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Cape Fear (region)

Coordinates: 34°14′N 77°58′W / 34.23°N 77.97°W / 34.23; -77.97
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For the Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington metropolitan area, see Delaware Valley.
Wilmington Metropolitan Area
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Map
Interactive Map of Wilmington, NC MSA
Country United States
State North Carolina
Largest cityWilmington
Area
 • Land4,957 km2 (1,914 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total453,722
GDP
[1]
 • Total$20.127 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)

Cape Fear is a coastal plain and Tidewater region of North Carolina centered about the city of Wilmington.[2] The region takes its name from the adjacent Cape Fear headland, as does the Cape Fear River which flows through the region and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the cape. Much of the region's populated areas are found along the Atlantic beaches and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, while the rural areas are dominated by farms and swampland like that of the Green Swamp. The general area can be also identified by the titles "Lower Cape Fear", "Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area", "Southeastern North Carolina", and "Azalea Coast". The latter name is derived from the North Carolina Azalea Festival held annually in Wilmington. Municipalities in the area belong to the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

The region is home to the Port of Wilmington, the busiest port in North Carolina, operated by the North Carolina State Ports Authority. It is also the location of Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, the largest ammunition port in the nation, and the U.S. Army's primary East Coast deep-water port.

Geography

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The Cape Fear region is situated on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. A large portion of the region is low-lying wetlands, most notably the Green Swamp, which is one of the rare habitats of the Venus flytrap.[3][4][5] The Cape Fear River and the Northeast Cape Fear River are the deeper prominent rivers that flow through the region, with minor rivers like the Lockwood Folly River, Brunswick River, and Shallotte River providing access for small watercraft of small communities.[6]

Counties

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County 2022 Estimate 2020 Census Change
New Hanover County 234,921 225,702 +4.08%
Brunswick County 153,064 136,693 +11.98%
Pender County 65,737 60,203 +9.19%
Total 453,722 422,598 +7.36%

Three counties form the core of the Cape Fear region: Brunswick County, New Hanover County, and Pender County. As of the 2000 census, the three counties had a combined population of 274,532, at which time all were part of the Wilmington metropolitan area. In 2020 the population of the three counties was 440,353.[7][8][9][10] The coastal communities boast a large, seasonal tourism industry leading to much higher populations in the summer months and lower populations in the winter months.

Two additional counties, Bladen and Columbus, are occasionally included as part of the Cape Fear region, as are Duplin, Onslow, and Sampson counties, but to a lesser extent.

Communities

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Communities found in the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area:

Cities

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Towns

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Former towns

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Villages

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated places

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Demographics

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As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 274,532 people, 114,675 households, and 75,347 families residing within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The racial makeup of the MSA was 79.47% White, 17.27% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $37,321, and the median income for a family was $44,844. Males had a median income of $32,454 versus $22,998 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $20,287.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Wilmington, NC (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  2. ^ "Lower Cape Fear Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  3. ^ GAMBLE, DOUGLAS (2019). "Wilmington, North Carolina and the Cape Fear Region". Southeastern Geographer. 59 (3): 201–205. ISSN 0038-366X. JSTOR 26760890.
  4. ^ "Green Swamp Preserve". The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  5. ^ "Venus flytraps: Carnivorous plants only found around southeast N.C." spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  6. ^ "Our State Geography in a Snap: Bodies of Water | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  7. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: Brunswick County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: New Hanover County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1: Pender County, North Carolina". American Factfinder. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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34°14′N 77°58′W / 34.23°N 77.97°W / 34.23; -77.97

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