Wrightsville Beach NC

Wrightsville Beach, NC, is located east of Wilmington sandwiched between the Atlantic Coast and the Intracoastal Waterway. For many years it remained relatively quiet until a turnpike crossing the waterway connecting the barrier island to the mainland was completed in 1887. Wilmington Seacoast Railroad Company built a rail to Wrightsville Beach in 1889 and a bridge for automobiles was finished in 1935. Now, Wrightsville Beach is a resort town. Houses lining the island are a combination of private year-round homes, seasonal homes, and vacation rentals.  

Wrightsville Beach is a very active town. Visitors and residents can surf, boat, swim, fish, play golf or tennis, and enjoy nights out with friends at a collection of bars and restaurants. Events are held throughout the year, including the Surf-Sun-Sand Volleyball & Bocce Ball Tournament, Annual YMCA Triathlon, Beach2Battleship Triathlon, Cape Fear Kite Festival, and Festival in the Park with the NC [Lighted] Holiday Flotilla.   

Note: If you visit Wrightsville Beach and see Sea Turtles, please do not disturb them as it can interrupt their nesting habits. The Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project monitors and assists the sea turtles throughout their hatching season.  

Wrightsville Beach is a popular destination for students attending University of North Carolina-Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College. Many students choose these schools, not only because they are fine centers of higher education, but due to their closeness to the ocean. Young people enjoy learning to surf, mingling at events hosted by the schools, and sunbathing while studying.

The Wrightsville Beach area and Wilmington blend together so both share employment statistics. Below are the Top 25 Employers (statistics provided by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce):

Company (Product/Service) - Employee Count 1. New Hanover Regional Medical Center/Cape Fear Hospital (Hospitals) - 4,887 2. New Hanover County Schools (Education) - 4,129 3. General Electric (Global Nuclear Fuel/Aircraft/Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Energy) - 2,128 4. University of NC Wilmington (Higher Education) - 1,809 5. PPD, Inc. (Discovery & Development Services to Pharmaceutical & Biotech) - 1,800 6. New Hanover County (County Government) - 1,673 7. Cape Fear Community College (Education) - 1,256 8. City of Wilmington (Government) - 1,200     Verizon Wireless (Communications) - 1,200 9. Progress Energy - Southport & Wilmington (Electricity) - 1,100 10. WalMart (Retail) - 1,000 11. aaiPharma (Pharmaceutical Product Sales and Drug Development) - 915 12. Corning, Inc. (Optical Fiber) - 900 13. International Paper - Riegelwood Operations (Bleached Pulp & Paperboard) - 743 14. DEL Laboratories (Cosmetic & Over-the-counter Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Distribution) - 589 15. Wachovia (Banking Services) - 500 16. KoSa (Chemicals) - 300 17. L L Building Products (Home Building Products) - 286 18. Louisiana Pacific Corp. (Laminated Veneer Lumber) - 270 19. INVISTA (Dacron Polyester) - 224 20. Star News (Newspaper) - 215 21. Bedford Fair Industries (Women's Apparel - Mail Order) - 200 22. International Paper Carton Div. (Paperboard Cartons) -175 23. Elementis Chromium LP (Sodium Bichromate) - 121 24. Chemtex Engineers (Plant Consulting) - 100 25. VisionAir (Software Development for Law Enforcement) - 100

Most of Wrightsville Beach's homes are in the luxury home price range, but they are well worth the value and a dream come true for beach bums everywhere.  

Wrightsville Beach NC Property Searches Wrightsville Beach Low-End Homes -$450,000 Wrightsville Beach Median Homes $450-750,000 Wrightsville Beach High-End Homes $750,000+ Wrightsville Beach Lots and Land