were Hispanic or Latino.

Most people lived in cities, with only a small part of the county being rural.

2000 census

In the year 2000, there were 160,307 people living in the county. The population was mostly white, with about 16.97% being Black or African American. Smaller groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 2.04% were Hispanic or Latino.

There were many different types of households, with some having children, some with married couples, and others with single people living alone. The average household had about 2.3 people, and families were a bit larger, with about 2.8 people on average.

The median income for a household was $40,172, and for a family, it was $50,861. Some families and people lived below the poverty line, especially younger children.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	6,837	—
1800	7,060	3.3%
1810	11,465	62.4%
1820	10,866	−5.2%
1830	10,959	0.9%
1840	13,312	21.5%
1850	17,668	32.7%
1860	21,715	22.9%
1870	27,978	28.8%
1880	21,376	−23.6%
1890	24,026	12.4%
1900	25,785	7.3%
1910	32,037	24.2%
1920	40,620	26.8%
1930	43,010	5.9%
1940	47,935	11.5%
1950	63,272	32.0%
1960	71,742	13.4%
1970	82,996	15.7%
1980	103,471	24.7%
1990	120,284	16.2%
2000	160,307	33.3%
2010	202,667	26.4%
2020	225,702	11.4%
2025 (est.)	245,959	9.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

**New Hanover County, North Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1980	Pop 1990	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	79,862	94,288	126,453	155,631	167,150	77.18%	78.39%	78.88%	76.79%	74.06%
Black or African American alone (NH)	22,192	23,983	27,001	29,469	26,974	21.45%	19.94%	16.84%	14.54%	11.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	260	426	581	798	678	0.25%	0.35%	0.36%	0.39%	0.30%
Asian alone (NH)	311	612	1,325	2,380	3,468	0.30%	0.51%	0.83%	1.17%	1.54%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x	x	88	108	148	x	x	0.05%	0.05%	0.07%
Other race alone (NH)	67	51	187	353	992	0.06%	0.04%	0.12%	0.17%	0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x	x	1,396	3,212	8,992	x	x	0.87%	1.58%	3.98%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	779	924	3,276	10,716	17,300	0.75%	0.77%	2.04%	5.29%	7.66%
Total	103,471	120,284	160,307	202,667	225,702	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Government and politics

New Hanover County is led by a county commission made up of five members who are elected by voters across the county every four years. The commission chooses its own chair and vice-chair and is in charge of making important decisions for the county, like creating local rules and approving the yearly budget.

W. Allen Cobb Judicial Annex in Wilmington

The county is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a representative from North Carolina's 7th congressional district. It is also part of several districts in the North Carolina Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives, with representatives from both political parties. The county's main law enforcement agency is the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, which patrols the county, manages correctional facilities, and provides security for courts in Wilmington.

Politics

New Hanover County has a rich political history. In the past, it was one of the few places in North Carolina that supported the Republican Party, especially because of its African-American population at the time. Over the years, the county's politics have changed a lot. In recent times, the county has become more competitive, with elections often very close between the two main parties. The growth of Wilmington, especially because of its film industry and many college students, has made the county lean more towards one party in recent years. In 2020, a Democratic candidate won the county for the first time in many years.

Name	Party
Clerk of Superior Court	Jan Kennedy	Republican
Register of Deeds	Morghan Collin	Republican
District Attorney	Jason Smith	Republican
Sheriff	Ed McMahon	Republican

Name	Party
Commissioner	Bill Rivenbark	Republican
Commissioner	LeAnne Pierce	Republican
Commissioner	Dane Scalise	Republican
Commissioner	Stephanie Walker	Democrat
Commissioner	Rob Zapple	Democrat

Education

New Hanover County has a school system called New Hanover County Schools, managed by a group of elected leaders. There are also private schools and a catholic school in the area.

The county also has a branch of the University of North Carolina at University of North Carolina Wilmington, along with several small technical colleges and Cape Fear Community College.

Name	Party
Board member	Melissa Mason	Republican
Board member	Josie Barnhart	Republican
Board member	Pat Bradford	Republican
Board member	Pete Wildeboer	Republican
Board member	David Perry	Republican
Board member	Judy Justice	Democrat
Board member	Tim Merrick	Democrat

Healthcare

New Hanover Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Wilmington. It opened in 1967 as a public hospital and was the first in the city to welcome patients of all races. The hospital was run by New Hanover County until Novant Health, a nonprofit group, took over in February 2021.

Communities

City

Wilmington is the county seat and largest community.

Towns

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Monkey Junction

Former communities

Notable people

Some famous people come from New Hanover County. Michael Jordan was a well-known basketball player in the NBA. Another famous player was Meadowlark Lemon, who played for the Harlem Globetrotters.