The regional population is over 441,000 people – 230,867 in New Hanover County, 146,858 in Brunswick County and 63,371 in Pender County.
Projected additional regional growth in population from 2018-2030 is over 95,000 (New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties).
Workforce of over 211,000 provides a large labor pool for new and expanding industry.
Wilmington is within 700 miles of 70% of the U.S. Industrial Base (and more than 150 million U.S. and Canadian consumers).
NC #1 Top State for Business, CNBC, 2022
North Carolina Ports directly and indirectly supports 88,200 jobs across the state and is responsible for an economic contribution of $16.1 billion to the state’s economy every year.
In 2022 Wilmington International Airport set a new passenger record for the year, serving 1,086,245 passengers.
A state study found that Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is North Carolina’s 5th largest civilian airport, producing a $1.6 billion annual economic impact.
UNCW had a total enrollment of 17,843 students in Fall of 2022 and touts 59 Majors, 37 Master’s Degrees and 5 Doctoral Degree offerings.
UNCW is once again included in the best-selling college guide, the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2023 that profiles 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges and universities in the nation.
UNCW's education program has moved up 25 places and the public affairs program climbed nine spots on the U.S. News & World Report list of "2023 Best Graduate Schools.”
In 2022-2023 UNCW ranked 103rd among Top Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Over 22,000 people attend classes at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) every year and businesses reported a 95% satisfaction rate on the customized training they received from CFCC. This surpasses the state average of 90%.
Cape Fear Community College has grown from the 7th largest community college to the 5th largest community college in North Carolina.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center contributes over $1 billion annually to the economy of New Hanover County alone and is the county’s largest employer with over 7,000 employees, 740 physicians on medical staff and 700 active volunteers.
Wilmington’s mild Sunbelt climate allows year-round outdoor recreation at over 150 regional golf courses, 30 marinas, numerous county and state parks.
The Pender County community of Hampstead is home to three beautiful golf courses –Olde Point, Belvedere Plantation and Castle Bay, as well as Topsail High School, which U.S. News and World Report has called one of the nation’s best high schools.
In New Hanover County, I-40 is known as the “Michael Jordan Highway,” named for the NBA legend, UNC Tarheel and Wilmington native.
Cape Fear Community College was recognized as the BEST IN NORTH CAROLINA for their Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program Practical Nursing Program by NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com
