America of the Nineteenth Century was an inwardly focused nation. That is probably even more true of the years after the war. The country's territory had been defined through earlier wars and acquisitions, and the people were busy conquering it.
Wilmington was busy conquering its own problems. The war had ravaged the land all across the South and destroyed the basis for much of the economy. Millions of people formerly in bondage had to be educated, provided for, and integrated into the democracy they had so suddenly become a part of. The results of the war were dramatic. A century later the issues it had created were still being dealt with.
The area had other problems as well. Cotton continued to be a major source of income, but the rice industry was withering on the stalk. Naval stores were the victim of depleted pine forests and, more importantly, a move to metal ships. Other industries, such as fertilizer, moved in and, on the whole, Wilmington was able to maintain its leisurely growth.
By the 1880's Wilmington had electric lights, street cars, and rail lines to the beach. The cotton compress was the largest in the world, and new railroads were under construction. The northern channel from the Cape Fear to the ocean that had allowed Wilmington to be a blockade running port had been closed in order to make the main channel deeper.
World War II brought dramatic change to the entire Cape Fear area. Offshore, ships were being torpedoed by German submarines, while onshore, the area was converted into a massive military base and construction facility. Wartime population soared to around 100,000. Over 200 merchant ships were constructed and many of the outlying areas were converted to military training and staging areas.
The years after the war saw Wilmington dry up. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad pulled out in the late 50's, causing extended economic decline. By the '70's, much of downtown was a red light district.
That began to change in the late '70's. Several economic redevelopment projects took root and flourished, and the historic downtown once again became a place people wanted to be. That trend is continuing today, with even the historic commercial areas becoming a popular place to live. The major problem now is, how to manage the growth?
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