New Hanover County, North Carolina
New Hanover County | |
|---|---|
| Motto: "The model of good governance" | |
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina | |
North Carolina's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 34°11′N 77°52′W / 34.18°N 77.86°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| Founded | 1729 |
| Named after | House of Hanover |
| Seat | Wilmington |
| Largest community | Wilmington |
| Area | |
• Total | 328.86 sq mi (851.7 km2) |
| • Land | 192.26 sq mi (498.0 km2) |
| • Water | 136.60 sq mi (353.8 km2) 41.54% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 225,702 |
• Estimate (2023) | 238,852 |
| • Density | 1,173.94/sq mi (453.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
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New Hanover County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 225,702. The county seat is Wilmington. Though the second-smallest county in North Carolina by land area, it is one of the most populous counties, as Wilmington is one of the largest communities in the state. The county was created in 1729 as New Hanover Precinct and gained county status in 1739. New Hanover County is included in the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes neighboring Pender and Brunswick counties.