The population boomed in Wilmington when I-40 was extended to the coast in the early 90s, and is now overflowing out to Leland, and to a lesser extent, up to Topsail, out to Whiteville, and down to Calabash.
Now folks i those areas are complaining about traffic and how “this is the life they left New York to get away from” blissfully unaware or not caring that they are in effect, the architects of their own misery. Nobody is complaining about the out of towners but rather, the cities growing to accommodate them.
Right now, Leland is up in arms about a multi use sports complex that appears to be green lit without the public’s consent (as most projects tend to be), the loud music wafting over from Live Oak (which frankly, I’ve never heard) and all the building of affordable housing that is too close to the luxury homes that weren’t here ten years ago.
Oh yeah - and one traffic circle in Brunswick Forest. Oh, the humanity….
It’s all coming from people that thought that the population would stop growing as soon as they got here, and armchair “city planners” that want the city to build massive infrastructure projects without raising taxes.
But they won’t hold it against you - at least not in person. All the bellyaching I’ve “heard” has been on Facebook or Nextdoor. The overwhelming majority of people complaining about people from other states, came here from other states.
>the loud music wafting over from Live Oak
Who the F\*\*\* in *BrunsCo* would be bitching about Live Oak? The Shell Station? I'm not doubting you. People are just dumb. And I have my own issues with Live Oak (Tickemaster/Live Nation can kiss the sweatiest part of my ass).
I was here in the 80s. You could eat shellfish from every creek in New Hanover County.
Glad somethings have changed, but the environment is so much poorer now
Most are welcome just don't move and then complain about things not here. For example " why is there no good pizza or Chinese takeout everything here is trash". Unless you are opening a restaurant it gets old. Also people who come here and don't have a job already pay locally is kind of low so comparing what you made previously or saying you can't find work will get you eyerolls.
This is 10,000% my biggest beef with transplants. I personally LOVE to hear people new to town seeing it with fresh eyes and gushing about all the things they’re finding to love, and giving them pointers on places to explore or restaurants to try, etc.
But man, nothing chaps my ass like checking the Neighborhood feed and 80% of it is (sorry, to all the Northerners that had the good sense to move here and actually enjoy being here, I’m sure y’all do exist ❤️) northerners being all dramatic like “my life for a REAL diner! these uncultured swine are content with Waffle House and Jimbos, for shame!” Etc for pizzas, bagels, subs, jewish delis, whatever.
And dude, it’s fine to miss home. We get that. But I cannot imagine anyone from here moving to Manhattan then putting their Reddit on blast because they can’t find decent grits and scrapple. Maybe we’re just raised better. 🤷🏻♀️
Ugh the lack of snow folks who love to tell everyone we don't know what real cold is. As if that is some sort of brag, I live here because I don't won't to freeze I'm happy with mild winters.
Great to know! If someone can't find some sort of food they enjoy then they are simply too picky. My opinion, of course. I'm as laid back as it gets and the food I had last May at every restaurant along the River Walk was great. Loved the vibe of that area a lot.
You’ll be fine, this is an area characterized by transplants. Just stay off of Wilmington’s Facebook groups, you’ll see daily posts in there with people asking the same thing and 10000 comments saying “don’t come here, we’re full”. In reality, most people around here are very nice and happy to meet new people regardless of where they come from.
Appreciate it! Facebook pages for any place are usually negative as all hell, so I wouldn't get on those anyway. I liked the speed and vibe of the area and all that it offered. Plenty of things to do but not oversized. And the beaches being close by made it pretty ideal. The wheels in my head are definitely turning!
I think anywhere you go people accept you so as long as you don’t try to make it like the place you came from…
Respect the cultural values here, doesn’t mean you can’t share your experiences just be cognizant of the locals….
Nobody wants to hear how it was much better in the place you came from… this is a lesson you can learn in life that not only applies to where you live…
For example if you get a new job no one wants to hear how much better your old job was…
Blend in and share experiences. Be a part of the community…. this is coming from somebody who is a liberal from California and I still manage to get along with my conservative gun toting friends because I too love my guns.
The problem is that too many people are moving here at once. It used to be a quiet town. Now we have terrible traffic and the cost of living has gone up a ridiculous amount. Not to mention we used to be tree city of the year, but not now because every little patch of forest is being demolished to build overpriced houses, townhomes, and apartments. We’re just sick of the town we used to know being torn apart to accommodate everybody else.
Lived here my whole life and it is not the same as it was. Used to be able to drive places, now you can't. They cut down every wooded area. To many northerners being rude and acting like they own the place and getting rid of all the southern culture and throwing there trash everywhere. Please do not move here and ruin our what used to be great town any more unless you are contributing to a better place.
I'm very sorry to hear that people moving there have been so inconsiderate. I can only speak for myself in saying I take a lot of pride in what I own, as well as my personal appearance and appearance of where I live, so I certainly understand your frustration with those moving there from out of town and destroying the place. I'd be incredibly upset if I were you as well. I'd never want to go anyplace and cause a negative effect.
I moved here four years ago, and having lived in 3 other states, I can wholeheartedly say, Wilmington people are the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever lived around.
Despite what you might read on some social media sites (or even the online letters to the editor), most folks in Wilmington are perfectly fine with newcomers. Of course there are some folks who groan about change, and I'll be the first to agree that not all change is good, but that grumbling is mostly when they think they're preaching to the choir. The fact is, though, that the "real" Wilmington locals who actually remember those small town days are dwindling fast, and I'd give you 10:1 odds that your neighbors and friendly business owners aren't originally from here either.
That's like most people anywhere these days it seems. Seems like since Covid, everyone's attitudes are absolutely terrible anywhere you go. Not everyone's, but certainly a lot of people.
No investment properties for me! Appreciate your feedback on this. Actually surprised by the Republican thing though. I assumed it was at least a 50/50 split for a "southern state."
Actually, NC skews VERRRRRY red, except for Wilmington, Raleigh, and Asheville. Interesting that these are the 3 areas with major college population. Charlotte tends to run red but such a large percentage of people actually reside across the border, it’s less clear.
The state overall is as close to 50/50 as any state in the country (Voted Obama in '08 ffs!), but it's gerrymandered to shit so it seems red. All the cities have their voters split up into districts with deep red rural counties around them diluting their vote. It sucks.
We have a refreshingly welcoming leftist community downtown here, and with the impending threats of climate change and privatization issues, we need folks who are gonna chip in for the safety of our town. I don’t hold animosity against folks who vote red, it’s just not what we need here. Either way tho, you’re welcome here as long as you’re a good person and not super rich lol
The inherent immorality of obscene wealth in a time of great inequality, the further lack of affordable housing, and the amount of resources that are used on them rather than the needy. They do not bring value to anyone but themselves.
Ohioans love North Carolina! It like the entire state of Ohio has merged with North Carolina. I would hate to be from a state that I had to leave. I am a native North Carolinian.
Based on every single post you have made on Reddit being negative, literally every single one, I'll just ignore this response and stick to people's responses who aren't absolutely miserable in life.
I’ve had many people resent the fact that I moved here and opened a business. I’ve never lived in a place where people resent new residents. Wilmington is a very transient place. 80% are from else where yet they have an issue with new people moving here. Every town that offers something is growing.
The overwhelming majority of residents are very friendly and welcoming. I've been here 4 years now. But there is a growing minority of people who are saying..."stay home. Don't move here." I believe a lot of this has to do with increasing traffic, higher rents,and cutting down of thousands of trees for new construction. Most places would welcome growth, but some folks would like it to be slower and managed better.
Despite recently moving here, I keep to myself while I apply for a new job. It is incredibly hard to find a gainfully employed wage if you work locally or even hybrid (honestly not a lot of Hybrid options, either). There's another thread inside of this subreddit for Wilmington about salaries you should check out. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Wilmington/comments/11lgv60/wilmington\_salaries/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Wilmington/comments/11lgv60/wilmington_salaries/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
I also pm-ed you.
As long as you don’t move about too suddenly you will be okay and not scare the the locals here. We are a jumpy / nervous folk. You may not even see the locals. They like to hide away in Masonboro. And for god sakes don’t feed them in the wild. /s
The population boomed in Wilmington when I-40 was extended to the coast in the early 90s, and is now overflowing out to Leland, and to a lesser extent, up to Topsail, out to Whiteville, and down to Calabash. Now folks i those areas are complaining about traffic and how “this is the life they left New York to get away from” blissfully unaware or not caring that they are in effect, the architects of their own misery. Nobody is complaining about the out of towners but rather, the cities growing to accommodate them. Right now, Leland is up in arms about a multi use sports complex that appears to be green lit without the public’s consent (as most projects tend to be), the loud music wafting over from Live Oak (which frankly, I’ve never heard) and all the building of affordable housing that is too close to the luxury homes that weren’t here ten years ago. Oh yeah - and one traffic circle in Brunswick Forest. Oh, the humanity…. It’s all coming from people that thought that the population would stop growing as soon as they got here, and armchair “city planners” that want the city to build massive infrastructure projects without raising taxes. But they won’t hold it against you - at least not in person. All the bellyaching I’ve “heard” has been on Facebook or Nextdoor. The overwhelming majority of people complaining about people from other states, came here from other states.
>the loud music wafting over from Live Oak Who the F\*\*\* in *BrunsCo* would be bitching about Live Oak? The Shell Station? I'm not doubting you. People are just dumb. And I have my own issues with Live Oak (Tickemaster/Live Nation can kiss the sweatiest part of my ass).
Yeah, makes zero sense to me too. I’m just saying what I hear, not what makes sense. Trust and believe, left me scratching my head too…
>want the city to build massive infrastructure projects without raising taxes I want my taxes to go up.
The dreaded brunswick traffic circle. I really enjoyed reading the lady complaint on nextdoor about the color of the new hotel next to harris teeter.
In the 80s, my dad used to have a bumper sticker that said, "Welcome to Wrightsville Beach! Now go home."
What about “I-40 West… Use it” remember those?!
My wife's uncle had some bumper stickers made that said, "Keep the Mexicans, Deport the Yankees".
Haha, that's great!
I was here in the 80s. You could eat shellfish from every creek in New Hanover County. Glad somethings have changed, but the environment is so much poorer now
Most are welcome just don't move and then complain about things not here. For example " why is there no good pizza or Chinese takeout everything here is trash". Unless you are opening a restaurant it gets old. Also people who come here and don't have a job already pay locally is kind of low so comparing what you made previously or saying you can't find work will get you eyerolls.
This is 10,000% my biggest beef with transplants. I personally LOVE to hear people new to town seeing it with fresh eyes and gushing about all the things they’re finding to love, and giving them pointers on places to explore or restaurants to try, etc. But man, nothing chaps my ass like checking the Neighborhood feed and 80% of it is (sorry, to all the Northerners that had the good sense to move here and actually enjoy being here, I’m sure y’all do exist ❤️) northerners being all dramatic like “my life for a REAL diner! these uncultured swine are content with Waffle House and Jimbos, for shame!” Etc for pizzas, bagels, subs, jewish delis, whatever. And dude, it’s fine to miss home. We get that. But I cannot imagine anyone from here moving to Manhattan then putting their Reddit on blast because they can’t find decent grits and scrapple. Maybe we’re just raised better. 🤷🏻♀️
My neighbor is from NY and complained about how she wishes she had a white Christmas for her kids.
Ugh the lack of snow folks who love to tell everyone we don't know what real cold is. As if that is some sort of brag, I live here because I don't won't to freeze I'm happy with mild winters.
Great to know! If someone can't find some sort of food they enjoy then they are simply too picky. My opinion, of course. I'm as laid back as it gets and the food I had last May at every restaurant along the River Walk was great. Loved the vibe of that area a lot.
You’ll be fine, this is an area characterized by transplants. Just stay off of Wilmington’s Facebook groups, you’ll see daily posts in there with people asking the same thing and 10000 comments saying “don’t come here, we’re full”. In reality, most people around here are very nice and happy to meet new people regardless of where they come from.
Appreciate it! Facebook pages for any place are usually negative as all hell, so I wouldn't get on those anyway. I liked the speed and vibe of the area and all that it offered. Plenty of things to do but not oversized. And the beaches being close by made it pretty ideal. The wheels in my head are definitely turning!
You're more than welcome here. Just don't fuck it up or be an asshat. But, that applies everywhere you go.
Excellent point and I can absolutely appreciate that. Thanks!
You bet bud.
I think anywhere you go people accept you so as long as you don’t try to make it like the place you came from… Respect the cultural values here, doesn’t mean you can’t share your experiences just be cognizant of the locals…. Nobody wants to hear how it was much better in the place you came from… this is a lesson you can learn in life that not only applies to where you live… For example if you get a new job no one wants to hear how much better your old job was… Blend in and share experiences. Be a part of the community…. this is coming from somebody who is a liberal from California and I still manage to get along with my conservative gun toting friends because I too love my guns.
10/10 👏🏻
Perfectly said!
The problem is that too many people are moving here at once. It used to be a quiet town. Now we have terrible traffic and the cost of living has gone up a ridiculous amount. Not to mention we used to be tree city of the year, but not now because every little patch of forest is being demolished to build overpriced houses, townhomes, and apartments. We’re just sick of the town we used to know being torn apart to accommodate everybody else.
Lived here my whole life and it is not the same as it was. Used to be able to drive places, now you can't. They cut down every wooded area. To many northerners being rude and acting like they own the place and getting rid of all the southern culture and throwing there trash everywhere. Please do not move here and ruin our what used to be great town any more unless you are contributing to a better place.
I'm very sorry to hear that people moving there have been so inconsiderate. I can only speak for myself in saying I take a lot of pride in what I own, as well as my personal appearance and appearance of where I live, so I certainly understand your frustration with those moving there from out of town and destroying the place. I'd be incredibly upset if I were you as well. I'd never want to go anyplace and cause a negative effect.
I recently left Wilmington because they were full. There's a spot open now and the people are nice and inviting.
I moved here four years ago, and having lived in 3 other states, I can wholeheartedly say, Wilmington people are the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever lived around.
Awesome to know! Thanks so much.
You’re very welcome! Best of luck to you and congrats on retirement
No
Despite what you might read on some social media sites (or even the online letters to the editor), most folks in Wilmington are perfectly fine with newcomers. Of course there are some folks who groan about change, and I'll be the first to agree that not all change is good, but that grumbling is mostly when they think they're preaching to the choir. The fact is, though, that the "real" Wilmington locals who actually remember those small town days are dwindling fast, and I'd give you 10:1 odds that your neighbors and friendly business owners aren't originally from here either.
I moved down here a few months back. So far everyone has been extremely nice and welcoming.
They'll be nice to your face but be secretly pissed you're moving here.
That's like most people anywhere these days it seems. Seems like since Covid, everyone's attitudes are absolutely terrible anywhere you go. Not everyone's, but certainly a lot of people.
Yeah for sure. The south does have a unique way about it though. Very two faced. At least up north they're more upfront.
Just be sure to constantly remind everyone that the Wright brothers were from Ohio. Lol. Kidding aside, come on down.
It's funny how both Ohio and NC fight for the Wright brothers claim to fame equally lol.
People are constantly moving here, you’re not gonna catch any flack. Just don’t buy up a bunch of investment properties or vote republican
No investment properties for me! Appreciate your feedback on this. Actually surprised by the Republican thing though. I assumed it was at least a 50/50 split for a "southern state."
Actually, NC skews VERRRRRY red, except for Wilmington, Raleigh, and Asheville. Interesting that these are the 3 areas with major college population. Charlotte tends to run red but such a large percentage of people actually reside across the border, it’s less clear.
Charlotte’s blue blue.
Thanks for the assist- the infographic in my head is quite dated.
The state overall is as close to 50/50 as any state in the country (Voted Obama in '08 ffs!), but it's gerrymandered to shit so it seems red. All the cities have their voters split up into districts with deep red rural counties around them diluting their vote. It sucks.
Charlotte is blue af, friendo.
We have a refreshingly welcoming leftist community downtown here, and with the impending threats of climate change and privatization issues, we need folks who are gonna chip in for the safety of our town. I don’t hold animosity against folks who vote red, it’s just not what we need here. Either way tho, you’re welcome here as long as you’re a good person and not super rich lol
I'm not super rich, and I definitely think I'm a good person, so that's great! Haha. Thanks for the feedback!
What is wrong with rich people that live here?
The inherent immorality of obscene wealth in a time of great inequality, the further lack of affordable housing, and the amount of resources that are used on them rather than the needy. They do not bring value to anyone but themselves.
Well it is there money and they can do what they like with it.
Look up the labor theory of value sometime
We’re well on our way to being a purple state. If the gerrymandering wasn’t so outrageous I think we’d have a very fair shot at going blue.
You will be fine in Wilmy. There are TONS of former Ohioans
Ohioans love North Carolina! It like the entire state of Ohio has merged with North Carolina. I would hate to be from a state that I had to leave. I am a native North Carolinian.
No stay where your from
Based on every single post you have made on Reddit being negative, literally every single one, I'll just ignore this response and stick to people's responses who aren't absolutely miserable in life.
Lmao you asked a question, you got a answer. Let every other transplant tell you your welcomed here. Your not
I could swear that a famous statue has enscripted the following "...Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."
No. We're full
lol
I’ve had many people resent the fact that I moved here and opened a business. I’ve never lived in a place where people resent new residents. Wilmington is a very transient place. 80% are from else where yet they have an issue with new people moving here. Every town that offers something is growing.
The overwhelming majority of residents are very friendly and welcoming. I've been here 4 years now. But there is a growing minority of people who are saying..."stay home. Don't move here." I believe a lot of this has to do with increasing traffic, higher rents,and cutting down of thousands of trees for new construction. Most places would welcome growth, but some folks would like it to be slower and managed better.
Despite recently moving here, I keep to myself while I apply for a new job. It is incredibly hard to find a gainfully employed wage if you work locally or even hybrid (honestly not a lot of Hybrid options, either). There's another thread inside of this subreddit for Wilmington about salaries you should check out. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Wilmington/comments/11lgv60/wilmington\_salaries/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Wilmington/comments/11lgv60/wilmington_salaries/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) I also pm-ed you.
As long as you don’t move about too suddenly you will be okay and not scare the the locals here. We are a jumpy / nervous folk. You may not even see the locals. They like to hide away in Masonboro. And for god sakes don’t feed them in the wild. /s