Timeline of Wilmington, North Carolina

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wilmington, North Carolina, United States.

18th-19th centuries

 * 1733 - James Wimble and three other men begin to sell plots for a settlement under names such as "New Carthage", "New Liverpool", "Newton" or "New Town".
 * 1739
 * Town incorporated and renamed "Wilmington" after the Earl of Wilmington, the patron of the governor of North Carolina Gabriel Johnston.
 * New Hanover County seat moves to Newton from Brunswick.
 * 1751 - St. James Episcopal Church founded.
 * 1756 - Fire.
 * 1760 - John Sampson becomes mayor.
 * 1764 - Fort Johnston built near Wilmington.
 * 1776 - February 27: Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge fought near Wilmington during the American Revolutionary War.
 * 1781 - Wilmington occupied by British forces under command of Cornwallis.
 * 1820 - Population: 2,633.
 * 1830 - Population: 3,791.
 * 1840 - Population: 5,335.
 * 1844 - Wilmington Journal newspaper begins publication.
 * 1849 - April 16: Snowfall.
 * 1850 - Population: 7,264.
 * 1855 - Oakdale Cemetery and Wilmington Library Association (social library) organized.
 * 1860 - Population: 9,552.
 * 1862 - Yellow fever epidemic empties out city, befalling over 1600 and killing 654.
 * 1864 - December: Wilmington Campaigns by Union forces begin in area during the American Civil War.
 * 1865 - February 11–22: Battle of Wilmington fought; Union forces win.
 * 1866 - City of Wilmington incorporated.
 * 1867
 * Morning Star newspaper begins publication.
 * Wilmington National Cemetery established.
 * 1879 - Africo-American Presbyterian newspaper begins publication.
 * 1892 - New Hanover County Courthouse built.
 * 1898 - November: Wilmington insurrection of 1898.

20th century

 * 1906 - Public library built.
 * 1915 - Royal Theatre in business.
 * 1919 - Customs House built.
 * 1935 - WMFD radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1947 - University of North Carolina at Wilmington established.
 * 1954 - WECT (television) begins broadcasting.
 * 1955 - Starway Drive-In cinema in business.
 * 1956 - Lower Cape Fear Historical Society formed.
 * 1966 - Historic Wilmington preservation group founded.
 * 1971 - February 6: Bombing of grocery store; racial unrest ensues, eventually leading to controversial conviction of "Wilmington Ten."
 * 1976 - Emsley A. Laney High School established.
 * 1980 - United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit overturns "Wilmington Ten" convictions.
 * 1981 - Athlete Michael Jordan graduates from Laney High School.
 * 1984 - Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis opens the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group studio complex, now owned by Cinespace Studios.
 * 1989 - Old New Hanover Genealogical Society formed.
 * 1997 - Mike McIntyre becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 7th congressional district.
 * 1998 - City website online (approximate date).

21st century

 * 2003 - Star-News in publication.
 * 2007 - Bill Saffo becomes mayor.
 * 2010 - Population: 106,476.
 * 2015 - David Rouzer becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 7th congressional district.
 * 2018 - Hurricane Florence makes landfall in Wilmington causing major flooding and several deaths