Orthodontist in Charlotte, NC

When it comes to the fastest-growing metro in North Carolina, the coast is where you want to look.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

If you're looking for the North Carolina city where growth is on fire, you don't need to worry about Raleigh or Charlotte.

When it comes to the fastest-growing metro in the state, the coast is where you want to look. Wilmington is among the top 10 metro areas for population growth between 2020 and 2024, according to new numbers out of the U.S. Census Bureau. The city in New Hanover County grew by more than 13 percent over the period.

That is a higher rate than Raleigh at 10 percent and Charlotte at 8 percent. And it's a reflection of the coastal region's rapid ascent as a destination spot and economic engine. Retirees, young professionals and families are flocking to the coast, particularly the wider Wilmington area, and companies are taking notice.

The three-county region of Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick is now a thriving hub of residential construction and commercial investments with no signs of a slowdown ahead — barring a global economic crunch, of course.

The Wilmington metro, which includes Leland, had a population of 480,522 in 2024, up from around 425,000 in 2020 when the pandemic set off a wave of migration across the country. Many people on the move ended up on the North Carolina coast, which saw incredible growth in wealth based on federal tax data.

In the Census data, another notable city in the state was Burlington, which grew by more than 6.6 percent over the four-year span to 183,000 people — about the same size as Cary. That was a slightly higher rate than the Durham-Chapel Hill metro.

Ahead of Wilmington on the list is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a nearly 17 percent growth rate. Metros in Florida dominate the top 10, including the top spot, which went to retirement destination The Villages. The area had a nearly 19 percent growth rate and a population of around 155,000.

Raleigh's growth doesn't appear to be losing steam.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

Raleigh's growth doesn't appear to be losing steam as the Triangle region remains one of the most attractive places in the country to live and do business.

The Raleigh-Cary metro area grew by about 2.6 percent between 2023 and 2024, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, which show the area's population is now above 1.562 million.

The growth has been rapid. The Raleigh region's population was below 1.42 million in 2020, representing a more than 10 percent jump in four years.

In-migration has played a key role in fueling the boom. The Triangle and much of North Carolina have become destination spots for everyone from college graduates to young professionals, families and retirees. And companies big and small have followed suit by relocating or expanding here, making the region one of the top economic powerhouses in the country.

Likewise, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro grew by 6.6 percent between 2020 and 2024. The area now has a population of more than 620,000.

The Charlotte metro saw its population jump by more than 8 percent over the four-year span to nearly 2.9 million. The area grew by 2.2 percent between 2023 and 2024.

But Raleigh's growth didn't quite crack the top 10 metros nationwide for 2023-24. The fastest-growing area was Ocala, Florida, northwest of Orlando with a 4 percent growth rate. At No. 10 was Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a rate of 2.7 percent.

Florida has four metros in the top 10 while South Carolina and Texas each have two.

Top 10 fastest-growing metros in the U.S. by percent change

Bryson Battle impressed all four coaches with his audition earlier this season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte 21-year-old is competing on Season 27 of NBC's "The Voice."

Bryson Battle, originally from Harrisburg, made it onto the show during the blind auditions with his rendition of Donny Hathaway's "A Song For you." The performance got all four coaches to turn their chairs.

Battle fought his way through the Battle Rounds on Monday and earned a spot in the next round of the show. He performed a duet with fellow competitor Ari Camille. The pair sang "Made For Me" by Muni Long. John Legend, who was the coach for both singers, chose Battle to advance. Camille was saved by another judge and will remain in the show.

RELATED: 'We're truly blessed to have you' | Charlotte area 21-year-old auditions for 'The Voice'

After his audition earlier this season, Coach Adam Levine said "only an idiot" wouldn't be blown away by Battle's voice, and said it will be important for him to find ways to surprise people with his song choices. Coach John Legend said he had never heard anybody sing that song quite like Battle did.

"You made it feel fresh and new and exciting, and you found new musical places to go in it and we're truly blessed to have you on this show," Legend said at the time. "This is why 'The Voice' exists."

Battle ultimately chose Team Legend.

As part of the Battle Rounds, contestants work with their coaches and a superstar Battle Advisor before performing a song with one of their fellow team members. The coaches decide which artist advances to the Knockout Rounds after each battle. The rounds continue through March 24. You can watch "The Voice" and root for Battle on Mondays at 8 p.m. on WCNC Charlotte.

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For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.

Charlotte, NC (March 17, 2025) – An accident resulting in injuries occurred early Saturday morning at the intersection of Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Johnston Road in Charlotte's Ballantyne area. The incident took place at approximately 1:39 a.m. Emergency responders from Charlotte Fire and Rescue arrived promptly at the scene, providing care to the injured victims. First responders, including paramedics, assessed and treated individuals hurt in the collision.

Specific details regarding the number of vehicles involved and the severity of injuries sustained have not been disclosed at this time. Authorities temporarily closed lanes in the vicinity to facilitate the emergency response and investigation. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by local law enforcement officials.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this accident.

Challenges at High-Traffic Intersections in Charlotte

The intersection of Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Johnston Road is a major junction in Charlotte's Ballantyne area, known for its mix of commercial and residential developments. High-traffic intersections like this one are particularly susceptible to accidents due to heavy traffic flow, frequent lane changes, and varying speed limits. Increased congestion during peak hours, complex traffic signal patterns, and the presence of pedestrians all contribute to the risk of collisions.

Drivers navigating these intersections must remain cautious and attentive. Failing to yield, misjudging another driver's speed, or ignoring traffic signals are among the leading causes of crashes in such areas. Sudden stops and merging lanes also create additional hazards, requiring drivers to maintain a safe following distance and stay alert to changing road conditions. Pedestrian movement near shopping centers and office complexes further adds to the need for heightened awareness, particularly at crosswalks.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation stresses the importance of defensive driving to prevent accidents at busy intersections. Road improvements such as enhanced lighting, clearer signage, and continued public awareness campaigns may help reduce the number of crashes in these high-risk areas.

For those involved in intersection accidents, understanding legal rights is crucial. North Carolina law allows injured parties to pursue compensation if the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence. Seeking legal guidance can help victims explore their options for recovering medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages following an accident.

For more information or to receive help after an accident, contact Local Accident Reports.

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LOCAL

Only five times since World War II has Wilmington seen more snow during winter than Asheville, the most recent before this year in 2001-02

USA TODAY NETWORK

Wilmington, sitting 30 feet above sea level, is known for many things, including as the gateway to the Cape Fear region's coastal treasures that draw sun-loving visitors from around the country and the world.

More than 330 miles to the west, Asheville, elevation 2,134 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, is known as the commercial and cultural hub for the North Carolina mountains.

But recently one could be forgiven wondering if Mother Nature has confused the two Tar Heel State cities linked by Interstate 40.

According to the National Weather Service, Wilmington has received more snow this winter than Asheville and twice as much as Charlotte. The Port City even saw more of the white stuff than Greenville, S.C.

Potentially even more surprising, New Bern − 90 miles up the coast from Wilmington − saw almost as much snow as Raleigh and three times as much as Charlotte, while Elizabeth City, a North Carolina coastal city another 120 miles north of New Bern, saw an eye-opening 12.9 inches of snow this winter, its whitest winter in 45 years.

The snow across much of Eastern North Carolina was especially surprising as forecasters had predicted La Niña weather conditions to bring warmer and drier weather conditions to the state during the 2024-25 winter. While North Carolina has dried out, with almost all of North Carolina currently experiencing some level of drought, the warmer temperatures failed to materialize.

So what happened this winter?

In short, winter weather systems went east instead of going west, and in the process ended a snow drought in many parts of the state -- including many areas of the Cape Fear region -- that hadn't seen snow in three years or more.

According to the N.C. State Climate Office, parts of the southern Coastal Plain prior to this winter hadn’t seen an inch or more of snow since January 2011.

Assistant State Climatologist Corey Davis said that while this winter's snowfall range across the state is unusual, it isn't the first time the Port City has received more snow than Asheville.

Davis said since 1945, Wilmington has seen more snow then Asheville five times. The most recent time prior to this winter was in 2001-02, When Asheville saw 1.6 inches and Wilmington 1.8 inches.

"In each of these cases, Asheville received below-normal snowfall, which tells us one thing about the pattern that can lead to this discrepancy: there weren't as many snow-producing systems reaching western North Carolina during these years," he said. "This past winter, Asheville only had two days with measurable snowfall, which really limited their overall accumulations."

According to the weather service, Asheville's average winter snowfall through March 6 is 8.7 inches, while Wilmington's normal is 0.9 inches.

One good storm can flip the narrative

Davis said when wintry weather systems don't reach Western N.C., it means one decent snowstorm in the eastern half of N.C. can bring more snow to places that generally don't see it.

That's what happened when the coastal plain was hit by a wintry weather system Jan. 21-22.

"Critically, there was a deep, cold air mass in place across the region − that's the same event that saw snow falling along the Gulf coast − and a low-pressure system that tracked relatively far offshore," Davis said "That track let the storm bring in lots of moisture across the southern coastline without wrapping around too much warm air from its eastern edge.

"And with the track being so far offshore, Asheville saw very little snow from that event since most of the moisture didn't reach that far west."

He added that another winter when Wilmington saw more snow than Asheville was 1989-90, when a mammoth coastal storm dumped more than 15 inches of snow and brought blizzard-like conditions to the Port City just before Christmas.

Is this the start of a trend or just a rare event?

With climate change influencing weather patterns across the globe, what used to be rare or unusual events are now becoming more commonplace. For example, our warming weather is expected to bring extended periods of very dry weather to North Carolina pocketed with intense rain events that dump a lot of rain all at one time. Tropical weather systems also are expected to keep getting physically stronger, larger and tracking farther inland − see Tropical Storm Helene − and popping up more often outside the traditional hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30.

Whether that means more white stuff is in the Port City's long-term future is anyone's guess. But what the impact of this winter does mean in the immediate future is some students will likely have school days they still need to make up after having lost them to snow and icy conditions that, admittedly, the Cape Fear region isn't accustomed to dealing with regularly.

And the chance of more white stuff falling on Wilmington this winter is receding day by day, with only 13% of all snow events in the Port City occurring in March and none ever recorded in April since record-keeping started in 1870. The latest measurable snowfall ever recorded in Wilmington occurred more than a century ago on March 31, 1915 − although trace amounts of snow have fallen as late as April 11, according to the National Weather Service's Wilmington office.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

Just under two months into his second term, President Donald Trump has signed executive orders that could have negative affects on millions of North Carolina residents.

Moves like imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China are expected to lead to higher inflation rates and more costly products around the country, while attempting to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health could hinder medical research and lead to layoffs.

Executive orders have also targeted minority groups, as the Trump administration has terminated diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and programs in the federal government, as well as equity-related grants and contracts, according to The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Trump also signed an executive order barring transgender girls from participating on sports teams that align with their gender identities and reinstating the ban on transgender military service members, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

If you’re feeling the impact of any of these changes, we’ve pulled together an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of resources in North Carolina that can help.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) offers low-income assistance programs to give residents access to health care, child care, housing, financial and nutrition assistance regardless of their financial status:

To learn more about these programs, visit ncdhhs.gov.

The state also offers programs to provide children with health care, financial assistance and access to nutrition programs:

To learn more about these programs, visit ncdhhs.gov.

If you’re looking for a job, the NCWorks program may be able to help.

The program offers resources to help residents get through every step of their job search, including:

Here’s where NCWorks Centers are located in Charlotte and the Triangle:

These resources are also available to job seekers in North Carolina:

▪ In the Charlotte area: You can use the Mecklenburg County Health Department’s map (health.mecknc.gov) to find free and low-cost health care providers in the area.

▪ In the Triangle: WakeMed has a similar list (wakemed.org) of free clinics and community health centers in Wake County.

▪ Statewide: You can also visit The North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics database (ncafcc.org) to find free and low cost medical providers.

For information on how to get care without health insurance, benefits for people with disabilities and assistance paying for prescription medications, visit nchealthinfo.org.

Here’s a list of mental health resources available in NC:

For a comprehensive list of mental health resources in North Carolina, visit newsobserver.com/news

Here are some resources available for LGBTQ+ residents throughout North Carolina:

In the Charlotte area:

In the Triangle:

Statewide:

The News & Observer’s Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska’s reporting contributed to this story.

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This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM.