Living in Southport, NC
Southport sits at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, and its history stretches back further than most Cape Fear towns. Fort Johnston was built here in 1749 to guard the river, and a fishing and piloting community grew up around it. The town itself was incorporated in 1792 as Smithville, named for Benjamin Smith, a Revolutionary War general who later served as governor of North Carolina; it served as the county seat of Brunswick County from 1808 until that role moved to Bolivia in 1975. Smithville was renamed Southport in 1887 in an effort to rebrand the town as a major shipping port.
That long history is still visible today under Southport's canopy of live oaks more than 200 years old, in its historic downtown, and at Fort Johnston's grounds, now home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum. Southport hosts the NC 4th of July Festival, one of the longest-running Independence Day celebrations in the country — held nearly every year since 1795 and drawing 40,000 to 50,000 visitors for its nine days of parades, concerts, and fireworks over the water. The town has also become a popular filming location, including for the Nicholas Sparks adaptation Safe Haven.
Homes & Neighborhoods
Southport's housing character splits between its historic downtown core and a cluster of large master-planned communities nearby.
Downtown Southport holds the town's oldest and most character-rich homes — historic cottages and grand houses along oak-lined streets, walkable to the waterfront, shops, and restaurants. Just outside town, St. James Plantation — technically its own incorporated town rather than a Southport neighborhood, though closely tied to it — is one of the largest master-planned communities in the region, spanning roughly 6,000 acres with golf, a marina, and a private oceanfront beach club across five distinct neighborhoods. Buyers drawn to Southport's small-town, historic character but wanting more space or newer construction typically look toward St. James or the surrounding unincorporated areas of Brunswick County.
Location & Convenience
Commute: Southport is about 30 miles — roughly 40–45 minutes — south of downtown Wilmington, and about an hour from Wilmington International Airport (ILM). The Southport–Fort Fisher ferry also provides a direct water connection across the Cape Fear River to New Hanover County.
Medical care: Dosher Memorial Hospital, a publicly-owned critical access hospital located directly in Southport, is the area's primary hospital — the only independent critical access hospital in North Carolina, serving Southport, St. James, Oak Island, and the surrounding area.
Schools: Southport is served by Brunswick County Schools, with a high school located directly in town.
Property taxes: Southport residents pay a municipal rate on top of the Brunswick County rate. The Brunswick County Tax Office is the most reliable source for a current estimate.
Getting settled: For town services, permits, and utilities, the City of Southport's official site is the best starting point. For festivals and things to do beyond the 4th of July celebration, see Explore Southport.
Southport Market Trend
Southport draws a distinct buyer from the rest of the Cape Fear coast — its historic downtown and the nearby St. James Plantation community together create strong, steady demand from retirees and second-home buyers prioritizing character and amenities over walkable beach access, since Southport itself sits on the river rather than directly on the ocean.
For current listing data and pricing, use the search above — figures shown reflect live MLS data.
Why People Move to Southport
Southport has long been recognized as a top retirement destination, and its appeal is straightforward: genuine small-town, historic waterfront character, a walkable downtown under a canopy of centuries-old oaks, and easy access to both St. James Plantation's resort-style amenities and the broader Wilmington/Cape Fear region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, particularly for buyers prioritizing historic character and a slower pace — Southport offers a genuinely walkable, waterfront downtown along with easy access to St. James Plantation's newer, amenity-rich construction just outside town.
Southport is known for its historic downtown and oak-lined streets, Fort Johnston and the North Carolina Maritime Museum, and the NC 4th of July Festival, one of the longest-running Independence Day celebrations in the country.
Southport is smaller, quieter, and more historic than Wilmington, and sits on the Cape Fear River rather than directly on the ocean — buyers looking for oceanfront should look toward nearby Oak Island or the New Hanover County beaches instead.
St. James Plantation is a large master-planned community just outside Southport — technically its own incorporated town, not a Southport neighborhood, though it's closely associated with Southport and shares many of its services.
Reporting by Dana Blanks, Founder & Principal Broker of Dana Blanks Real Estate™, licensed in NC, SC, and GA.
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