Misplaced Pages

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40-636: The StarNews covers a three-county region in Southeastern North Carolina: New Hanover , Brunswick and Pender . The paper was originally published on September 23, 1867, as the Wilmington Evening Star by former Confederate Major William H. Bernard. Shortly after first publishing the paper, Bernard changed the paper to come out in the morning and changed the paper name to the Wilmington Morning Star . "[I]t

80-622: A base for an advance to Goldsboro, North Carolina ; rail lines from the coast to Goldsboro could be used to resupply William T. Sherman's armies, which were then moving north through the Carolinas. In February 1865, the Union XXIII Corps arrived to reinforce the Fort Fisher Expeditionary Corps, commanded by Major General Alfred H. Terry. Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield took command of the combined force and started moving against

120-460: A few prisoners. Cox pursued Hagood from Fort Anderson, and on February 19 caught up to the Town Creek Line while Hoke's division retreated to a position three miles south of Wilmington, across the river from Hagood's force. Terry followed Hoke cautiously, worried about being surprised by an ambush or by a flank attack from his right. By this time Hoke actually outnumbered Terry as Ames' division

160-603: A household in the county was $ 40,172, and the median income for a family was $ 50,861. Males had a median income of $ 35,801 versus $ 25,305 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 23,123. About 8.30% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over. New Hanover County is governed by a county commission. The commission comprises five members elected at-large in four-year staggered terms. The body elects its own chairman and vice-chairman. It sets policy for county administration within

200-545: Is a hospital in Wilmington. It was established in 1967 as a public hospital , and it was the first hospital in the city to admit patients of all races. It was operated by New Hanover County. In February 2021 Novant Health , a nonprofit private organization, acquired the hospital. Battle of Wilmington The Battle of Wilmington was fought February 11–22, 1865, during the American Civil War , mostly outside

240-416: Is a member of the regional Cape Fear Council of Governments . New Hanover County Sheriff's Office (NHCSO) serves as the county's primary law enforcement agency. NHCSO is responsible for patrolling the county (primarily outside the Wilmington city limits), staffing the juvenile and adult correctional facilities, and proving court security for the W. Allen Cobb Judicial Annex in Wilmington. New Hanover County

280-432: Is politically competitive. It favored Republican presidential candidates every election between 1968 and 2016, except in 1976, with county favoring Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. The county has also favored Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in recent elections, though Republicans still tend to perform better in local contests. The county is served by New Hanover County Schools . New Hanover Regional Medical Center

320-626: The Second Battle of Fort Fisher (the last major coastal stronghold of the Confederacy) and the Battle of Wilmington . White Democrats were resentful when freedmen were given the vote. Following the Reconstruction era, white Democrats regained control of the state legislature and continued to impose white supremacy across the state through Jim Crow laws . Violence by whites against blacks increased in

360-575: The Star-News. Page and his family continued to own the paper until 1975, when it was acquired by The New York Times Company . From 1935 to 1970, the Morning Star was located in the Murchison Building on North Front Street in downtown Wilmington. The newspaper moved into its location at 1003 17th Street South in 1970. On April 24, 2003; separate delivery of the Morning Star and News ended, and

400-512: The 1898 coup d'état . However, in July 2020, the name of the park was changed from "Hugh McRae Park" to "Long Leaf Park" due to his role in the insurrection. Soon after, the state passed a new constitution raising barriers to voter registration: this effectively disenfranchised most blacks and imposed Jim Crow laws , forcing blacks out of the political system and into legal second-class status. These civil rights injustices were largely maintained into

440-521: The 1960s, three generations later. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 328.86 square miles (851.7 km ), of which 192.26 square miles (498.0 km ) is land and 136.60 square miles (353.8 km ) (41.54%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in North Carolina by land area (ahead of only Chowan County ). As of the 2020 census , there were 225,702 people, 100,189 households, and 56,160 families residing in

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480-427: The 21st to evacuate Union prisoners located there, while evacuating anything of military value; he also ordered bales of cotton and tobacco burned so that they would not fall into Union hands, along with storehouses, foundries, shipyards, and ships. Bragg retreated with his forces at 1 a.m. on the 22nd; Cox's corps entered the city after 8 a.m., with Terry's forces entering an hour later. The Battle of Wilmington closed

520-739: The Atlantic seaboard to replace Wilmington. Bragg came under severe criticism from the press for the Confederate defeat in the Wilmington Campaign. Several members of the Confederate Congress also directed criticism towards Confederate President Jefferson Davis and called for his resignation. Bragg's forces from Wilmington retreated towards Goldsboro, North Carolina, where it united with other Confederate forces commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston. The capture of Wilmington gave Sherman's forces

560-405: The U.S. Postal Service. New Hanover County, North Carolina New Hanover County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina . As of the 2020 census , the population was 225,702. The county seat is Wilmington . Though the second-smallest county in North Carolina by land area, it is one of the most populous counties, as Wilmington is one of the largest communities in

600-534: The city in mid-February. The Battle of Wilmington consisted of three smaller engagements along the Cape Fear River. A Confederate division under Major General Robert Hoke occupied the Sugar Loaf Line north of Fort Fisher . On February 11 Schofield attacked Hoke's Sugar Loaf Line with Alfred Terry 's corps; the engagement started in the morning with a bombardment by Union gunboats along the Atlantic side of

640-621: The city of Wilmington, North Carolina , between the opposing Union and Confederate Departments of North Carolina. The Union victory in January in the Second Battle of Fort Fisher meant that Wilmington, 30 miles upriver, could no longer be used by the Confederacy as a port. It fell to Union troops after they overcame Confederate defenses along the Cape Fear River south of the city. The Confederate General Braxton Bragg burned stores of tobacco and cotton, among other supplies and equipment, before leaving

680-504: The city, to prevent the Union from seizing them. After the fall of Fort Fisher, the port city of Wilmington was sealed to any further blockade runners; the Confederates had no remaining major ports along the Atlantic seaboard. Confederate forces evacuated the other defensive works near the mouth of the Cape Fear River; they were forced to disable and abandon the heavy artillery since they lacked

720-450: The confines of state law, adopts local ordinances, appoints advisory committees, and enacts an annual county budget. New Hanover County is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican David Rouzer , who is the representative for North Carolina's 7th congressional district . From 2013 to 2017, a portion of northwestern and central New Hanover County was redistricted to North Carolina's 3rd congressional district , which

760-535: The county. At the 2000 census , there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile (311 people/km ). There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 units per square mile (150 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 79.91% White , 16.97% Black or African American , 0.39% Native American , 0.83% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 0.79% from other races , and 1.05% from two or more races. 2.04% of

800-430: The creek while the fourth brigade skirmished with Hagood as a diversion. Hagood discovered the flanking movement and decided, since his position was now untenable, to retreat back to Wilmington. He left two regiments to cover his retreat. The Federals then waded through the swamp and attacked the Confederate flank, routing the two regiments, and taking 375 prisoners along with two pieces of artillery. The next day Cox rebuilt

840-508: The destroyed bridge and Schofield's artillery crossed and along with Porter's gunboats both were within range of the city itself. General Bragg saw the hopelessness of the situation and ordered the city abandoned. On February 21, Cox's division continued its march toward the city but was delayed by the destroyed bridges across the Brunswick River and by Confederate cavalry, while Hoke's division continued to hold off Terry's command. Bragg used

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880-410: The east side of the Cape Fear River, along Sugar Loaf north of Fort Fisher; Hoke's fourth brigade occupied Fort Anderson on the west side of the river. Bragg remained in Wilmington in order to remove a stockpile of government stores and also to prevent the Union forces on the coast from reinforcing Major General William T. Sherman's army. Union general in chief, U.S. Grant, wanted to use Wilmington as

920-466: The fortifications. A half-hour later, Terry started his advance but his left wing was hindered by a swamp located along the river. By late afternoon, Schofield and Terry had overrun the Confederate skirmish line but then concluded that the main Confederate works were too strong to be captured by frontal assault; Schofield decided that he had to capture Wilmington from the western side of the river. Next, Major General Jacob D. Cox 's 3rd Division, XXIII Corps

960-689: The last major port of the Confederate States on the Atlantic coast . Wilmington had served as a major port for blockade-runners, carrying tobacco, cotton, and other goods to places such as Great Britain , the Bahamas , and Bermuda ; much of the supplies for the Army of Northern Virginia came through Wilmington. Now with the port closed, the Union blockade was complete; the Confederates were unable to find another port along

1000-622: The late 19th century, with 22 lynching deaths of African Americans recorded before the mid-20th century. Racial terrorism on a larger scale took place in the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 , when a group of white Democrats rejected a duly elected, biracial city government. After overthrowing the Fusionist government, the mayor and city council, they led mobs that rioted and attacked the city's black neighborhoods and residents. A total of 60 to 300 blacks are believed to have been killed in

1040-513: The means to move them upriver. While the Confederate defeat at Fort Fisher the previous month affected morale somewhat and led to an increase in desertion, the remaining soldiers also reported that morale remained high. General Braxton Bragg commanded the defenses of Wilmington; his field forces consisted of General Robert F. Hoke's division from the Army of Northern Virginia and some heavy artillery men and home guard. Hoke commanded three of his brigades on

1080-515: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.3% were of English , 13.0% United States or American, 10.6% German and 10.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000 . There were 68,183 households, out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.00% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who

1120-422: The rioting, leaders were driven out of the city, and the presses of a black-owned newspaper were destroyed, along with many houses and businesses. The insurrection was planned by a group of nine conspirators, who included Hugh MacRae. He later donated land to New Hanover County for a park; it was named in his honor. A plaque was installed there explaining the donation and his life; it does not refer to his role in

1160-498: The river bank, just west of Hoke's division. Hagood had burned the only bridge across Town Creek to slow down Cox, and entrenched on the north side of the river. Cox was eager to attempt his encircling plan that, due to Hagood's retreat at Fort Anderson, the Federals had been unable to complete. The creek was not fordable, so on February 20 Cox's troops found a single flat-bottom boat in the river and used it to ferry three brigades across

1200-447: The separation of northern New Hanover County to form Pender County reduced it to its present dimensions. The county was developed as plantations, largely for the cultivation of tobacco and other commodity crops by enslaved African Americans. By 1860, the county seat and county were majority-black in population, with most of those people enslaved. Some of the closing battles of the American Civil War took place in this county, including

1240-521: The state. The county was created in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct and gained county status in 1739. New Hanover County is included in the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area , which also includes neighboring Pender and Brunswick counties. Located in the Low Country or Tidewater of North Carolina, the county was formed in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct of Bath County , from Craven Precinct . It

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1280-421: The success of the ploy. However, later Confederate reports claimed the garrison was expecting a dummy boat and were prepared. Meanwhile, Cox, supported by General Adelbert Ames ' division, advanced up the west bank towards the fort. Cox sent the brigades of Colonel Thomas J. Henderson and Colonel Orlando Moore against the garrison itself while Brig. General John S. Casement and Col. Oscar Sterhl marched through

1320-419: The swamps around the Confederate flank. Casement and Sterhl encountered Confederate cavalry and pushed it back after a short fight. The fort's commander, General Johnson Hagood sensed the trap and received permission from Gen. Hoke to pull back to a defensive line along Town Creek to the north. Just as Hagood's troops began their retreat, Henderson's brigade attacked, thus taking the fort rather easily along with

1360-594: The two papers merged into a single seven-day paper, the StarNews . As a result of damage from Hurricane Florence in September 2018, the StarNews moved into a temporary location in the Harrelson Building, after operating from a Hampton Inn , WWAY , and even homes of staff. The StarNews never stopped publishing during the storm. In December 2023, the paper announced it was switching from carrier to mail delivery via

1400-459: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size were 2.29 and the average family size was 2.83. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.00% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males. The median income for

1440-531: Was an ardent advocacy of white supremacy-a view never more strongly demonstrated than in its coverage of the Wilmington race riots of 1898 ." In 1927, R. W. Page bought the Morning Star, and in 1929 bought the city's afternoon newspaper, the Wilmington News-Dispatch, which was later shortened to simply the Wilmington News. Later in 1929, the two papers began running a combined edition on Sunday,

1480-653: Was ferried to the west bank of the Cape Fear River to deal with Fort Anderson, the main fortress guarding Wilmington. Rear Admiral David D. Porter 's gunboats sailed up the river and shelled Fort Anderson silencing all twelve guns. Under the direction of Lt. Commander William B. Cushing the Federal Navy constructed a Quaker (or fake) monitor to trick the Rebels into detonating their water mines to make way for Porter's gunboats. Both Cushing and Porter were highly pleased with

1520-572: Was named for the House of Hanover , a German royal family then ruling Great Britain . In 1734, parts of New Hanover Precinct became Bladen Precinct and Onslow Precinct . With the abolition of Bath County in 1739, all of its constituent precincts became counties. In 1750, the northern part of New Hanover County became Duplin County . In 1764, another part of New Hanover County was combined with part of Bladen County to form Brunswick County . Finally, in 1875,

1560-426: Was now on the west bank with Cox. Therefore, Ames was ferried back across again as Terry and Porter's fleet started clearing the river of torpedoes. Terry restarted his advance the next day, encountering Hoke's new lines in the afternoon. Once he was convinced that Hoke planned to remain where he was, Terry ordered the Union troops to start building entrenchments while Union gunboats tested the Confederate batteries along

1600-524: Was represented by Republican Walter B. Jones Jr. before his death. The county is also in the 7th and 8th districts of the North Carolina Senate , represented by Republicans Michael V. Lee and Bill Rabon , respectively; and the 18th , 19th , and 20th districts of the North Carolina House of Representatives , represented by two Republicans and one Democrat . New Hanover County

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