Research Paper on Wilmington, NC: History, Beauty, and Splendor

Introduction

Wilmington in North Carolina is a locality known for its beauty and splendor. The city has a history that spans for centuries. Wilmington is a port city that has a history spanning from before 1739 and has been able to survive wars such as the civil war, revolution, and World War II (Lanese, Brady, & Clinton County Historical Society (Ohio). 2010). Most of the architecture and historical monuments in Wilmington are of vital importance to the entire American society. Besides, Wilmington has remained as a strategic city in North Carolina has influenced the cultural and economic development over the centuries (Hutteman, 2000). The Cape Fear River was the primary influence in the development of Wilmington making it a strategic location for trade and supplies for many travelers in the Atlantic. However, trade and industry success is the backbone of the modern day Wilmington which is a city where many wish to reside and do business (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007). This Report will seek to explore the City of Wilmington economic, social, political aspects and its development trajectory over the centuries as a major port city in the United States of America.

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Background Information

Tourism is the primary economic activity in Wilmington and the first European to explore the city is Giovanni da Verrazano who explored the city in 1524. The city has a great geophysical feature, strategic location and enjoys a moderate climate which makes it a famous tourist destination in the whole of North Carolina (Lanese et al., 2010). Evidence of settlement within Wilmington areas can be traced back in the 16th century based on Giovanni account but it was not until the 17th century that the area became occupied by the Englishmen in the 1720s that the Wilmington started to grow becoming a significant strategic location in the Americas two decades later when Wilmington as a port city was founded in 1739. The first generation of settlers in Wilmington NC came from Barbados and the South Carolina regions, and slavery further contributed to the growth of the city into prominence (Hutteman, 2000). The primary factor that attracted settlers in Wilmington is the free land and proximity to navigable waters which led to the displacement of the Native Americans who had resided in the areas for centuries. Many Africans found themselves in Wilmington against their will during the slavery era who worked in the new industries and agricultural farms around the City (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007). The Welsh settlers arrived in Wilmington in large numbers in the 1730s followed by their Scotch and Irish Europeans with most fleeing famine and heavy taxes in Ireland (Lanese et al., 2010). During the 18th and the 19th century, there was considerable industrial activity in Wilmington which led to the depletion of most natural resources in the area such as forests to create space for industries and also forests were used as the primary resources. The fall of Norfolk in the year 1862 further fueled the growth of Wilmington (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007).

Population Composition and Location

Wilmington is one of the renowned cities of the United States that is found in North Carolina. Wilmington city is located 34.23 latitude and 77.94 longitudes. Wilmington lies 14 meters above the sea level. Wilmington is renowned and the 9th biggest city in the USA because of its population of 106,476 (Hutteman, 2000). The city of Wilmington has a majority population of African Americans which takes up to about 56% of the total population, and whites make up to 34.60% of the remaining population followed by Native Americans with a percentage of 0.10 of the remaining population then Asians and finally the Pacific Islanders (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007).

Methodology

Being a study that seeks to understand and appreciate the port city of Wilmington community dynamics the best approach to collect data is through literature review which can help to acquire information within a short period. There is a lot of written literature regarding the Port City of Wilmington that can be found in books some information which has long been forgotten by the generation living in Wilmington. The history of Wilmington can mostly be found in the literature that has previously been written about the city which can help to conduct seamless research. For a city as big and possessing significant cultural and historical impacts literature accounts are useful in collecting data instead of the use of interviews because the current inhabitants could have forgotten most of the research. For a city that has taken three centuries and endured three wars a more explicit account of the economic, cultural and political aspects of the Wilmington can easy be collected and used in the research without the use of statistical methods that does not apply in understanding the historical context of a city and its people. The advantage of literature review method, in this case, is that literature has more information that is being sought in this study compared to what people remember which makes it a more effective research method.

The Economic History of Wilmington

The existence of Wilmington Port City in North Carolina is one of the key strategic advantages that the city has that has been significant in the economic development of Wilmington (Lanese et al., 2010). The city is strategically located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean which has been vital in the growth of the city as a sea transportation corridor which has been key to its economic sustainability. Agriculture was the initial economic activity in Wilmington Port City due to the availability of water for agriculture from Cape Fear River and labour from the slaves which were readily available in the city due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean which made it easy to transport Africans who were the main force behind the City agriculture when mechanization of the farms had not become a more competitive approach of agriculture (Lanese et al., 2010). Industrialization and forest exploitation followed as a significant economic activity in Wilmington in the 18th and 19th century industrial growth became a substantial phenomenon from the lumber industry which was able to endure through the American Revolution where the naval stores were vital in the growth of the Wilmington economy to its current standing (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007). By the time of the civil war, Wilmington was already a principal city in the Atlantic Ocean proximity and a key supply point for the Confederate states, and it was not until 1865 that the Union forces were able to capture the City on the Shores of Atlantic Ocean. Today, the city of Wilmington is an important transportation city in North Carolina contributing $12.9 billion and supporting many jobs especially as a supply chain point for all the businesses in North Carolina (Hutteman, 2000). The mainland economic sustainability is entirely dependent of the Port City of Wilmington and supports a significant number of employee population making it vital in the overall economic viability of North Carolina as a whole. During the civil war, the Union blockade against Wilmington was a major economic setback for the port city since its founding (Watson, 2003). During the Second World War, the Wilmington economy prospered through its shipbuilding industry (Fonvielle & Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. 2007).

Political Governance

In the 19th century post the reconstruction era the African American who were the majority population experienced significant prosperity and even held seats in the city government but were a target of the white supremacists until in 1898 when the tension between the Whites and the Blacks exploded which led to the murder of many blacks and the white people were able to regain the control of the city after which many privileges and rights enjoyed by the Blacks in the city were revoked (Hutteman, 2000). This was the beginning of the Jim Crow Laws after the 1898 insurrection which led to an era of black people lack involvement in the political system of the city until the 1960s when the Civil Rights Act was enforced in the city restoring racial balance in governance (Godwin, 2000). Today, the city is still politically led by a mayor voted democratically by the residents.

Ethnic/Minority/Women's History

Wilmington, North Carolina is primarily known as a gateway to Cape Fear Coast beaches. Its population is diverse as it incorporates people, from different ethnic groups. Whites are the most dominant group in the city (Lanese et al., 2010). They constitute close to 72.1% of the total population. Black or African Americans are the second largest ethnic community. They make up 17.9% of the population. The Hispanic or the Latinos are the third ethnic group in the category. The Latinos are 6.31% of the people in Wilmington, North Carolina (Statistical Atlas, n.d).

Women in Wilmington, North Carolina have a rich history that dates back to 1774. That is due to the various experiences they went through as they strived to create better platforms for women. For example, during the period women were largely marginalized. They could not vie and assume leadership positions. Besides, they were alienated from some of the decisions that could shape the lives of people in the region. However, the Tea Party made a turnaround in the lives of women within this region. It prompted a revolution that shaped the political arena for women.

The Wilmington Tea Party is an account that provides a historical background of women in Wilmington, North Carolina. It occurred after the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The action involved showing displeasure over the British trade regulations that were in the rise. Wilmington, therefore, decided to close its ports with the aim of limiting British trade contacts with the region. Additionally, women took to the streets as they expressed concerns over the British regime, which they considered corrupt. They demonstrated for several days in the street as they strived to coerce the British to limit some of their practices that were detrimental to the growth of the society. Their concerns were primarily influenced by political processes, which aimed at elevating the living standards of women in the community through various political positions (Kickler, n.d).

Transportation History

Initially, Wilmington, North Carolina did not have an appropriate transport system that could facilitate the transportation of goods and people into and from the region. The earliest settlers that visited the region gained access through the Atlantic Ocean (Godwin, 2000). Different people visited and settled in the region, and that increased the population. With no time, the economic base of the region had grown to a sizeable figure. The availability of the ports ensured that wagons and boats transported the imported goods to the inland areas. The Chowan, Neuse and the Pamlico rivers facilitated the movement of goods. By 1800s, Wilmington became North Carolina's major port. That meant that most of the products docked at Wilmington (Neal Jr, 2006).

The road system was also poor and could not facilitate a free and efficient transfer of goods and people from one region to another. Most of the roads then were dirt paths. They could only allow wagons and donkeys but became impassable during rainy seasons. However, as North Carolina grew, there was a need to improve Wilmington as well. The roads were to be enhanced to allow for easy movement of goods and people. Wilmington was a major port, and that required an efficient transport system that could allow transportation of goods (F...