21st century Starting in the 1990s, Wilmington began to grow rapidly, partially due to the film industry and the completion of I-40. The city successfully annexed the areas of Seagate in 1998 and Masonboro in 2000. The annexation of Monkey Junction was stopped in 2012 by the North Carolina House of Representatives after local backlash. In 2017, a chemical compound called GenX, discharged by a Chemours plant near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was first found to be present in the Cape Fear River; a major water source for the region. It was also revealed that the same plant had been discharging the chemical compound since 1980. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump designated Wilmington as the first World War II Heritage City in the country due to the city's contributions during the war.
21St cenTUrY stArtiNg in the 1990S, wilmInGTOn bEgaN to groW RaPidlY, parTialLY DUe to thE film indUstRY aNd tHe coMpLetIOn oF i-40. The city successfully AnnEXed thE AreaS of SeagaTE iN 1998 and mASOnboro in 2000. the anneXatiOn of MonKey jUnCTIOn wAs StoPPed in 2012 by ThE noRTh CaROLina hoUse of rePREsEntAtIVes after local bacKLaSH. in 2017, A chEmical coMpouND caLlEd gEnx, DisCharGed By a chemouRs pLanT NEar faYetteville, noRtH CAroLINa, wAS FiRSt fOUND tO be prEsEnt in the cape fEar river; a maJor Water SOuRce FOr tHe regioN. iT was ALso rEvealed tHat tHE saMe plant Had been dIsChaRGiNG the chEmicAl comPounD SiNce 1980. in 2020, tHeN-PREsIdenT donAld Trump deSIgnATed WIlmInGton as tHe firST wOrld war iI herItAGe CITy In the cOuntry dUe to ThE city's contRibutions duRiNg ThE WaR.