Cape Fear (region)

Last updated
Wilmington Metropolitan Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Cape Fear (region)
Interactive Map of Wilmington, NC MSA
Country Flag of United States.svg United States
State Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina
Largest city Wilmington
Area
 • Land4,957 km2 (1,914 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
453,722
GDP
[1]
 • Total$20.127 billion (2022)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)

Cape Fear is a coastal plain and Tidewater region of North Carolina centered about the city of Wilmington. [2] The region takes its name from the adjacent Cape Fear headland, as does the Cape Fear River which flows through the region and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the cape. Much of the region's populated areas are found along the Atlantic beaches and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, while the rural areas are dominated by farms and swampland like that of the Green Swamp. The general area can be also identified by the titles "Lower Cape Fear", "Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area", "Southeastern North Carolina", and "Azalea Coast". The latter name is derived from the North Carolina Azalea Festival held annually in Wilmington. Municipalities in the area belong to the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

Contents

The region is home to the Port of Wilmington, the busiest port in North Carolina, operated by the North Carolina State Ports Authority. It is also the location of Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, the largest ammunition port in the nation, and the U.S. Army's primary East Coast deep-water port.

Geography

The Cape Fear region is situated on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. A large portion of the region is low-lying wetlands, most notably the Green Swamp, which is one of the rare habitats of the Venus flytrap. [3] [4] [5] The Cape Fear River and the Northeast Cape Fear River are the deeper prominent rivers that flow through the region, with minor rivers like the Lockwood Folly River, Brunswick River, and Shallotte River providing access for small watercraft of small communities. [6]

Counties

Three counties form the core of the Cape Fear region: Brunswick County, New Hanover County, and Pender County. At the 2020 census, the population of the three counties was 440,353. [7] [8] [9] [10] The coastal counties boast a large, seasonal tourism industry leading to much higher populations in the summer months and lower populations in the winter months.

Two additional counties, Bladen and Columbus, are occasionally included as part of the Cape Fear region. Some broader definitions also include Duplin, Onslow, and Sampson counties.

Communities

Communities found in the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area:

Cities

Towns

Former towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

Demographics

As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 274,532 people, 114,675 households, and 75,347 families residing within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The racial makeup of the MSA was 79.47% White, 17.27% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $37,321, and the median income for a family was $44,844. Males had a median income of $32,454 versus $22,998 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $20,287.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pender County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Pender County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,203. Its county seat is Burgaw. Pender County is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hanover County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

New Hanover County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 225,702. The county seat is Wilmington. Though the second-smallest county in North Carolina by land area, it is one of the most populous counties, as Wilmington is one of the largest communities in the state. The county was created in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct and gained county status in 1739. New Hanover County is included in the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes neighboring Pender and Brunswick counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dare County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Dare County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,915. Its county seat is Manteo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunswick County, North Carolina</span> County in North Carolina, United States

Brunswick County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the southernmost county in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,693. Its population was only 73,143 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. With a nominal growth rate of approximately 47% in ten years, much of the growth is centered in the eastern section of the county in the suburbs of Wilmington such as Leland, Belville and Southport. The county seat is Bolivia, which at a population of around 150 people is among the least populous county seats in the state.

Belville is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,936 at the 2010 census, up from 285 in 2000. It is part of the Wilmington, NC metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden Beach, North Carolina</span> Seaside town in North Carolina, United States

Holden Beach is a seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The population was 575 at the time of the 2010 census. It is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leland, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Leland is the most populous town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,504 at the 2020 census, up from 13,527 in 2010. As of 2020, it is considered to be one of the fastest growing towns in North Carolina. It is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. and the Cape Fear Council of Governments. The town of Leland is in the northeastern part of Brunswick County, with the town of Navassa to the north, Belville to east, and Boiling Spring Lakes to the south. It is part of the Town Creek township, and Cape Fear region of North Carolina, a short distance north of the South Carolina state line. Leland is located five miles (8.0 km) west of Wilmington, 71 miles (114 km) north of Myrtle Beach, 84 miles (135 km) southeast of Fayetteville, and 135 miles (217 km) southeast of Raleigh.

Navassa is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2010 census, up from 479 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Island, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Oak Island is a seaside town located in the southeastern corner of North Carolina, United States. Part of Brunswick County, the major portion of the town is on Oak Island which it shares with Caswell Beach. Founded in 1999 as the result of the consolidation of two existing towns, Oak Island's main industry is tourism. Per the 2020 census, the town has a permanent population of 8,396 while its summer population is near 50,000. It along with the town of Caswell Beach is part of the Wilmington, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Ocean Isle Beach is a small seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It was incorporated as a town in 1959 and is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 867 at the 2020 census. Located at the southern end of North Carolina's Atlantic coastline, along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Ocean Isle Beach has private homes, seasonal rentals, and tourist attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shallotte, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Shallotte is a town in western Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,675 at the 2010 census. The Shallotte River passes through the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southport, North Carolina</span> City in North Carolina, United States

Southport is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Its population was 3,971 as of the 2020 census. The current mayor, Rich Alt, was elected to a two-year term in November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilmington, North Carolina</span> City in North Carolina, United States

Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, in southeastern North Carolina, United States; it is also the county seat. With a population of 115,451, it is also the eighth-most populous city in the state and the principal city of the Wilmington, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties. As of 2023, its metropolitan statistical area had an estimated population of 467,337.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topsail Beach, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Topsail Beach is a town in Pender County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 383 at the 2012 census. It is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Hampstead is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Pender County, North Carolina, United States. It is located between Wilmington and Jacksonville on U.S. Route 17 and includes an area sized just over 20 square miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pleasure Island (North Carolina)</span> Coastal barrier island in North Carolina

Pleasure Island is a coastal barrier island in Southeastern North Carolina, United States, just south of the City of Wilmington. Pleasure Island is located within Federal Point Township, in New Hanover County. The coastal resort towns of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, as well as the annexed communities of Wilmington Beach and Hanby Beach are located on the island. The southern end of Pleasure Island was separated from Bald Head Island by Corncake Inlet until the inlet was shoaled and closed in 1998 by Hurricane Bonnie; thus Pleasure Island and Bald Head Island are no longer separate islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern North Carolina</span> Geographic region of the U.S. state of North Carolina

Eastern North Carolina is the region encompassing the eastern tier of North Carolina, United States. It is known geographically as the state's Coastal Plain region. Primary subregions of Eastern North Carolina include the Sandhills, the Lower Cape Fear, the Crystal Coast, the Inner Banks and the Outer Banks. It is composed of the 41 most eastern counties in the state. Cities include Greenville, Jacksonville, Wilmington, Rocky Mount and North Carolina's first capital New Bern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrtle Beach metropolitan area</span> Metropolitan Statistical Area in South Carolina, United States

The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is a census-designated metropolitan statistical area (MSA) consisting of Horry County in South Carolina. The wider Myrtle Beach combined statistical area (CSA), a trading area, includes adjacent Georgetown County, South Carolina.

The Shallotte River is a tidal river in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States.

References

  1. ↑ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Wilmington, NC (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data . Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  2. ↑ "Lower Cape Fear Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  3. ↑ GAMBLE, DOUGLAS (2019). "Wilmington, North Carolina and the Cape Fear Region". Southeastern Geographer. 59 (3): 201–205. ISSN   0038-366X. JSTOR   26760890.
  4. ↑ "Green Swamp Preserve". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  5. ↑ "Venus flytraps: Carnivorous plants only found around southeast N.C." spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  6. ↑ "Our State Geography in a Snap: Bodies of Water | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  7. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: Brunswick County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: New Hanover County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: Pender County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget . July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.

34°14′N77°58′W / 34.23°N 77.97°W / 34.23; -77.97

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