Neglected developments, unemployment and foreclosures. These three economic misfortunes were evident the past few years in southeastern North Carolina’s Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties as they were in many other parts of the state and nation.
But Brunswick County, the 854-square-mile coastal area with 19 municipalities, still ranked as one of the fastest-growing counties in the state and likely the country, according to 2010 Census data released Wednesday afternoon.
And with an eye-opening 600 percent growth spurt, Leland ranks as the fastest growing municipality in the state – with neighboring Belville trailing just behind it.
The county itself ranks second in growth among all 100 counties in the state with a 46.8 percent growth from 2000 to 2010. Union County, near Charlotte, increased its population by 62.7 percent during that time period.
Other local counties posted robust growth, too, with New Hanover’s population growing by 26.4 percent to 202,667 people. Of that total, 106,476 people lived in Wilmington during the 2010 Census, a 40.4 percent increase from the 2000 Census.
That growth moved Wilmington up a notch from the ninth most populous city in the state in 2000 to the eighth in 2010.
Like Leland, a lot of the growth in the Port City was tied to annexation.
And in Pender County, a growth of 27.1 percent since 2000 brought the 2010 population to 52,217 people.
No Surprises
Leland Mayor Walter Futch moved to the town 32 years ago when there were only few stores, including a grocery and a pharmacy.
“If you wanted to get anything you had to go to Wilmington to get it or order it or go somewhere else,” he said. “Now, we have 35 restaurants and a handful of banks.”
And there’s now a Walmart, which was completed in 2007 along with other stores in a shopping center on U.S. 17.
Brunswick County Planning Director Leslie Bell said it was a decade ago when people referred to Leland as a “bedroom community to Wilmington.”
Developers took advantage of that moniker and built homes there, encouraging other developers to do the same.
“I think Leland in its own right has established itself as a center for residential and commercial development,” Bell said.
Magnolia Greens, located off U.S. 17 – the connection between Brunswick County and Wilmington, was built in 1997 and was one of the first major subdivisions close to Wilmington, Futch said.
“When people saw what the possibilities were, then other developers said, ‘Hey this is the place to be,’” he said.
Waterford followed. And the sprawling Brunswick Forest, a multi-phase development just south of Magnolia Greens, opened for sales in 2006.
Looking ahead
Brunswick County officials can’t necessarily look at the past decade as an indicator of future growth.
Building permit applications, for example, are still below average. The number of building permits in February was 18 percent below the same month last year.
“It’s the economy, absolutely,” Bell said.
He added that he believes more people will be attracted to the county’s coastal location, the climate and proximity to larger cities once the economy turns around.
“I also think that once the economy starts to rebound that there’s a tremendous inventory of lots and units that are already ready,” Bell said.
But it’s still unfamiliar territory for county government.
“I don’t know what we can do to spur development,” Bell said. “It goes back to the old question of what can government do to the private market. And we’re limited to what we can do.”
Meanwhile, fast-growing municipalities like Leland are attempting to manage growth while staying flexible in case of further harsh economic times.
“You can’t control growth,” Futch said. “It’s like trying to grab a tiger by the tail and saying you have control of him.”
Any secret lies with managing growth by listening to what the people there want, he added.
By Shannan Bowen
Published: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 2:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 6:35 p.m.
