Willmington
Willmington | |
|---|---|
Federal capital city | |
| City of Willmington | |
 Clockwise from top right: The Madison House, Carter Monument, Willmington Theatre, Casen House, and National Cultural Trust Building | |
| Motto(s): Justitia Omnibus ("Justice for All") | |
| Anthem: "Our Nation's Capital" | |
 | |
| Country |  Ibica |
| State |  West Monroe |
| County | Freemont County |
| Residence Act | 1720 |
| Named for | Victor Willmington |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brant Wilkins |
| • Willmington City Council | List
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 68.34 sq mi (177.0 km2) |
| • Land | 61.05 sq mi (158.1 km2) |
| • Water | 7.29 sq mi (18.9 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 409 ft (125 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2018 estimate) | |
| • Total | 702,445 |
| • Demonym | Willmingtonian |
| Demonym | Willmingtonian |
| Airports | Willmington Carter International Airport |
| Commuter Rail | Monroe, Rhone & Southern Railway |
| Rapid Transit | Willmington Area Rapid Transit |
| Abbreviations | WMG, WWM |
Willmington is the capital city of Ibica. It stands on the west bank of the Cooper River in southeast West Monroe. As of 2016, Willmington had a city population of 734,243 and a metropolitan population of 2,323,783. In June 2019, the City of Willmington estimated it had surpassed a population of 1 million, but this claim has not yet been confirmed by the Ibican Census Bureau.
Founded in 1720 as the new planned capital for the Ibican Federation, the city has evolved into the political centre of Ibica. Its original boundaries were expanded through numerous annexations. The city name "Willmington" was chosen in reference to the first president of Ibica, Victor Willmington, who's term as president ended long before the city was founded.
Willmington has the most educated population among Ibican cities and is home to a number of post-secondary, research, and cultural institutions, including National University, the National Cultural Trust, and numerous national museums. Willmington has the highest standard of living in the nation and low unemployment.
All three branches of the Ibican federal government are centered in the city: Congress (legislative), president (executive), and the Supreme Court (judicial). Willmington is home to many national monuments, and museums, primarily situated on or around the Memorial Mile. The city hosts a number foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of many international organizations, trade unions, non-profits, lobbying groups, and professional associations.
Economy
Willmington has a growing, diversified economy with an increasing percentage of professional and business service jobs. The city's gross product in 2018-Q2 was $141 billion. Between 2009 and 2016, GDP per capita in Willmington has consistently ranked on the very top among Ibican cities.
In December 2017, 32% of the employees in Willmington, were employed by either a federal or state governmental agency. This is thought to immunize Willmington, to national economic downturns because the government continues operations even during recessions. Many organizations such as law firms, defense contractors, civilian contractors, nonprofit organizations, lobbying firms, trade unions, industry trade groups, and professional associations have their headquarters in or near Willmington, in order to be close to the federal government.
Tourism is Willmington's second-largest industry. Approximately 18.9 million visitors contributed an estimated $4.8 billion to the local economy in 2012. The city also hosts nearly 200 foreign embassies and international organizations. In 2008, the foreign diplomatic corps in Willmington employed about 10,000 people and contributed an estimated $400 million annually to the local economy.
The city has growing industries not directly related to government, especially in the areas of education, finance, public policy, and scientific research. Willmington University, National University, Willmington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center and Carter University are the top five non-government-related employers in the city. According to statistics compiled in 2011, four of the largest 500 companies in the country were headquartered in the city. In the 2017 Global Financial Centres Index, Willmington was ranked as having the 12th most competitive financial center in the world, and fifth most competitive in Ibica (after Elizabeth City, St. Clarke, Rhone, and Cuyoga).
Culture
Landmarks
The National Mall is a large, open park in downtown Willmington between the Willmington Memorial and the Ibican Capitol Building. Given its prominence, the mile is often the location of political protests, concerts, festivals, and presidential inaugurations. The Johnson Monument and the Calahan Pier are near the center of the mile, south of the Executive Residence.
The National Archives houses thousands of documents important to Ibican history, including the Ibican Confederation Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Located in three buildings on Capitol Hill, the Library of Congress is the largest library complex in the world with a collection of over 147 million books, manuscripts, and other materials. The Ibican Supreme Court Building was completed in 1835; before then, the court held sessions in the Old Senate Chamber of the Capitol.
Museums
The National Cultural Trust is an educational foundation chartered by Congress in 1746 that maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in Willmington, The government partially funds the NCT and its collections are open to the public free of charge. The NCT's locations had a combined total of 30 million visits in 2013. The most visited museum is the National Museum of Natural History on the Memorial Mile. Other Trust museums and galleries on the mile are: the National Air and Space Museum; the National Museum of Ibican History; the Freer gallery; the Museum and Sculpture Garden; the Arts and Industries Building; and the National Cultural Trust Building (also known as "The Castle"), which serves as the institution's headquarters. The Ibican Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are housed in the Old Patent Office Building.
The National Gallery of Art is on the Memorial Mile near the Capitol and features works of art.
Sports
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Willmington is one of 13 cities in Ibica with teams from all four major professional men's sports and is home to one major professional women's team. The Willmington Wizards (National Basketball League), the Willmington Capitals (Ibican Hockey League), and the Willmington Mystics (Women's Basketball Association) play at the Bank of Ibica Arena. Federal Park, which opened in Southeast Willmington in 2008, is home to the Willmington Federals (Ibica Baseball Association). Willmington United (Ibica Soccer League) plays at National Field.
Government
The City of Willmington is a home rule municipality in Freemont County, West Monroe. As a home rule municipality, Willmington has responsibility for all municipal services, including fire, emergency medical services, police, parks, roads, sidewalks, drinking water, storm water, sanitary sewage and solid waste. Willmington is governed by the 13-member Willmington City Council, elected in a citywide vote.
At present, Willmington is host to many embassies.
Education
Willmington Independent School District (WISD) operates the city's 97 public schools. The number of students in WISD steadily decreased for 39 years until 2009. In the 2010–11 school year, 46,191 students were enrolled in the public school system.
The West Monroe Education Board monitors the 35 public charter schools in the city. Due to the perceived problems with the traditional public school system, enrollment in public charter schools has steadily increased. As of 2010, Willmington charter schools had a total enrollment of about 32,000, a 9% increase from the prior year. The Willmington Public Library System operates 25 neighborhood locations.