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74-553: The company's main studios were located in Wilmington, North Carolina , which is now EUE/Screen Gems Studios . The studio's first releases were in 1986. It went bankrupt two years later after Million Dollar Mystery , among other films, failed at the box office. Carolco Pictures acquired DEG in 1989. In 1983, Dino De Laurentiis produced Firestarter in Wilmington. The governor of North Carolina , Jim Hunt , claimed that

148-591: A Categorical Answer whether I intended to put the Act relating [to] the Stamps in force. The Town Bell was rung[,] Drums [were] beating, Colours [were] flying and [a] great concourse of People [were] gathered together." For the sake of his own life, and "to quiet the Minds of the inraged [ sic ] and furious Mobb...," Houston resigned his position at the courthouse. Governor William Tryon made attempts to mitigate

222-607: A blockade to reduce the goods received by the South. The city was captured by Union forces in the Battle of Wilmington in February 1865, about one month after the fall of Fort Fisher had closed the port. Wilmington was the last Confederate port to be captured. As nearly all the military action took place some distance from the city, numerous antebellum houses and other buildings survived the war years. In mid-August 1862, Wilmington

296-432: A cadre of White Democrats, professionals, and businessmen planned to overthrow the city government if their candidates were not elected. Two days after the election, in which a White Republican was elected mayor and both White and Black aldermen were elected, more than 1500 White men (led by Democrat Alfred M. Waddell , an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1896) attacked and burned the only Black-owned daily newspaper in

370-528: A commercial port in the colonial era. Toward the end of the 19th century, Wilmington was a majority-black, racially integrated, prosperous city – and the largest in North Carolina. It suffered what became known as the Wilmington insurrection of 1898 when white supremacists launched a coup that overthrew the legitimately elected local Fusionist government. It resulted in the expulsion of opposition black and white political leaders from

444-503: A gang investigative unit. Less than half of Wilmington's population is religiously affiliated (47.30%), with the majority of practitioners being Christian . The two largest Christian denominations in Wilmington are Protestant: Baptists (14.66%) and Methodists (8.29%), followed by Roman Catholics (7.42%). There are also a significant number of Presbyterians (3.19%), Episcopalians (2.30%), Pentecostals (1.45%), and Lutherans (1.32%). Other Christian denominations make up 7.02%, and

518-952: A major water source for the region. It was also revealed that the same plant had been discharging the chemical compound since 1980. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump designated Wilmington as the first World War II Heritage City in the country due to the city's contributions during the war. The Audubon Trolley Station , Brookwood Historic District , Carolina Heights Historic District , Carolina Place Historic District , City Hall/Thalian Hall , Delgrado School , Federal Building and Courthouse , Fort Fisher , Gabriel's Landing , James Walker Nursing School Quarters , Market Street Mansion District , Masonboro Sound Historic District , Moores Creek National Battlefield , Sunset Park Historic District , USS North Carolina (BB-55) National Historic Landmark , Westbrook-Ardmore Historic District , William Hooper School (Former) , Wilmington Historic District , and Wilmington National Cemetery are listed on

592-523: A new name, Wilmington, in honor of Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington . Some early settlers of Wilmington came from the Albemarle and Pamlico regions, as well as from the colonies of Virginia and South Carolina , but most new settlers migrated from the northern colonies , the West Indies , and Northern Europe . Many of the early settlers were indentured servants from Northern Europe. As

666-852: A partnership between film producer Garth Drabinsky and inventor Nat Taylor , based in Toronto, Ontario. At the time of its establishment in the United States , the Cineplex Odeon theatre chain and the tie-in studio were owned by the MCA entertainment group, also the then-owners of Universal Pictures . On August 27, 1986, Pan-Canadian renamed itself as Cineplex Odeon Films , and began operations at Los Angeles, California in November 1986; Garth Drabinsky became its chief officer. Cineplex Odeon Films made its first film to American screens, which

740-461: A pre-set Canadian distribution contract DEG had with the chain's Pan-Canadian Films division. DEG had an early version of Total Recall in pre-production with Patrick Swayze as Quaid and Bruce Beresford to direct ( David Cronenberg had also been approached), where it was to have been shot in Australia. After DEG's bankruptcy, the film went in turnaround to Carolco Pictures . Along with

814-575: A third party and spread by mosquitoes in the city. During the Reconstruction era , former free Blacks and newly emancipated freedmen built a community in the city. About 55% of its residents were Black people. At the time, Wilmington was the largest city and the economic capital of the state. Three of the city's aldermen were Black. Black people were also in positions of justice of the peace, deputy clerk of court, street superintendent, coroners, policemen, mail clerks, and mail carriers. At

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888-757: Is currently owned by StudioCanal via its acquisition of the Paravision International library; with some exceptions. A few years back in 1988–89, L'Oréal controlled the film company, whose properties included the Filmation and De Laurentiis libraries. StudioCanal acquired the Paravision properties in 1994. Films that were distributed by United Artists are now owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, while films by HBO Pictures are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. North American home video rights to much of their films are split between MGM Home Entertainment (for

962-570: Is home to the Bijou Theater, which began as a tent in 1904 and progressed to a permanent structure in 1906. It operated until 1956, making it the oldest movie theater in the state and one of the oldest, continuously running theaters in the country. In 1910, Charlotte passed Wilmington to become North Carolina's largest city. In the mid-20th century, efforts to preserve many historic building began. Due to this, many historic buildings were listed as National Register of Historic Places . Since

1036-507: Is land and 1.56 square miles (4.0 km ) (2.95%) is water. Wrightsville Beach is a common destination in the Wilmington area. Carolina Beach and Kure Beach also add to the city's attractions. Wilmington has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with these characteristics: Wilmington boasts a large historic district encompassing nearly 300 blocks. Abandoned warehouses on downtown's northern end have been recently demolished making room for multimillion dollar projects, such as what

1110-602: Is moored across from the downtown port area, and is open to the public for tours. Other attractions include the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science and the Children's Museum of Wilmington. The city is home to the University of North Carolina Wilmington . Wilmington is also the home of Cinespace Wilmington , the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside California. Dream Stage 10,

1184-605: Is part of North Carolina's Research coast, adjacent to the Research Triangle Park in Durham . Also important to Wilmington's economy is tourism due to its close proximity to the ocean and vibrant nightlife. Retail areas include the Cotton Exchange of Wilmington and Independence Mall . Cineplex Odeon Films Cineplex Odeon Films (later known as Odeon Films ) was the film distribution unit of

1258-529: Is the eighth-most populous city in the state . The county seat of New Hanover County, it is the principal city of the Wilmington metropolitan area , which includes New Hanover, Brunswick , and Pender counties. As of 2023, the region had an estimated population of 467,337. Wilmington's residential area lies between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean , and the city developed as

1332-570: The Wilmington Daily Record , one of the few Black-owned newspapers in the state, which was reported to be the only one in the country. In the 1890s, a coalition of Republicans and Populists had gained state and federal offices. The Democrats were determined to reassert their control. Violence increased around elections in this period, as armed White paramilitary insurgents, known as Red Shirts , worked to suppress Black and Republican voting. White Democrats regained control of

1406-612: The 2020 census , there were 115,451 people, 54,673 households, and 27,131 families residing in the city. At the 2013 census estimate , there were 112,067 people and 47,003 households in the city. The population density was 2,067.8 inhabitants per square mile (798.4/km ) and there were 53,400 housing units. The racial composition of the city was: 73.5% White , 19.9% Black or African American , 6.1% Hispanic or Latino American , 1.2% Asian American , 0.5% Native American , 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander . There were 34,359 households, out of which 20.4% had children under

1480-582: The Canadian cinema chain Cineplex Odeon Corporation . The company was originally named Pan-Canadian Film Distributors . In 1998, the company was purchased by Alliance Communications, whose film unit was merged into Alliance Atlantis , split from the company in 2007 as Alliance Films , and folded into Entertainment One , currently a subsidiary of Lionsgate Studios Corp . The company began in 1979 as Pan-Canadian Film Distributors ,

1554-472: The Cape Fear River , at the confluence of its northwest and northeast branches. The settlement, founded by the first royal governor, George Burrington , was called New Carthage, and then New Liverpool; it gradually took on the name New Town or Newton. Governor Gabriel Johnston soon after established his government there for the North Carolina colony . In 1739 or 1740, the town was incorporated with

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1628-487: The Eastern Siouan family. In the early 16th century, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano , commissioned by the king of France with a French crew, was reportedly the first European to see this area, including the city's present site. The first permanent colonial settlement in the area was established in the 1720s by European settlers . In September 1732, a community was founded on land owned by John Watson on

1702-533: The Embassy Pictures library, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group's library was sold to Paravision, a subsidiary of L'Oréal , in 1989. The library was later sold to Canal+ and is currently held by StudioCanal . Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina , United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 census , it

1776-588: The Global Television Network ). David J. Patterson became senior vice president of the Cineplex Odeon television division. In December 1993, it was announced by Michael Herman (Cineplex Odeon Films Canada Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs) that as part of a corporate restructuring, Bryan Gliserman had been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs effective January 17, 1994. Gliserman would oversee all of Cineplex Odeon Films operations, and would be responsible for

1850-720: The Latter-Day Saints have 0.90%. Much smaller is the proportion of residents who follow Islam (0.46%), and Judaism (0.25%). A small percentage of people practice Eastern religions (0.04%). Wilmington has significant historical religious buildings, such as the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary and the Temple of Israel . Wilmington's industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; nuclear fuel; and pharmaceuticals. Wilmington

1924-617: The National Register of Historic Places . Wilmington is the eastern terminus of Interstate 40 , an east-west freeway that ends 2,554 miles away at Barstow, California , where it joins I-15, the gateway to Southern California. This road passes through many major cities and state capitals along the way. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 52.97 square miles (137.2 km ), of which 51.41 square miles (133.2 km )

1998-632: The Prince concert film Sign o' the Times , The Decline of the American Empire , Oliver Stone 's Talk Radio , and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland . A home video division was also started in 1986, previously known as Pan-Canadian Video Presentations in the early 80s. The company also had a home video deal with Universal with most titles released through their MCA Video banner in

2072-593: The 1980s, Wilmington has remained the largest film and television production area in the state; many locations in and outside the city have been used for filming . In 1990, the extension of Interstate 40 to New Hanover County was opened and officially connected the region to the Interstate Highway System . During World War II , Wilmington was the home of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company . The shipyard

2146-486: The 1990s, it changed its name to Odeon Films on account of its historic significance, before releasing one of their final films—the science-fiction film Cube (released in American markets under Trimark Pictures ' banner). In early 1998, 75% of Cineplex Odeon Films was sold to Alliance Communications for CA$ 5 million , shortly before it merged with Atlantis Communications into Alliance Atlantis . The remaining 25%

2220-551: The Embassy library via PolyGram) and Lionsgate Films (for the rest). My Little Pony: The Movie and The Transformers: The Movie are now owned by Hasbro after obtaining the rights from Sunbow Entertainment (along with all other animated series based on Hasbro properties). Canadian distribution of DEG releases were done by Paramount Pictures through its Famous Players division. In May 1986, rival Cineplex Odeon Corporation unsuccessfully attempted to sue Paramount for breaching

2294-680: The US and Canada. The home video division lasted until 1998, when it was absorbed into Alliance Atlantis along with its film distribution counterpart. The company received a deal with Virgin Vision in 1987 for the Canadian distribution of the output. Cineplex Odeon worked with Universal for distributing and co-producing some of their notable productions in the US, such as The Glass Menagerie , The Last Temptation of Christ , Oliver Stone 's Talk Radio , and Madame Sousatzka . The company also had

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2368-419: The age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.5% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.77. In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under

2442-461: The age of 18, 17.2% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,099, and the median income for a family was $ 41,891. Males had a median income of $ 30,803 versus $ 23,423 for females. The per capita income for

2516-562: The city had a significant community of free people of color , who developed businesses and trades. For a period up to Nat Turner 's rebellion, they had been allowed to vote, carry arms, and serve in the militia. Fears after the rebellion resulted in the state legislature passing laws to restrict the rights of free Blacks. During the Civil War , the port was the major base for Confederate and privately owned blockade runners , which delivered badly needed supplies from England. The Union mounted

2590-468: The city was $ 21,503. About 13.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. Wilmington has an increasing problem with gang violence, and on October 15, 2013, the WPD and NHC sheriff's department created a joint task force to combat gang violence. Just a day later the city council approved $ 142,000 in funding for

2664-407: The city, destruction of the property and businesses of black citizens, including the city's only black newspaper, and deaths ranging from an estimated 60 to more than 300 people. By 1910, Charlotte overtook Wilmington as North Carolina's largest city. Wilmington's downtown includes a 1.75-mile (2.82 km) riverwalk, developed as a tourist attraction in the late 20th century. In 2003, the city

2738-481: The completion of I-40. The city successfully annexed the areas of Seagate in 1998 and Masonboro in 2000. The annexation of Monkey Junction was stopped in 2012 by the North Carolina House of Representatives after local backlash. In 2017, a chemical compound called GenX , discharged by a Chemours plant near Fayetteville, North Carolina , was first found to be present in the Cape Fear River ;

2812-716: The death of Arthur Dobbs ), was brought to Wilmington by Captain Constantine Phipps on a barge from the Diligence , and "was received cordially by the gentlemen of the borough." He was greeted with the firing of seventeen pieces of artillery , and the New Hanover County Regiment of the North Carolina militia , who had lined the streets. This "warm welcome" was spoiled, however, after a dispute arose between Captain Phipps and captains of ships in

2886-515: The enslaved population. Because of the unrest, Tryon moved his seat of government to New Bern instead of Wilmington. On February 18, 1766, two merchant ships arrived without stamped papers at Brunswick Town . Each ship provided signed statements from the collectors at their respective ports of origin that no were stamps available, but Captain Jacob Lobb of the British cruiser Viper seized

2960-871: The facility's newest sound stage, is the third-largest in the United States. It houses the largest special-effects water tank in North America. After the studio complex's opening in 1984, Wilmington became a major center of American film and television production. Numerous movies and television series —in a range of genres—have been filmed/produced in or near the city, including The Black Phone , Blue Velvet , The Conjuring , The Crow (1994), Dawson's Creek , Eastbound & Down , Halloween Kills , I Know What You Did Last Summer , Iron Man 3 , One Tree Hill , Outer Banks , Scream (2022), The Summer I Turned Pretty , Super Mario Bros. , and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . The city

3034-599: The filming increased economic activity in the state. Hunt used incentives and loans to allow De Laurentiis to buy a local warehouse to convert into a studio. In early 1984, De Laurentiis founded the North Carolina Film Corporation, with Martha Schumacher as president. In 1985, DEG acquired Embassy Pictures from The Coca-Cola Company , allowing for North American distribution of De Laurentiis' new product. Dino De Laurentiis continued to pre-sell his films for overseas distribution, as he had done in

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3108-602: The first cornerstone was laid, and construction began on a new city hall. A grant from the Thalian Association funded the attached opera house, named Thalian Hall. In 1857, the city opened its first public school, named the Union Free School, on 6th Street between Nun and Church Streets, serving White students. Wilmington had a Black majority population before the Civil War. While most were slaves,

3182-417: The following days. This is the only such coup d'état in United States history. Whites attacked and killed an estimated 10–100 Blacks; no Whites died in the violence. As a result of the attacks, more than 2100 Blacks permanently left the city, leaving a hole among its professional and middle classes. The demographic change was so large that the city became majority White, rather than the majority Black it

3256-420: The harbor regarding the display of their colors. The townspeople became infuriated with Phipps and threats were made against both sides. After Tryon harangued them for their actions, the townspeople gathered around the barrels of punch and ox he had brought as refreshments. The barrels were broken open, letting the punch spill into the streets; they threw the head of the ox into the pillory , and gave its body to

3330-500: The indentured servants gained their freedom and fewer could be persuaded to travel to North America because of improving conditions back home, the settlers imported an increasing number of slaves to satisfy the labor demand. By 1767, African slaves accounted for more than 62% of the population of the Lower Cape Fear region. Many worked in the port as laborers, and some in ship-related trades. Naval stores and lumber fueled

3404-563: The industry standard of $ 14–16 million, with the notable exceptions of King Kong Lives and Tai-Pan , the only studio-level films DEG financed. Also that year, DEG entered into a strategic partnership with producers Fred Silverman and Gordon Farr to launch the syndicated strip Honeymoon Hotel , with a promise to run it for 100 episodes, and a new starring vehicle for Isabel Sanford . Later that year, DEG also financed another syndicated strip with Silverman and Farr to set up California Girls , with Viacom Enterprises serving as distributor of

3478-426: The maintenance and improvement of Cineplex Odeon Films distribution services. Gliserman would also build relationships with key suppliers like Columbia/Tri-Star, Savoy Pictures and Gramercy Pictures. Prior to his promotion, Gliserman had spent 17 years in the Canadian film industry. He had experience with development, financing, production, distribution and exhibition posts with a wide variety of organization. Later in

3552-591: The new law, burned an effigy of one town resident who favored the act, and toasted to "Liberty, Property, and No Stamp Duty." On October 31, another crowd gathered in a symbolic funeral of "Liberty". Before the effigy was buried, though, Liberty was found to have a pulse, and celebration ensued. William Houston of Duplin County was appointed stamp receiver for Cape Fear. When Houston visited Wilmington on business, still unaware of his appointment, he recounted, "The Inhabitants immediately assembled about me & demanded

3626-512: The opposition, to no avail. On November 18, 1765, he pleaded his case directly to prominent residents of the area. They said the law restricted their rights. When the stamps arrived on November 28 on HMS Diligence , Tryon ordered them to be kept on board. Shipping on the Cape Fear River was stopped, as were the functions of the courts. Tryon, after having received his official commission as governor (a position he had assumed only after

3700-527: The past. In May 1986, De Laurentiis took DEG public, raising $ 240 million in the process. The following month, DEG's first slate of films were released. In 1986, De Laurentiis formed an Australian subsidiary, De Laurentiis Entertainment Limited (DEL), which built a studio on the Gold Coast . Although De Laurentiis asserted that the company would make films on par with the major studios, most of DEG's slate consisted of films budgeted at $ 10 million or less, below

3774-416: The project, organizers changed the terminus to Weldon . When the railroad line was completed in 1840, it was the longest single line of railroad track in the world. The railroad also controlled a fleet of steamboats that ran between Wilmington and Charleston ; these were used both for passenger travel and freight. Regular boat lines served Fayetteville , and packet lines traveled to northern ports. The city

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3848-582: The region to swear never to issue stamped paper. The Westminster Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in March 1766. In the 1830s, citizens of Wilmington became eager to take advantage of railroad transportation . At this time, the shipping tonnage registered at Wilmington was 9,035. Plans were developed to build a railroad line from the capital, Raleigh , to Wilmington. When Raleigh citizens declined to subscribe in sufficient number to stock to raise money for

3922-594: The region's economy, both before and after the American Revolution . During the Revolutionary War, the British maintained a garrison at Fort Johnston near Wilmington. Due to Wilmington's commercial importance as a major port, it had a critical role in opposition to the British in the years leading up to the revolution. The city had outspoken political leaders who influenced and led the resistance movement in North Carolina. The foremost of these

3996-400: The series. By August 1987, DEG was $ 16.5 million in debt, citing the box-office failures and/or disappointments of its product. Dino De Laurentiis refused offers to sell the company because he wanted to retain controlling interest . Around the same time, De Laurentiis' daughter Raffaella exited her role as DEG's president of production. In 1988, Dino De Laurentiis, who founded the company quit

4070-405: The state and ran off the new officers. They overthrew the legitimately elected municipal government. Waddell and his men forced the elected Republican city officials to resign at gunpoint and replaced them with men selected by leading White Democrats. Waddell was elected mayor by the newly seated board of aldermen that day. Prominent Black Americans and White Republicans were banished from the city in

4144-489: The state legislature and sought to impose white supremacy , but some Blacks continued to be elected to local offices. The Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 (also known as the Wilmington Race Riot) occurred as a result of the racially charged political conflict that had occurred in the decades after the Civil War and efforts by White Democrats to re-establish white supremacy and overturn Black voting. In 1898,

4218-504: The studio amidst the failures of such films and formed a successor company Dino de Laurentiis Communications. De Laurentiis' North Carolina studio would be sold by Carolco Pictures and the Gold Coast studio would be acquired by Village Roadshow , whose intended strategy became the basis for Village Roadshow's Silver Series line, and some of the workforce joined the newly-formed Village Roadshow Pictures . The De Laurentiis library

4292-475: The time, Black people accounted for over 30% of Wilmington's skilled craftsmen, such as mechanics, carpenters, jewelers, watchmakers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, stevedores, blacksmiths, masons, and wheelwrights. In addition, they owned 10 of the city's 11 restaurants and were 90% of the city's 22 barbers. The city had more Black bootmakers/shoemakers than White ones, and half of the city's tailors were Black. Lastly, two brothers, Alexander and Frank Manly, owned

4366-442: The turf included licensing of films on home video, pay TV and theatrical distribution. In late 1987, it formed a partnership with Robert Redford 's production company Wildwood Enterprises, Inc . by setting up Northfolk Productions, for combining the production of both pictures with budgets less than $ 5 million, and has plans to produce at least five films for the next five years between the average budget of $ 4–5 million. By 1990, it

4440-517: The vessels. In response, numerous residents from southern counties met in Wilmington. The group organized as the Sons of Liberty and pledged to block implementation of the Stamp Act. The following day, as many as a thousand men, including the mayor and aldermen of Wilmington, were led by Cornelius Harnett to Brunswick to confront Tryon. The governor was unyielding, but a mob retrieved the seized ships. They forced royal customs officers and public officials in

4514-477: The yellow fever victims during the outbreak and claimed that the dirtiness of the city and the fumes of the dirty water left by heavy rains caused the disease. By the end of the outbreak at least 1,500 and perhaps as many as 2,000, contracted yellow fever. Of those, between 650 and 800 died, a mortality rate approximately 40 percent Walter Reed would later discover in 1900 that yellow fever was transmitted by mosquitoes, so Wilmington's outbreak had to be introduced by

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4588-635: Was The Decline of the American Empire , produced by Rene Malo . The distribution branch then underwent a restructuring shortly afterwards, in order to turn the company into a U.S.-based subsidiary of the firm, with headquarters in Century City , with regional offices in New York City , Chicago and other markets, and the new Canadian division of the studio would start operating out of the new Cineplex Odeon corporate headquarters in Canada , and

4662-516: Was Canada's largest independent film distribution company. On October 22, 1987, Cineplex Odeon created yet another subsidiary, that of the television division, Cineplex Odeon Television Productions, whose first offerings included 41 then-new episodes of the anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents , set for the USA Network in 1988, in association with MCA TV (they were seen in Canada on

4736-745: Was Wilmington resident Cornelius Harnett , who was serving in the General Assembly at the time, and where he rallied opposition to the Sugar Act in 1764. When the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act the following year, designed to raise revenue for the Crown with a kind of tax on shipping, Wilmington was the site of an elaborate demonstration against it. On October 19, 1765, several hundred townspeople gathered in protest of

4810-581: Was a main stopover point, contributing greatly to its commerce. By mid-century, the churchyard of St. James Episcopal Church and other town cemeteries had become filled with graves. On November 16, 1853, a group of citizens, organized as "the Proprietors of the Wilmington Cemetery", was formed to develop a new cemetery . Sixty-five acres of land around Burnt Mill Creek were chosen as the site for what would be called Oakdale Cemetery . It

4884-443: Was before the coup. Following these events, the North Carolina legislature passed a new constitution that raised barriers to voter registration , imposing requirements for poll taxes and literacy tests that effectively disfranchised most Black voters, following the example of Mississippi. Blacks were essentially excluded from the political system until after the enactment of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 . Wilmington

4958-404: Was created as part of the U.S. government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program . Workers built 243 ships in Wilmington during the five years the company operated. Three prisoner-of-war (POW) camps operated in the city from February 1944 through April 1946. At their peak, the camps held 550 German prisoners. The first camp was located on the corner of Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road; it

5032-461: Was designated by the U.S. Congress as a "Coast Guard City", one of 29 cities that currently bear that designation. It was formerly the home port for the USCGC ; Diligence , a United States Coast Guard medium-endurance cutter . Wilmington was declared the first World War II Heritage City in the country in 2020. The World War II battleship USS  North Carolina , now a war memorial,

5106-465: Was devastated by a deadly outbreak of yellow fever . This fever outbreak was brought about by a blockade runner named Kate. Sources suggest that the runner had crew members who were sick before the ship landed, but Dr. W.T. Wragg would later write an article in the New York Journal of Medicine that there were at least five cases in the city before the ship arrived. Dr. Wragg treated many of

5180-754: Was donated to a foundation representing Canada's film schools. The sale took place as Cineplex Odeon Corporation was sold to Sony 's Loews Theaters to form Loews Cineplex Entertainment . The sale was partly due to a Canadian law that forbids foreign companies from owning domestic distributors as the company was no longer Canadian. The Cineplex Odeon Films library is currently copyrighted to Lionsgate Studios Corp (through Entertainment One ) and AMC Theatres , with SP Media Group owning distribution rights outside Canada. Notable films from Cineplex Odeon's early days include The Glass Menagerie , The Last Temptation of Christ , Prancer , The Grifters , Mr. & Mrs. Bridge , Madame Sousatzka , Jacknife ,

5254-424: Was founded in the 1730s. After going through a series of different names (New Carthage, New London, Newton), its name became Wilmington in 1740, named after Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington . The area along the river had been inhabited by various successive cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. At the time of European encounter, historic Native Americans were members of tribes belonging to

5328-400: Was moved downtown to Ann Street, between 8th and 10th Avenues, when it outgrew the original location. A smaller contingent of prisoners was assigned to a third site, working in the officers' mess and doing groundskeeping at Bluethenthal Army Air Base, which is now Wilmington International Airport . Starting in the 1990s, Wilmington began to grow rapidly, partially due to the film industry and

5402-405: Was the first rural cemetery in North Carolina. The cemetery's first interment, on February 6, 1855, was six-year-old Annie deRosset. Many remains from St. James churchyard were relocated to the new cemetery. The Wilmington Gas Light Company was established in 1854. Soon after, streetlights were powered by gas made from lightwood and rosin , replacing the old street oil lamps. On December 27, 1855,

5476-662: Was the world headquarters of Pharmaceutical Product Development and current tallest building in Wilmington at 228 feet (69 m). (The building was then bought by Thermo Fisher Scientific . In 2023, it was bought by the City of Wilmington and renamed "Skyline Center". It is now the main building for city government operations. ) Other completed projects include a state-of-the-art convention center, Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Pier 33 Apartments, and The Cove houseboat community in Port City Marina. Downtown / Old Wilmington As of

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