N ew Hanover County, North Carolina is a quaint county of rolling hills and a rich history. Named for the House of Hanover, England's royal family, New Hanover is a coastal plain located in the southwestern area of North Carolina. It's borders include the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River.

Its approximately 168,000 residents are an average of 37 years old and have a median household income of $41,000. This is an extremely affordable place to live, with rents starting between $535 to $650 and an average home value of $128,000. Both its main metropolitan area and county seat is Wilmington.

With a number of fine public schools in the area, perhaps the best known is the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The school is a top ranked university, offering undergraduate and master's degrees and widely regarded as the best school in the southeast. The university continually adapts to changing environments and demands from the business communities. Their goal is to not only maintain their current renown, but to become the best university in the southern United States.

New Hanover is comprised of eighteen separate towns and villages. Of these, Carolina Beach is a peaceful little community with shops and restaurants. Its designated nature trails provide an excellent opportunity to reflect and rejuvenate. Anglers can rent boats for a day of deep sea fishing, or simply cast off of a pier. At night, you can take a cruise down the Cape Fear River. Kure Beach is another popular town, full of friendly residents and a hospitable small town attitude. Kure Beach is a spectacular little beach town in its own right, and home to some excellent restaurants.

In Wilmington, one of the best known attractions is the USS North Carolina, permanently docked in port here. It serves as a memorial to the ten thousand North Carolinians who gave their lives in service during WWII. This battleship served in every major campaign of the Pacific, and remains to this day one of the most powerful war ships ever built. During the summer, you can see one of the most unique outdoor shows in America. Called "the Immortal Showboat" in tribute to the significance of this great ship, this is a sound and light spectacular that you simply won't see anywhere else. This is a nightly show, combining spoken word, artistic lighting, sound and visual effects to tell the history of the USS North Carolina. This seventy-minute performance is known to bring tears to the eyes of its spectators, who pack the 1,200 seat grandstand off the ship's port.

There are a number of festivals to keep residents busy. The Piney Woods Festival is sponsored by the Wilmington Arts Council and is designed to showcase the works of local artists. It brings musical performances, story tellers and interactive exhibits for children. Riverfest is a two-day downtown festival featuring food, crafts and three stages of live entertainment. The Cape Fear Jazz Appreciation Society devotes itself to the promotion of jazz in the area, and presents a number of spectacular live jazz shows throughout the year.

Finally, a little trivia, and proof that folks in North Carolina just don't take themselves too seriously. When the North Carolina state quarter was printed in 2001 by the U.S. Mint, it featured some undeniable North Carolinian imagery. It os engraved with the Wright Brothers' famous flight at Kitty Hawk, the caption reading "First Flight". But this was a little typo. The state motto of North Carolina is actually "First in Flight".

If you're thinking of moving, New Hanover County is a peaceful little burg on the Atlantic coast, and a perfect place to call home. Its residents are warm and neighborly, and its schools top notch. If you would like more information on this area, our relocation packet is yours for the asking.