Southern Living ranked the South's best cities. Here's where Wilmington stands
Wilmington is no stranger to 'top cities' lists. The Port City is the least likely U.S. city for you to catch a cold in, one of the best small cities for filmmakers and among U-Haul's top metro areas for growth. Wilmington holds the title for drunkest city in the state, ranking in the top 30 nationwide.
Southern Living's 2025 'The South's Best Cities' has joined Wilmington's growing list of lists. The publication received over 10,000 responses to an online survey conducted by Proof Insights. The survey ran from July to August 2024 and asked readers to rate their favorite places across the South.
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Wilmington was voted the No. 13 city in the South. While it didn't earn the top spot, Wilmington was named Southern Living's No. 1 'City on the Rise' in 2024. The city also ranked higher than Birmingham, Alabama, where the magazine is based out of.
Here's what Southern Living had to say about Wilmington:
'It's home to a lively riverfront and scenic historic district, beautiful gardens, and family-friendly attractions. Although there's plenty to see and do right in town, multiple beaches are just a short drive away.'
The magazine recommends several well-trodden Wilmington staples, including the Riverwalk, Cargo District, and events such as the upcoming Azalea Festival. Southern Living also praised eateries including Indochine, Britt's Donut Shop and Seabird. Asheville was North Carolina's only other entry on the list, with Southern Living noting how residents and community leaders have banded together to help the city bounce back following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
For the ninth consecutive year, voters chose Charleston, South Carolina, as the best city in the South.
Here are the cities that topped the list:
Charleston, South Carolina
Savannah, Georgia
Asheville
New Orleans
Nashville, Tennessee
Greenville, South Carolina, finished sixth, followed by St. Petersburg, Florida; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Atlanta; Lexington, Kentucky; Athens, Georgia; San Antonio; Wilmington; Franklin, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Austin, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Huntsville, Alabama and Annapolis, Maryland.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover and Brunswick counties for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Southern Living: Wilmington, NC, ranked among South's best cities
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