Wilmington Once
The Largest City In NC

During the years following the Revolutionary War, Wilmington prospered as an important port, and at one point was the largest city in North Carolina. However, after the turn of the century the city began to decline because of infrastructure problems, navigation difficulties on the river, land transportation obstacles and a number of other problems.

Fortunately, with the advent of steam-powered vessels and the railroads, Wilmington was able to bounce back, and by the 1840s was an important port city for the export of cotton, lumber, naval stores, rice, flax and peanuts.

Last Confederate Port Open

When the Civil War broke out, much of Wilmington’s export trade was curtailed because of Union blockades, but the port remained active thanks to the infamous and crafty blockade runners bringing supplies in at night from England and the Caribbean for the Confederacy. By 1864, Wilmington was the only Confederate port remaining open, but in 1865 Fort Fisher fell, the city was occupied, supply lines were cut off and the Confederacy was defeated.

Following the Civil War, Wilmington prospered and grew socially and economically as a major port and railroad center. By 1910, the city lost the distinction of being the state’s largest because of more rapid growth of the inland cities fueled by tobacco and textiles.

During the First World War, Wilmington continued to prosper with shipbuilding and a booming cotton export trade, and by the Roaring Twenties was partying with the best of them. However, the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent depression hit the city hard and it again declined.

World War II brought renewed growth and prosperity to the city. Thousands of workers came to the city to work in the shipyards where 243 ships were built during the war. The North Carolina Port Authority was created and Wilmington’s port was improved and expanded significantly.

Railroad Leaves

The city continued to develop and thrive until 1955, when Wilmington was struck a nearly paralyzing blow by the movement of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad’s corporate headquarters to Florida. With it went 300 families and much of the underlying strength of downtown, which began to decline as a result.

Downtown’s decline was further exacerbated with the advent of economic growth in the outlying areas, especially around the malls. Shops and stores closed and seedy bars opened. Downtown was not attractive.

Efforts Succeed

However, during the 1960s, a dedicated group of businessmen and citizens formed the Committee of 100, now known as Wilmington Industrial Development, to attract new and diversified industry and businesses to Wilmington. Then, in 1977, the Downtown Area Revitalization Effort (DARE) was formed to retain existing businesses, attract new ones and help preserve downtown’s older buildings and character. Now known as Wilmington Downtown, the group has met with great success, downtown is revitalized and Wilmington is back!