Nestled
in the heart of PenderCounty, Burgaw is a
quaint little town that exemplifies true southern charm. With a population of
around 4,000, the town is notorious for friendly folks and picturesque
surroundings. With easy access to Interstate 40, the town is located just 25
minutes west of Wilmington’s ILMInternationalAirport and the University
of North Carolina at Wilmington. Roads such as NC Highway 53 and
US Highway 117 run directly through town, providing several avenues to a
variety of shopping and dining destinations. Heavily bordered by farmlands and
woods, Burgaw is a mere 30 minutes away from area beaches and just minutes from
the Cape Fear River.
A
nationally recognized historic district encompasses much of the downtown
region. Fifty-four historic structures in the district are highlighted in the
town’s Self-Guided Walking Tour Map. Area businesses capitalize on this
heritage through thriving antique and vintage shops located throughout
downtown. Cafés, pubs and coffee houses are interwoven comfortably amongst the
18th and 19th
century buildings.
As
the county seat for Pender, Burgaw is home to the Pender County Courthouse. Situated
in the heart of the downtown business district, the three story H-shaped
structure holds a mixture of Georgian Revival and Colonial Revival
architectural features. Built in the early 1900’s, the courthouse is one of the
most attractive historical buildings in Burgaw. Surrounded by period lighting,
sidewalks and 100 year-old Oak trees, the “courthouse square” is a favorite
walking spot for locals to enjoy.
Just
one street over from the courthouse is the Burgaw Depot. Spanning 160 years of history,
the Depot has miraculously survived through storms, war, neglect and well intentioned
notions of civic progress. The Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and is part of the North Carolina Civil War Trail. Built in 1850, the Depot
may be the oldest surviving building relating to the original rail line from Wilmington to Weldon
which was dubbed the “longest railroad in the world” when the first train made the
inaugural journey in 1840. The Burgaw Depot is a rare antebellum railroad
structure expanded, adapted and rehabilitated through the years to serve the changing
economy of a small southern community. Tenants of the depot are the Burgaw Area
Chamber of Commerce, the Pender County Arts Council, and the Burgaw Depot Historic
Preservation Foundation.
If
you’ve ever visited Burgaw, you may find yourself wondering why the town looks
so familiar. Burgaw has been the destination for a number of movies, music
videos, and documentaries, along with television specials. The town’s
historical infrastructure and modern amenities have made Burgaw an attractive
choice for film companies looking to shoot outside traditional locations like Los Angeles, California,
and New York City.
Paul Newman, John Travolta, Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Maya Angelou, Ashley
Judd Danny Glover and Mary Tyler Moore are a just a few of the famous faces to
have visited Burgaw.
Burgaw
is home to the North Carolina Blueberry Festival which attracts over 30,000 visitors
from across the United
States. Held on the third Saturday in June,
the festival has become a premiere event for Southeastern
North Carolina. This year, the festival will be held on Saturday,
June 19 from 9 am until 9 pm. Visitors to the festival will enjoy live entertainment
throughout the day, over one hundred arts and craft vendors, a 5K Run, BBQ
cook-off, classic car show, food vendors from across the state, children’s
activities, an antique show and sale and of course, plenty of fresh blueberries
and blueberry baked goods. To show their blueberry spirit, area businesses will
be offering blueberry themed specials throughout the month of the June. For
more information on the festival, visit: www.ncblueberryfestival.com.
The
town of Burgaw
features all the benefits of a thriving community with a rich history. So
whether you’re a visitor or long-term resident, Burgaw is sure to offer
whatever it is you wish to find.
