Wallace, North Carolina

Wallace is a town in Duplin and Pender counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 3,883 at the 2020 census. The Pender County portion of Wallace is part of the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town of Wallace was first known as Duplin Crossroads and was incorporated into existence in 1873. Later in 1899, the town fathers decided to adopt the new name, Wallace, to honor Stephen D. Wallace, an official of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Wallace is Duplin County's largest population and retail trade center serving over 50,000 people in a surrounding three county area.

SouthPark, an industrial park, is open near I-40 in Wallace. Low tax rates are an incentive to industry and business considering the Wallace area.

The Wallace Airport, Henderson Field, serves to make Wallace more accessible. The airport offers a 4,000 foot paved and lighted runway with a navigational beacon.

History
The W. Stokes Boney House, Isaac M. Powers House, and Wallace Commercial Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Wallace is located in southern Duplin County and the town limits extend south into Pender County.

U.S. Route 117 passes through the center of town, leading north 19 mi to Warsaw and south 15 mi to Burgaw. North Carolina Highway 41 crosses US 117 in the center of Wallace, and leads northeast 14 mi to Chinquapin and west 14 mi to Harrells. Interstate 40 passes east of Wallace, with access from Exit 390 (US 117 4 mi south of town) and Exit 385 (NC 41 3 mi east of town). I-40 leads south 44 mi to Wilmington and north 89 mi to Raleigh.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.9 sqkm, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,413 people, 1,492 households, and 833 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,344 people, 1,329 households, and 862 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,299.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,440 housing units at an average density of 559.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 55.65% White, 28.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 14.06% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.18% of the population.

There were 1,329 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,422, and the median income for a family was $33,413. Males had a median income of $29,226 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,380. About 18.8% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 26.1% of those age 65 or over.

Population Growth
Mayor Wells called upon Planning Director Rod Fritz to brief the Council on rezoning 150 acres south of Wallace in the community of Willard of Pender County. The Planning Board unanimously approved this rezoning request. That area of Willard is now a part of Wallace and the site where hundreds of new homes will be constructed near the exit 390 overpass of Interstate 40.

Council Member Brinkley made a motion to establish a public hearing on March 14, 2024, for the rezoning of property on Hwy 11, that was seconded by Council Member Rivas-Diaz and approved unanimously. That hearing discussed the potential development of hundreds of new homes in the Tin City community of Wallace.

Tin City
Tin City has a median real estate price is $342,217, more expensive than 60.8% of the neighborhoods in North Carolina and 49.8% of the neighborhoods in the U.S. The average rental price in Tin City is currently $1,073, based on NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis. Rents are lower in price than 95.3% of North Carolina neighborhoods. Tin City is a rural neighborhood (based on population density) located in Wallace, North Carolina. Tin City real estate is primarily made up of medium sized (three or four bedroom) to small (studio to two bedroom) single-family homes and small apartment buildings. Most of the residential real estate is occupied by a mixture of owners and renters. Many of the residences in the Tin City neighborhoods are established but not old, having been built between 1970 and 1999. A number of residences were also built between 1940 and 1969. Home and apartment vacancy rates are 7.2% in Tin City. Neighborhood Scout analysis shows that this rate is lower than 52.8% of the neighborhoods in the nation, approximately near the middle range for vacancies.

River Landing
River Landing is a private community of Wallace. The community mainly consist of retirees. The community has a two 18-hole championship golf courses, clubhouse, pools, expansive homesites, and scenic walking and biking trails.

Northeast
Northeast is home to the Northeast Volunteer Fire Department that provides fire and emergency services to this unincorporated community of Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina and surrounding rural areas.

Rockfish
Rockfish is a township located in Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina with a population of 1,667.

Island Creek
Island Creek is a township located in Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina.

Deep Bottom / Pin Hook
Pinhook/Deep Bottom is a rural neighborhood in Wallace.

Military
Wallace is home to hundreds of Veterans of the United States Armed Forces. In 2022, an estimated 13.6% of the population were military veterans. Wallace is within a two-hour drive from all eight military bases located in North Carolina

Wallace was the location of an armory and detachment of the North Carolina National Guard's 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment. On June 29, 2016, the armory was transferred to the town of Wallace. The town converted the armory to a public works facility. NCMooresCreek1.png to Rockfish Creek B: MacDonald moves to Corbett's Ferry

C: Caswell moves from New Bern to Corbett's Ferry]]

Schools

 * Wallace-Rose Hill High School (9-12) (Teachey, NC)
 * Wallace Elementary School (Pre-K-8)
 * New Hope Christian Academy
 * Wallace Christian Academy

Attractions

 * Carolina Strawberry Festival
 * Boney Mill Pond
 * Historic Depot
 * The Wallace Community Center at the Historic Wallace Woman's Club Building
 * The Wanoca Outdoor Theatre
 * The Stockyard
 * Battle of Rockfish Creek Historic Site

Notable people

 * Henry Boney (1903–2002), Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Wray Carlton (born 1937), former running back for the Buffalo Bills
 * M. L. Carr (born 1951), NBA player and two-time NBA champion
 * Nate Irving (born 1988), NFL linebacker
 * James R. Jordan Sr. (1936–1993), father of NBA star Michael Jordan
 * Mary Lee Mills (1912–2010), American nurse
 * Charles S. Murphy (1909–1983), White House Counsel to U.S. President Harry S. Truman
 * Javonte Williams (born 2000), running back for the Denver Broncos

Radio stations

 * 710 AM / 100.5 FM WKOO KIX FM – Country & Dance Hits (AM tower in Rose Hill on Highway 117, FM tower near River Landing in Wallace)
 * 90.9 FM WGXO Go Mix! – Southern gospel (tower located near River Landing in Wallace, operates on same tower as 100.5 FM)
 * 94.3 FM WZKB La Mega – Regional Mexican (tower located near Stockyards in Wallace)

Transportation
Wallace is home to Henderson Field Airport a public airport located one mile (2 km) southwest of the central business district (CBD) of Wallace. The airport is undergoing expansion operations to enhance the airport’s ability to serve the surrounding community.

Wallace was included as a potential passenger rail stop in the 2024 Southeastern North Carolina Passenger Rail Feasibility Study to reestablish the passenger rail link from Raleigh to Wilmington.