New Hanover County is located in southeastern North Carolina, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Cape Fear River to the west. The county benefits from a thriving tourist industry based in some of North Carolina’s most popular beach towns, including Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Kure Beach. The Fort Fisher State Historic Site, an important Civil War fort, is situated at the southernmost tip of the county, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
The County seat, Wilmington, is the ninth-largest city in the state and has many important businesses and institutions. The completion of I-40 to Wilmington in the early 1990s greatly boosted the local economy. New Hanover County hosts a thriving film and television industry and is referred to as the “Hollywood of the East.” The county is the berthing place of the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial.
Flooding remains an important issue for New Hanover County officials. Their County Commissioners, as well as their state and federal representatives, have been leaders on flood resilience policy for many years. The American Flood Coalition is proud to call them a member and benefit from the collaboration that provides.
