A SMALL SOUTHERN COMMUNITY
WITH OLD-TIME CHARM

For two centuries, Southport, North Carolina has welcomed fishermen because of its location near the meeting point of the Intracoastal Waterway, Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. This old Southern waterfront is a popular place to live, retire and vacation because of its small-town coastal atmosphere, with shops and restaurants blending into the scenery with historical landmarks such as Orton Plantation and three of North Carolina’s lighthouses. Southport has even been ranked as one of the best places to retire by Rand McNally.

Southport is proud of its maritime history. The Maritime Museum is a good place to start to learn about the town’s early seafaring roots, from Native American relics to pirates to Civil War memorabilia.  Visitors can also take the Southport River Walk down to the Marina, where they can enjoy boating, fishing, skiing and a host of other water sports.

Close enough to Wilmington to enjoy the occasional city adventure, Southport is a place where residents and visitors go when they need a slower pace and a break from the traffic and stress of larger metro areas. Under the cover of 200-year-old oak trees and Victorian homes, it’s quiet Southern charm at its best.