As rapid growth in Wilmington has caused some to argue against development, or at least a better way to manage it, voters more than 60 years ago had little problem saying yes to expansion.
Amid sadness days after the assassination of President John Kennedy, Wilmington residents went to the polls in a special election to determine several bond measures that would effectively more than double the size of the city.
According to an article in the Nov. 24, 1963, edition of the Sunday StarNews, voters were days away from deciding whether “$3.8 million in bonds should be issued to finance the cost of extending city services to areas to be annexed.”
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The bonds included building two new fire stations, more vehicles for fire, police, sanitation and street departments as well as water and sewer lines.
The old waterfront along the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington, N.C., on Jan. 27, 1965. Also pictured is Fergus’ Ark.
Turnout was expected to be high after the city saw “an additional 816 names on the voting books during the special registration period hold prior to the election.” That gave the Port City close to 14,000 registered voters.
Various polling sites included Hemenway Hall, Atlantic Motors, Sunset Park Junior High School, Shew’s Credit Store and the New Hanover County Courthouse.
More than half of city voters turned out as the six bond measures received overwhelming approval.
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“This is a real victory for the citizens of Wilmington,” said Herb McKim, president of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. “The community is really ready to move forward.”
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: When Wilmington, NC, voted to expand its city limits in 1963
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