History of Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

1840 - March 9 – The Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad is completed from Wilmington, North Carolina to Weldon, North Carolina. At 161.5 miles (260 km), it is the world's longest railroad.

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March 9, 1840

1854 - Wilmington
Wilmington, a city, port of entry, and capital of New Hanover county, North Carolina, is situated on the left or E. bank of Cape Fear river, just below the entrance of its N. E. branch, 34 miles from the sea, 135 miles S. E. from Raleigh, 180 miles N. E. from Charleston, and 416 from Washington. Lat. 34° 11' N., Lon. 78° 10' W. It is the largest and most commercial place in the state, the business and population having been greatly increased by tho construction of the Wilmington and Raleigh railroad, which extends N. to Weldon, on the Roanoke river, 162 miles, and forms part of the great highway of travel North and South. The city has about $500,000 invested in this work, which cost $2,500,000, and is now in excellent condition. Another railroad has recently been opened from Wilmington to Manchester, in South Carolina, where it connects with the Camden Branch railroad. The length of this line is 156 miles, and the cost $1,800,000, of which $500,000 were subscribed by the citizens of... Read MORE...

1861 - July 14 - Naval Engagement at Wilmington NC - USS Daylight establishes blockade

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1865 - February 22 - Battle of Wilmington, NC (Fort Anderson) occupied by Federals

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1869 - FIRE AT WILMINGTON, N.C., AND SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
Wilmington, N.C., Monday, Feb. 1.

A livery-stable owned by R. H. Grant, and occupied by Southerland & Steagall, was burned tonight. In tearing down a shed the following persons were injured:

JOHN RANKIN, left leg and several ribs broken.
GEO. S. CAPES, leg broken and internal injuries.
C. HUSSELL, thigh broken.
SOL HOAS, arm broken.
EDWARD STORY, slightly injured.
Col. JOHN G. HEDRICK, slightly injured.
ARCHIBALD McCALLUM, internal injuries.

All of the injured parties are well known citizens and members of the Hook and Ladder Company, except McCALLUM. It is hoped that none are fatally injured.

The fire is still progressing.
The New York Times
New York, New York
February 2, 1869

1872 - Dead?
A Wilmington (N.C.) dispatch of the 7th says it was not known there whether the reports of the death of Henry Berry Lowery, the notorious swamp outlaw, were unfounded. Additional reports were current that he was either murdered by his brother, or drowned.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 16, 1872

1873 - Terrible Explosion in Wilmington.
WILMINGTON, N. C., April 2. - The boilers at the steam saw mill of Colville & Co., exploded at twenty minutes to six o'clock this morning. Two men were killed, and one woman was severely wounded; all the killed and wounded are negroes. One of the boilers was carried over a hundred yards to Front street, killing a woman in its course. Another was hurled nearly half way across Cape Fear river. Cause of the explosion has not been definitely ascertained, though it is generally supposed to have been caused by low water in the boilers.
Georgia Weekly Telegraph
Macon, Georgia
April 8, 1873

1895 - Wilmington
Wilmington, a city, port of entry, and capital of New Hanover co., N.C., is situated on the E. or left bank of the Cape Fear River, about 30 miles from its mouth, 134 miles S.S.E. of Raleigh, and 189 miles E. of Columbia, S.C. It is the S. terminus of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, and the E. terminus of the Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta Railroad. The Carolina Central Railroad extends from this place to Charlotte, 187 miles. Lat. 34°11'N.; lon. 78° 10' W. It is the largest and most commercial town in the state. It contains a court-house, a custom house, 21 churches, a national bank, 3 other banks, 2 or 3 academies, a normal school, a cotton-factory, 5 steam saw mills, 2 flour-mills, 2 rice-mills, and 10 turpentine-distilleries. Three daily and 5 weekly newspapers are published here. Steamboats ply daily between this port and Baltimore, Charleston, &c. Other steamboats navigate the Cape Fear River between Wilmington and Fayetteville. Pop. in 1870, 13,446: in 1880, 17,350; in 1890,... Read MORE...

1898 - November 10 - Race riot in Wilmington NC (8 blacks killed)

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November 10, 1898

1900 - Wilmington - The Free Town on the Cape Fear by Joseph Blount Cheshire
NORTH CAROLINA might be called the State without a city, eivitas sine utbe. It has never had a capital or a metropolis, except arbitrarily and in name only. It has been a rural State, a State of planters and farmers. Its eminent lawyers, and even its physicians and merchants, have often been also its eminent farmers. The first president of the State Agricultural Society was the Chief Justice of its Supreme Court.

The physical conditions of a country predetermine the lines of its development. North Carolina's interminable length of dangerous coast line repelled the earliest attempt at English settlement. Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition of 1585, coasting along its inhospitable sands, divined their true character, and marked down upon the first map that ominous name - Promontorium Tremendum - Cape Fear. And in spite of all improvements in navigation they have remained a menace and a terror. Hatteras and Cape Lookout and Cape Fear warned off commerce and settlement.

The eloquent... Read MORE...

1906
Wilmington, a city, port of entry, and capital of New Hanover Co., N.C., is situated on the E. or left bank of the Cape Fear River, about 20 miles from its mouth and 134 miles SSE. of Raleigh, on the Atlantic Coast and the Sea board Air lines. Lat. 34° 15' N. It is the largest and most important commercial town in the state. Among its more notable public buildings and institutions are the Federal building, city-hall, national marine hospital, city and county hospital, and masonic temple. Wilmington has a large export trade in cotton, lumber, and naval stores, and has dye-works, railroad-shops, and manufactures of cotton and cotton-seed oil, fertilisers, lumber, paints and oils, etc. The city is in direct steamship communication with New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other ports. Pop. in 1870, 13,446; in 1880, 17,350; in 1890, 20,056; in 1900, 20,976.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1906 - COTTAGERS IN GRAVE DANGER - Two Hundred People Awake to Find Great Sea Sweeping Across Their Island.
Wilmington, N. C., Sept 18. - For six or eight hours upwards of 200 men, women and children were cut off from the mainland in imminent peril by a storm which swept Wrightsville beach, nine miles east of Wilmington. The storm reached the zenith of its fury between 6 and 7 o'clock in the morning. It came without warning, and hundreds of cottagers at the beach received their first intimation of danger upon awakening to find breakers sweeping clear across the beach to the sound and rolling high up on the mainland, two miles beyond. A trolley car kept at the beach in case of an emergency took about 25 early risers across the sound on the trestle, by which it is reached, and four other cars responded from the city to a telephone message and brought others across while the waves swept the trestle.

Those left at the beach were afraid to cross the trestle, which gave way immediately after the last car reached the mainland. The storm increased in fury until noon, when the rescue work was... Read MORE...

1949 - WILMINGTON HOTEL AND BUSINESS PLACES BURN. MILLION DOLLAR LOSS CAUSE BY BLAZE IN EARLY MORNING HOURS.
Wilmington, Jan. 21. - (AP) - Fire roared through a 100-room hotel and destroyed six adjacent stores here early today. Loss was estimated at more than $1,000,000.

MRS. HORACE T. KING of Wilmington, reported that her uncle, J. R. MALLARD of Charlotte, had occupied a room in the hotel and that he was unaccounted for. She said her uncle, about 70 years old, was in Wilmington visiting her father, E. F. MALLARD, 67, who is in a hospital here. Whether the aged man had reached safety and failed to notify his relatives could not be immediately determined.

Forty guests of the 75-year-old five-story Orton hotel were routed from their beds but nobody was hurt. The four-hour general alarm fire was checked shortly before dawn, but firemen continued pouring streams of water on the smoking remains.

Other destroyed buildings housed the Royal theater, the GLEN MORE clothing store, PAYNE'S Men's shop, the SALLY ANN dress shop, the Fashion Center and the Cinderella Bootery.

Patrolmen... Read MORE...

1954 - April 9 - WECT TV channel 6 in Wilmington, NC (NBC/CBS) begins broadcasting

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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Wilmington:
1. Historic Downtown Wilmington: Stroll along the cobblestone streets of downtown Wilmington, which is brimming with historic charm. You can explore quaint shops, art galleries, and numerous cafes. Don't miss the beautiful Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River, offering scenic views and a relaxing atmosphere.

2. USS North Carolina Battleship: Step aboard the USS North Carolina, a World War II battleship turned museum. You can tour the ship, learn about its history, and get a glimpse of what life was like for sailors during the war.

3. Airlie Gardens: Enjoy the serenity of Airlie Gardens, a stunning 67-acre garden with walking trails, freshwater lakes, and beautifully manicured landscapes. The highlight is the historic Airlie Oak, a massive 467-year-old live oak tree.

4. Bellamy Mansion Museum: Explore the historic Bellamy Mansion, a stunning antebellum mansion that offers a glimpse into the life of a wealthy Southern family in the 19th century. The architecture and gardens are... Read MORE...