Leland, North Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leland, North Carolina
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Town of Leland welcome sign
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| Nickname(s):
L.A.
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| Motto(s):
"Growing our future. Nourishing our roots."
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 Leland, North Carolina
Location in North Carolina
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | North Carolina | ||
| County | Brunswick | ||
| Township | Town Creek | ||
| Settled | February 10, 1898 | ||
| Incorporated | September 5, 1989 | ||
| Named for | Leland Adams | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 22.68 sq mi (58.73 km2) | ||
| • Land | 22.33 sq mi (57.83 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,908 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022)
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28,591 | ||
| • Density | 1,280/sq mi (494.4/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Code |
28451
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| Area code(s) | 910 and 472 | ||
| FIPS code | 37-37680 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2406002 | ||
| U.S. Routes |  ,  ,  |
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| Waterways | Brunswick River, Alligator Creek, Mallory Creek, Jackeys Creek, Sturgeon Creek, Piney Branch, Morgan Branch, and Bishop Branch | ||
Leland is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in Brunswick County by population. In 2020, about 23,504 people lived there. This was a big jump from 13,527 people in 2010. Leland is one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina.
The town is part of the Wilmington area. It is located in the northeastern part of Brunswick County. Nearby towns include Navassa to the north and Belville to the east. Boiling Spring Lakes is to the south. Leland is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Wilmington. It is also 71 miles (114 km) north of Myrtle Beach.
Contents
History of Leland
Early Settlement
Leland started as a small community. It grew up where Village Road crossed the railroad lines. These lines connected cities like Augusta, Columbia, and Wilmington. The town got its name from Leland Adams. He was the nephew of Joseph W. Gay, the first postmaster. Being close to the Brunswick River helped Leland grow. It became an important place for travel. People could use the Brunswick and Cape Fear rivers to move around.
Becoming a Town
In 1979, the people of Leland voted against becoming an official town. However, they voted again later. Leland officially became a town on September 5, 1989. The vote was 472 in favor and 42 against. After this, a group of twelve people managed the town. This was until the first general election in 1989. Since then, Leland has been led by a mayor-council government. This means a mayor and a town council make decisions.
Disagreement with Belville
In 1989, the nearby town of Belville tried to take over parts of Leland. This is called annexation. To stop this, people in Leland worked to make their town official. Belville's leaders voted to annex a business area. This happened just an hour before Leland finished its vote to become a town. Leland's first mayor, Russell Baldwin, said it was a "dirty trick." He felt they were making fun of the annexation rules.
Attempts to Merge Towns
Sometimes, towns try to join together. This is called a merger. In 2012, the mayor of Belville, Jack Batson, said that merging with Leland "makes sense." Belville is almost completely surrounded by Leland. In 1996, there was an attempt to merge Leland with Belville and Navassa. This also included the Leland sanitary district. This attempt did not work.
Another try happened in 2000. Leland tried to merge with Navassa, Belville, and the North Brunswick sanitary district. This also failed. In 2012, Leland tried again to merge with Belville. Leland officials thought a merger could help Belville with some money problems. However, the idea faced strong criticism from some Belville residents.
Geography
Leland is in the northern part of Brunswick County. It is west of the Brunswick River. It is also directly west of downtown Wilmington. The town of Belville is surrounded by Leland on three sides.
The town covers about 22.68 square miles (58.73 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 22.33 square miles (57.83 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.35 square miles (0.90 square kilometers), is water.
Green Spaces and Parks
Leland has three main parks for people to enjoy. These are Founders Park, Cypress Cove Park, and Westgate Park.
- Founders Park was Leland's first park. It is 8 acres (3.2 hectares) big. It has a playground, disc golf courses, and benches. There are also community gardens and open green areas. A paved path is available for walking or biking.
- Cypress Cove Park was given to the town in 2005. It has 27 acres (11 hectares) of wetlands and 1.2 acres (0.49 hectares) of higher land. This park is the first place in Leland where people can easily get to the water. It has a deck for views, an outdoor classroom, and a floating dock. There is also a fishing area that is easy for everyone to use.
- Westgate Nature Park is about 150 acres (61 hectares) of wetlands and uplands. The state of North Carolina helped fund the building of this park.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 1,801 | — | |
| 2000 | 1,938 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 13,527 | 598.0% | |
| 2020 | 23,504 | 73.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,542 | 125.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2020 Census Information
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 18,250 | 79.67% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,887 | 8.24% |
| Native American | 98 | 0.43% |
| Asian | 314 | 1.37% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,014 | 4.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,339 | 5.85% |
In 2020, the town of Leland had 22,908 people living there. There were 10,116 households, which are groups of people living together. There were also 7,117 families. The town had 10,905 housing units, like houses or apartments.
Education in Leland
In 2020, most adults in Leland had finished high school. About 94.5% of people over 25 had a high school degree. Also, 37.8% of people over 25 had a bachelor's degree from college.
Public Schools
Leland has four public schools. They are part of the Brunswick County school system.
- Belville Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Leland Middle School
- North Brunswick High School
Charter Schools
Leland has one charter school called Charter Day School. It is a public school that serves students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Charter Day School gained attention in 2016. A group called the ACLU challenged the school's dress code. The school's rules said that female students had to wear skirts. The school's founder said this rule helped teach good manners and traditional values. A judge first ruled that this rule was unfair. The judge said it was against the idea of equal protection. Later, a different court asked for the decision to be looked at again. They wanted to see if the dress code broke a law called Title IX.
Town Services and Infrastructure
Police Department
The Leland Police Department helps keep the town safe. In 2020, it had 30 trained officers. The department has different teams. These teams handle things like patrols, investigations, and community support.
The police department offers a service called CrimeMapping. This is an online tool. It lets people see reports about what is happening in their neighborhoods. This helps citizens stay informed about safety in their area.
Fire and Rescue Department
The Fire/Rescue Department started in 1959 as a group of volunteers. In 2017, it became an official part of the town. The department responds to fires and other emergencies. They also help with car accidents and rescue calls. The department has over 40 full-time staff. They also have part-time and volunteer workers. There are two fire stations in Leland.
Emergency Medical Services
Brunswick County Emergency Services provides medical help to Leland. They have two paramedic ambulances ready in the Leland Industrial Park. These ambulances can respond quickly to medical emergencies.
Emergency Alert System
Leland offers a free service called CodeRED to its residents. This system sends important alerts quickly. It can tell people about emergencies in the town. This helps town staff share critical information during difficult times.
Trash and Recycling Services
Leland does not have its own trash collection system. Instead, Brunswick County handles trash service through a company called GFL Environmental.
Leland used to offer curbside recycling. This service ended on June 30, 2021. Before it stopped, the town changed recycling to once a month instead of twice. Town officials said the cost of the recycling program had gone up a lot. This was the main reason for the change.
Images for kids
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Sample ballot of the vote for Leland to incorporate.
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Commercial area along Village Road, looking north from North Carolina Highway 133.
See also
In Spanish: Leland (Carolina del Norte) para niños
