From the archives: In 1987, Wilmington named one of worst places to live

In 1985, Rand McNally's "Places Rated Almanac" dropped its ranking for Wilmington from 96th four years earlier to 141st, which put it around the middle of the pack among U.S. metro areas.

Another publication took the Port City to the bottom.

According to an article in the July 28, 1987, Wilmington Morning Star, Money magazine put Wilmington in its bottom 10 places to live, or 293rd of 300. The results differed from Rand McNally "mainly because Money based its criteria for rating cities on a poll of its readers." Readers put an emphasis on crime and local economy, where Wilmington received low marks.

Wilmington officials were quick to debate the ranking. Then-Wilmington Police Chief Darryl L. Bruestle said its transient population as a tourist destination could make crime statistics lopsided compared to permanent residents.

The Port City's unemployment rate was 5.6 percent, higher than the state's average of 4.2, but a recent surge in hiring was reason for optimism.

"Even Bethlehem (Pa.), my hometown was ranked," said Joe Augustine, executive vice president of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. "They just lost Mack Truck that employed 4,400 people. That would be like us losing the railroad and then getting a top rating for it."

Wilmington also held several more arts and leisure activities compared to higher ranked places. Those included the N.C. Azalea, N.C. Jazz and Piney Woods festivals.

Only two North Carolina metro areas were in the top 100: Asheville (71st) and Raleigh-Durham (86th).

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: From the archives: In 1987, Wilmington named one of worst places to live