Editing Wilmington, North Carolina (section)

===Antebellum period===
[[File:U.S. Post Office, Wilmington, NC IMG 4277.JPG|thumb|left|[[U.S. Postal Service|U. S. Post Office]] in downtown Wilmington]]

In the 1830s, citizens of Wilmington became eager to take advantage of [[rail transport|railroad transportation]]. At this time, the shipping tonnage registered at Wilmington was 9,035.<ref>''The American annual register.'' (1827-35). New York : G. & C. Carvill, 8v., p. 593.</ref>  Plans were developed to build a railroad line from the capital, [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], to Wilmington. When Raleigh citizens declined to subscribe in sufficient number to [[share capital|stock]] to raise money for the project, organizers changed the terminus to [[Weldon, North Carolina|Weldon]]. When the railroad line was completed in 1840, it was the longest single line of [[railroad track]] in the world. The railroad also controlled a fleet of steamboats that ran between Wilmington and [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]; these were used both for passenger travel and freight. Regular boat lines served [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]], and packet lines traveled to northern ports. The city was a main stopover point, contributing greatly to its commerce.<ref name="Watson" />

By mid-century, the churchyard of [[St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)|St. James Episcopal Church]] and other town cemeteries had become filled with graves. On November 16, 1853, a group of citizens, organized as "the Proprietors of the Wilmington Cemetery", was formed to develop a new [[cemetery]]. Sixty-five acres of land around Burnt Mill Creek were chosen as the site for what would be called [[Oakdale Cemetery (Wilmington, North Carolina)|Oakdale Cemetery]]. It was the first rural cemetery in North Carolina. The cemetery's first interment, on February 6, 1855, was six-year-old Annie deRosset.<ref>Janet L. Seapker [http://www.oakdalecemetery.org/history.asp "History of Oakdale Cemetery"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227081346/http://www.oakdalecemetery.org/history.asp |date=December 27, 2011 }}, Oakdale Cemetery. Retrieved February 13, 2012.</ref> Many remains from St. James churchyard were relocated to the new cemetery.

The Wilmington Gas Light Company was established in 1854. Soon after, streetlights were powered by gas made from lightwood and [[rosin]], replacing the old street oil lamps. On December 27, 1855, the first cornerstone was laid, and construction began on a new city hall. A grant from the Thalian Association funded the attached opera house, named Thalian Hall. In 1857, the city opened its first public school, named the Union Free School, on 6th Street between Nun and Church Streets, serving White students.<ref name="Howell">Andrew J. Howell, ''The Book of Wilmington''. Wilmington, NC: Wilmington Printing Company, 1930.</ref>

Wilmington had a Black majority population before the Civil War.<ref name="Commission"/> While most were slaves, the city had a significant community of [[free people of color]], who developed businesses and trades. For a period up to [[Nat Turner]]'s rebellion, they had been allowed to vote, carry arms, and serve in the militia. Fears after the rebellion resulted in the state legislature passing laws to restrict the rights of free Blacks.