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The University of North Carolina Wilmington is located in the southeastern part of the state on a 661-acre tract midway between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Wilmington is situated on the east bank of the Cape Fear River about 15 miles from Carolina Beach and 10 miles from Wrightsville Beach. The metropolitan statistical area, of which Wilmington is a part, now has a population in excess of 360,000. Several main highways lead into the city, and commercial air service provides easy access to other metropolitan areas north, south, and west.
Ocean breezes and the nearness of the Gulf Stream give Wilmington a delightful year-round climate, and the area’s proximity to the ocean provides unlimited recreational opportunities.
The spacious well-landscaped campus was first occupied by the university in 1961. The number of buildings has increased from three in 1961 to 162 today, dispersed across a coastal pine savannah habitat. The buildings on the campus are of modified Georgian architecture, including academic, administrative, student life, residence, dining, athletic, and support buildings, all of which are completely air-conditioned. There are several athletic fields and intramural fields.
Campus Map
Click here to view the Campus Map.
Buildings
For information on university buildings, click here.
Herbert Bluethenthal Memorial Wildflower Preserve
The Herbert Bluethenthal Memorial Wildflower Preserve is a 10-acre memorial botanical garden located on the UNCW campus. Established in 1972, its purpose is to provide a place where the university community and the public can learn about and enjoy our native plants and their habitats. Many of the plants are labeled, and maps and trail guides are available at the entrance.
EV-Henwood Nature Preserve
Ev-Henwood is UNCW’s coastal forest research and teaching station located in Brunswick County. It is only a short 30-minute drive from the university campus and is available for nature study and appreciation, student and faculty research, and class field trips. Included in its 110 acres are oak/hickory woods, pine forests, and low woods along the bordering Town Creek and its branches. Additional habitats such as ponds and fields are available nearby.
UNCW Long-Term Ecosystem Reserve
This 750 acre parcel of undisturbed bottomland hardwood forest, tidal creeks, and wetland marshes bordered by the Northeast Cape Fear River, Cowpen Road, and NC Highway 421 supports non-destructive teaching and research activities. The property is uniquely situated within the upper tidal region of the Cape Fear estuary. Although most of the property consists of tidal freshwater creeks and adjacent marsh, detectable salinity can occasionally be measured during drought periods. Because of this location, this area/habitat is expected to be among the early regions to be significantly affected by sea level rise over the next several decades, making it ideal for research into the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems and ecosystem dynamics.
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