Census: Wilmington shows slight growth
June 29, 2012By J. Elias O'Neal
Despite its slow recovery from the Great Recession, Wilmington continues to grow.
The Port City’s population grew 1.7 percent, to 108,297 residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The Census this week released its 2011 population estimates for the nation’s larger areas.
It’s the first update since the official 2010 Census released in April, which recorded 106,476 people residing within the city limits of Wilmington.
Overall, Wilmington’s growth rate was on par with a number of other large North Carolina cities, and currently ranks as the state’s eighth-largest city.
But it was Cary and Raleigh, respectively, that received the Census’ designation as the ninth and tenth fastest-growing large cities in the nation. Estimates show Cary grew an impressive 3.2 percent, while Raleigh’s growth was clocked at 3.1 percent.
Durham edged out Winston-Salem to be the Tarheel State’s fourth-largest city, and the Queen City of Charlotte added more residents than any other North Carolina city, despite having a growth rate of 2.6 percent.
With the exception of Atlanta, Denver, Tampa, Fla., Alexandra, Va. and New Orleans, North Carolina and Texas cities dominated the Census Bureau’s list of the 15 fastest-growing large cities in the nation.
Check out the table below of where the state’s top 10 cities rank, along with their July 2011 population estimates:
Rank/N.C. City July 2011 April 2010
1) Charlotte 751,087 731,424
2) Raleigh 416,468 403,892
3) Greensboro 273,425 269,666
4) Durham 233,252 228,330
5) Winston-Salem 232,385 229,617
6) Fayetteville 203,945 200,564
7) Cary 139,633 135,234
8) Wilmington 108,297 106,476
9) High Point 105,753 104,371
10) Asheville 84,458 83,393











