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New Hanover County

county

New Hanover County, North Carolina

Overview

Classification: County
FIPS Code: 37129
Country: United States
County: New Hanover County

Geography

Region: Coastal Plain
Total Area: 328.86 sq mi
Land Area: 192.26 sq mi
Water Area: 136.6 sq mi
Latitude: 34.18
Longitude: -77.86
Climate: Temperate climate with warm summers (mid to upper 80s °F) and mild winters (45 to 65 °F). Abundant rainfall, averaging around 58 inches per year. Occasional hurricanes and tropical storms during late summer and fall.
Notable Features: Atlantic Ocean · Cape Fear River
Neighboring Areas: Pender County · Brunswick County

Demographics

Population (2020): 225,702
Est. Population (2024): 243,333
Median Age: 40.1
Median Income: $72,892
Poverty Rate: 7%
Owner-Occupied: 60.7%
Racial & Ethnic Composition: White (Non-Hispanic) 75.1%, Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) 11.1%, Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) 3.3%, Other (Hispanic) 3.23%, and White (Hispanic) 2.31%.

U.S. Congress

Tillis, Thomas

Tillis, ThomasR

Budd, Ted

U.S. Representative

Davis, Donald G.

Davis, Donald G.D

U.S. Representative - District 1

Ross, Deborah K.

Ross, Deborah K.D

U.S. Representative - District 2

Murphy, Gregory F.

Murphy, Gregory F.R

U.S. Representative - District 3

Foushee, Valerie P.

Foushee, Valerie P.D

U.S. Representative - District 4

Foxx, Virginia

Foxx, VirginiaR

U.S. Representative - District 5

McDowell, Addison P.

McDowell, Addison P.R

U.S. Representative - District 6

Rouzer, David

U.S. Representative - District 7

Harris, Mark

U.S. Representative - District 8

Hudson, Richard

Hudson, RichardR

U.S. Representative - District 9

Harrigan, Pat

U.S. Representative - District 10

Edwards, Chuck

Edwards, ChuckR

U.S. Representative - District 11

Adams, Alma S.

Adams, Alma S.D

U.S. Representative - District 12

Knott, Brad

U.S. Representative - District 13

Moore, Tim

U.S. Representative - District 14

Education

Schools: 51
Students: 27,453
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
School Districts: New Hanover County Schools
Colleges & Universities: University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) · Cape Fear Community College · Miller-Motte College-Wilmington

History

Founded: 1729
Named After: House of Hanover (King George I)
Historical Significance: Originally designated as one of North Carolina's five ports, the county developed plantations, largely for the cultivation of tobacco and other commodity crops by enslaved African Americans.
Key Events: Wilmington Coup (1898) · Civil War Fort Fisher · Early settlement by English, Welsh, Irish, French Huguenot, and Highland Scot settlers.