Leland is located right in the middle of Carolina beach country. It is just over an hour north of Myrtle Beach, less than an hour south of The Outer Banks, and only about ten minutes west of Wilmington.
This rapidly growing town offers an amazing number of options when it comes to history, culture, shopping, and dining. There are also plenty of great communities to choose from depending on your personal preferences. Leland really does offer something for everyone.
Leland Demographics
At the time of the 2000 census, there were a total of 1,938 people occupying 781 households in Leland. But that number skyrocketed to 13,527 in 2010 and was estimated to be just over 17,000 in 2014.
As you can see, Leland is a very happening place to be!
Leland Culture & Lifestyle
From both a historic and an entertainment standpoint, culture is a very important part of the Leland lifestyle. Residents have an incredible amount of options to keep themselves busy throughout the year.
Some of the most popular local attractions that combine both history and culture include touring the USS North Carolina, exploring the Airlie Gardens, and spending an afternoon at the North Carolina Aquarium.
History buffs that want to dive even further into the local history will also enjoy nearby attractions like Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson, Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Civil War Museum, Historic Downtown Wilmington, Historic Southport, and the iconic HENRIETTA III.
On the cultural side, locals can enjoy taking in performances at Thalian Hall and Odell Williamson Auditorium. Of course, there are also a host of great performances happening all the time just an hour south in Myrtle Beach.
Outdoors enthusiasts will also be thrilled with the combination of local parks and boating opportunities!
Leland Shopping
Shopping in Leland typically happens in one of two specific areas. Mayfair Town Center and Tanger Outlets both offer excellent outdoor shopping opportunities that include all of the national stores that you would expect to find in a great shopping experience.
And if you are shopping for wine, Silver Coast Winery is definitely worth checking out!
Leland Dining
Like any great southern town, Leland is home to an awesome BBQ joint. Duke’s Old South BBQ has been serving their secret family recipes for years, and they are known for opting for a rotisserie cooking process instead of an open pit style, which gives their meat a more consistent and unique flavor.
If you are looking for a place where you can grab breakfast or lunch pretty regularly, it’s hard to beat Empire Deli & Bagel. You can get just a plain bagel here if you want, but why would you bother when you can get one with sausage, egg, and cheese? Combining fresh bagels and deli meat, you can make some really delicious lunch sandwiches here!
If you are looking for a really fantastic local place for dinner, you can make the ten minute drive into Wilmington to experience The Fork N Cork. This is where the locals go for real American comfort food like monster burgers or decadent fries, all paired with a fantastic wine list.
Leland Communities
There are nine different master-planned communities to choose from in and around Leland, but one that really stands out as a place that boomers gravitate towards is Brunswick Forest.
Brunswick Forest boasts a plan for a total of 8,000 single-family homes that typical cost anywhere from the high $200s to the high $500s. The community also contains an 18,000 square foot clubhouse, an amazing outdoor pool with an outdoor cafe, and more than 40 miles of paved walking trails.
No matter what your age, occupation, or interests, Leland is a small town that really does have something for everyone. And if you happen to be partial to history, culture, or fantastic local food, there might not be a better place anywhere in the Carolinas!