ROOTED HERE
The history of Wilmington
Wilmington’s riverfront leads into downtown restaurants, independent shops and historic streets, with theater and arts venues woven into the city.
People who shaped Wilmington
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 | Full Documentary | American Experience | PBS
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 | Full Documentary | American Experience | PBS. A film shared by American Experience | PBS.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1739
A town on the Cape Fear
Wilmington incorporated in 1739. Its name honors Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington; river trade helped the settlement grow into an important North Carolina port.
City of Wilmington ↗ - 1840
A railroad reaches the port
Completion of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad connected the river port with inland markets. The line later became the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad.
City of Wilmington ↗ - 1866
From town to city
Wilmington became a city in 1866, after more than a century as an incorporated town.
City of Wilmington ↗ - 1898
The Wilmington massacre and coup
On November 10, armed white supremacists attacked the Black-owned Daily Record newspaper and spread violence through Wilmington. The political coup displaced the elected leadership and drove Black residents from their homes; the number killed remains disputed.
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources ↗ - 2003
A Coast Guard City
Wilmington became the first Coast Guard City on the East Coast and the fourth in the United States.
City of Wilmington ↗ - 2020
World War II heritage
On September 2, Wilmington became the first American World War II Heritage City, recognizing the community’s wartime contributions.
City of Wilmington ↗
See the history for yourself.
Use the downtown Riverwalk and the linked historic sites as starting points. Read the history of the 1898 massacre and coup alongside the architecture; confirm tours with Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens.
For deeper research, the New Hanover County Public Library is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 17, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.