More historic than 2% of U.S. towns · #261 of 290 in North Carolina. What drives it
Most of St. James was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 2011. Below: maps from 1946 on and the census since 2000.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, St. James is more historic than 2% of U.S. towns, #261 of 290 in North Carolina. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of St. James’ overall grade.
North Carolina towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical North Carolina town has 12.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so St. James’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (19% of North Carolina towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share (±0.4 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: our sources. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about St. James’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of St. James yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
St. James or Saint James is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, St. James had a population of 6,529. It is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 3,165 to 6,529 (+106%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about St. James in 1843
Passages that mention St. James, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Historical notices of St. James' Parish, Wilmington, North Carolina1843 · page 81Read the page →
Read the text
others aided in repairing the buildin-s, and fittinthem for their intended work. A school house wal added in 1871 to the main building. The institution IS known as St. James's Home, and its influence for good among the poor of the parish, and of the town cannot be overestimated. A flourishing .school now immbenng about seventy pupils, is admirably conducted, under the supervision of the rector, and by
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Historical notices of St. James' Parish, Wilmington, North Carolina1843 · page 17Read the page →
Read the text
missionaries in North Carolina." He earnestly entreated that one might be sent as early as possible to supply the vacancy at Brunswick, nnd also a clergyman for the parish of St. James', to reside at Wilmington. A similar application was made about the same time by the Wardens and Vestry of St. James to the Bishop of London.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
No old photos in the archives yet
Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
St. James is more historic than 2% of U.S. towns, #261 of 290 in North Carolina. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in St. James?
0.0% of St. James’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 4.1% for a North Carolina town; the median home was built in 2011.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
