With a population of more than 5,000 residents, Whiteville serves as the largest city and county seat for Columbus County within the State of North Carolina. Located forty-six miles away from the Southeastern coastal city of Wilmington, Whiteville also borders the State of South Carolina.
Whiteville has a vibrant downtown, Vineland Village, which is home to unique restaurants and shops. The beautifully restored Vineland Station, built in 1903, is one of North Carolina’s original brick depots and serves as the town’s civic center. The active downtown development committee provides support to downtown businesses and events. The city is home to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville modeled after proven interactive programs at the Museum’s Raleigh-based Nature Research Center, Nature Education Center, and Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning. The landmark Columbus County Courthouse in Whiteville is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Conveniently located near Lake Waccamaw State Park and the Carolina beaches, it’s easy and affordable to explore the ecologically diverse area and enjoy an active lifestyle in Whiteville.
In 2018, the City of Whiteville received a grant of over $700,000 from The Golden Leaf Foundation to aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. In the same year, the City of Whiteville also obtained a $150,000 grant in order to conduct a downtown stormwater study and launch a stormwater utility fund. The general fund has been allocated to pay for Hurricane Matthew recovery projects and to begin surveying major drainage ditches within the city and establishing drainage easements. The City of Whiteville has also taken initiatives to cooperate with Federal, State, and local agencies and private firms which will help with studying, surveying, mapping, and identifying floodplain or flood-related erosion areas and collaborate with neighboring communities in respect to reducing flood risk.
