Located in the southeastern part of the state of North Carolina and a city and seat Onslow County, Jacksonville lies at the head of the New River’s estuary and is about 50 miles northeast of Wilmington. It was originally the settlement of the Wantland’s Ferry, the area’s name was changed from Onslow Courthouse to Jacksonville in honor of the United States President Andrew Jackson. The area remained a small hunting and fishing resort until the establishment of the US Marine Corps New River Marine Base in 1941 at about 5 miles southeast of the area, was the starting point of the development of its economy.