Southport, North Carolina

The Southport area was explored in the 1500s by Spanish explorers. During the 18th century, British settlements along the Carolina coast lacked fortifications to protect against pirates and privateers, and numerous Spanish attackers exploited this weakness. In response to these attacks, Governor Gabriel Johnston in 1744 appointed a committee to select the best location to construct a fort for the defense of the Cape Fear River region. It was determined that the fort should be constructed at a site at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. During the same year, France declared war against Britain, later known as King George's War, increasing the fort's need. Further, increasingly bold Spanish privateer raids led the North Carolina General Assembly to authorize the construction of "Johnston's Fort" in April 1745, which would come to be known as Fort Johnston. The governor of South Carolina agreed to lend ten small cannons for the fort, and the legislature, in spring 1748, appropriated 2,000 pounds for construction costs, and construction finally began. Southport developed around Fort Johnston.{{cite book

| last = Dickson

| first = Scott

| title = In Search of Mayberry

| url = https://archive.org/details/searchmayberrygu00dick

| url-access = limited

| publisher = Parkway Publishers, Inc

| year = 2005

| location = Boone, North Carolina

| page = [https://archive.org/details/searchmayberrygu00dick/page/n97 85]

| isbn = 9781887905985

}}

Southport was founded as the town of Smithville in 1792.{{cite web| url=https://www.southporthistoricalsociety.org/history |title=History of Southport|access-date=2013-02-13}} Joshua Potts had requested the formation of a town adjacent to Fort Johnston, and the North Carolina General Assembly formed a commission of five men to administer its founding. The town was named after Benjamin Smith, a colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later governor of North Carolina. Smithville grew as a fishing village and through supporting military activity. Smithville was the county seat of Brunswick County from 1808 to 1977.{{cite web| url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Towns/Bolivia_NC.html| title=A History of Bolivia, North Carolina| access-date=2011-08-09}} In an effort to promote the town as a major shipping port, Smithville was renamed Southport in 1887. Smithville Township, in which Southport lies, and other local landmarks, such as the cemetery, retain the Smithville name.

file:WB&S Postcard.jpg

Interest in making Southport a major commercial port then prompted efforts to connect it via rail to Wilmington and the Atlantic Coast Line/Seaboard Air Line Railroad systems. After some 25 years of failed effort by various entrepreneurs, the Wilmington, Brunswick and Southern Railroad began operation in 1911. Running northwest out of Southport to Bolivia, the line then turned northeast towards Navassa where it joined the existing rail network. Poorly constructed, beset with continued revenue shortfalls and facing intense and growing competition from trucks/automobiles, the 30 mile long railroad ceased operation in 1945.

Ten years later, it would be the U.S. Government who would construct the present rail line from the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point just north of Southport to the interior rail system along a different, more direct path.{{cite book|last =Koenig|first=Mark|title=Wilmington, Brunswick & Southern Railroad|publisher=The History Press|year=2022|isbn=978-1467150378}} Thus, while the renaming to Southport did not achieve its goal of making the town a major shipping port, Southport instead became known for its relaxed atmosphere and Victorian era seaside charm.

Southport is located in southeastern Brunswick County on the northwest bank of the tidal Cape Fear River, approximately {{convert|2|mi|0}} inland from the Atlantic Ocean. North Carolina Highway 211 enters the city from the north as North Howe Street and travels south to one block north of the waterfront, where it turns east as East Moore Street, leading northeast to the city limits, where it turns east again as Ferry Road on its way to the western terminus of the Southport–Fort Fisher ferry across the Cape Fear River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|9.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|9.7|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.73%, is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3763400| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212193957/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3763400| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Southport city, North Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=February 10, 2014}}

Southport has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Summers in Southport are very hot and humid while winters are very mild by North Carolina standards. Southport is the warmest place in the state of North Carolina, with a yearly average temperature of {{convert|65.0|°F}}, with annual temperatures more similar to that of coastal Georgia or the northern Gulf Coast of Florida than the rest of North Carolina.

{{Weather box

|location = Southport 5 N, North Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–2016)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 82

|Feb record high F = 81

|Mar record high F = 90

|Apr record high F = 94

|May record high F = 97

|Jun record high F = 103

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 94

|Nov record high F = 88

|Dec record high F = 81

|year record high F = 103

|Jan avg record high F = 71.7

|Feb avg record high F = 74.6

|Mar avg record high F = 78.8

|Apr avg record high F = 84.3

|May avg record high F = 89.1

|Jun avg record high F = 94.3

|Jul avg record high F = 96.2

|Aug avg record high F = 95.2

|Sep avg record high F = 90.8

|Oct avg record high F = 86.1

|Nov avg record high F = 81.1

|Dec avg record high F = 74.2

|year avg record high F = 98.1

|Jan high F = 60.0

|Feb high F = 62.5

|Mar high F = 68.2

|Apr high F = 75.8

|May high F = 82.5

|Jun high F = 88.4

|Jul high F = 91.6

|Aug high F = 90.4

|Sep high F = 86.5

|Oct high F = 78.9

|Nov high F = 69.9

|Dec high F = 62.9

|year high F = 76.5

|Jan mean F = 47.8

|Feb mean F = 50.1

|Mar mean F = 55.5

|Apr mean F = 63.3

|May mean F = 71.2

|Jun mean F = 78.7

|Jul mean F = 82.2

|Aug mean F = 80.8

|Sep mean F = 76.3

|Oct mean F = 66.6

|Nov mean F = 57.1

|Dec mean F = 50.5

|year mean F = 65.0

|Jan low F = 35.5

|Feb low F = 37.6

|Mar low F = 42.7

|Apr low F = 50.9

|May low F = 60.0

|Jun low F = 69.0

|Jul low F = 72.8

|Aug low F = 71.2

|Sep low F = 66.0

|Oct low F = 54.4

|Nov low F = 44.3

|Dec low F = 38.0

|year low F = 53.5

|Jan avg record low F = 16.0

|Feb avg record low F = 19.9

|Mar avg record low F = 25.7

|Apr avg record low F = 33.3

|May avg record low F = 43.8

|Jun avg record low F = 54.8

|Jul avg record low F = 62.7

|Aug avg record low F = 60.7

|Sep avg record low F = 51.9

|Oct avg record low F = 36.3

|Nov avg record low F = 27.7

|Dec avg record low F = 18.2

|year avg record low F = 12.2

|Jan record low F = 0

|Feb record low F = 1

|Mar record low F = 8

|Apr record low F = 25

|May record low F = 36

|Jun record low F = 45

|Jul record low F = 46

|Aug record low F = 53

|Sep record low F = 35

|Oct record low F = 23

|Nov record low F = 16

|Dec record low F = −3

|year record low F = -3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.70

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.32

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.03

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.08

|May precipitation inch = 3.44

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.02

|Jul precipitation inch = 5.55

|Aug precipitation inch = 6.77

|Sep precipitation inch = 8.16

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.41

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.42

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.74

|year precipitation inch = 54.64

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 8.2

|Feb precipitation days = 8.7

|Mar precipitation days = 8.0

|Apr precipitation days = 6.0

|May precipitation days = 7.7

|Jun precipitation days = 9.0

|Jul precipitation days = 10.0

|Aug precipitation days = 11.0

|Sep precipitation days = 9.8

|Oct precipitation days = 7.1

|Nov precipitation days = 7.4

|Dec precipitation days = 8.6

|year precipitation days = 101.5

|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010){{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00318113&format=pdf

| title = Station: Southport 5 N, NC

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = June 2, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

| publisher = Applied Climate Information System

| title = Monthly Highest Max Temperature and Monthly Lowest Min Temperature for Southport 5 N, NC

| access-date = June 6, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 810

|1880= 1008

|1890= 1207

|1900= 1336

|1910= 1484

|1920= 1664

|1930= 1760

|1940= 1760

|1950= 1748

|1960= 2034

|1970= 2220

|1980= 2824

|1990= 2369

|2000= 2351

|2010= 2833

|2020= 3971

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,971 people, 1,434 households, and 942 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,351 people, 1,095 households, and 676 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,059.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of {{convert|582.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.61% White, 21.78% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 1,095 households, out of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. Of all households, 35.3% were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,714, and the median income for a family was $45,714. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $22,857 for females.

The per capita income for the city was $23,059. About 7.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

Built in the 1970s on {{convert|1,200|acres}} at {{convert|20|feet}} above sea level and about {{convert|5|mi}} from the Atlantic Ocean near Southport, Duke Energy Carolinas operates the 1,870-megawatt Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant which has two nuclear reactors. This plant is the same generation and design as the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, temporary flood prevention updates, called "cliff edge barriers" to make doors at the facility water tight, were installed at Brunswick to prevent flooding from Hurricane Florence from causing a disaster similar to Fukushima Daiichi. These temporary barriers are designed to stop flooding from a storm surge of up to {{convert|26|ft}}. On Thursday, September 13, 2018, before Hurricane Florence made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, Duke Energy shut down the first reactor in the early morning and the second reactor in the afternoon, approximately two hours before tropical storm-force winds at the plant.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-12/florence-heads-for-duke-nuclear-reactors-near-carolina-s-coast|title=Hurricane Florence Heads for Duke Energy's Nuclear Reactors|date=September 12, 2018|last=Martin|first=Chris|work=Bloomberg|access-date=September 14, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/national/hurricane-florence-to-slash-the-carolinas-in-opening-act-of-3-day-disaster|title='Threat becomes reality': Hurricane Florence begins days of rain, wind|date=September 13, 2018|work=KPRC|access-date=September 14, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article218330060.html|title=Duke Energy starts shutdown of NC nuclear plant as Hurricane Florence nears|date=September 13, 2018|newspaper=News and Observer|location=Raleigh|last1=Murawski|first1=John|last2=Specht|first2=Paul A.|access-date=September 14, 2018}}

The city is serviced by the newspaper The State Port Pilot. Radio stations WAZO/107.5 & WJSL-LP/100.7 are licensed to Southport.

The city of Southport has been the location the TV series{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} Revenge and Under the Dome. Films made in Southport include I Know What You Did Last Summer, Summer Catch, Domestic Disturbance, Crimes of the Heart, Mary and Martha, Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember and Safe Haven.{{Cite web|url=http://www.southporttimes.com/featured/200407.html|title=Movies Filmed in Southport, North Carolina|website=www.southporttimes.com|access-date=2019-02-01}} Greedy People filming took place between May 9 and June 11, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://eu.starnewsonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/05/18/joseph-gordon-levitt-southport-north-carolina-problem-providence-film/9764627002/|title=Little movie with big stars shoots in Southport, town has been focus of film activity|website=starnewsonline.com}}

• Dosher Memorial Hospital

• The city also shares its name with, Southport in the United Kingdom which was also founded in 1792

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.cityofsouthport.com/ City of Southport official website]

{{Brunswick County, North Carolina}}

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Category:Cities in North Carolina

Category:Cities in Brunswick County, North Carolina

Category:Populated places established in 1792

Category:Cape Fear (region)

Category:Populated coastal places in North Carolina