New Bern, North Carolina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

New Bern is a town in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 23,128 as of the 2000 census. It is located at the convergence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers, 87 miles (140 km) northeast of Wilmington. New Bern is the second oldest town in North Carolina and served as the capital of the North Carolina colonial government and then briefly as the state capital. It is the county seat of Craven County. Originally a Swiss settlement, the city is named after the capital of Switzerland, Bern.

Contents

[edit] History

New Bern was first settled in 1710 by Swiss and German immigrants under the leadership of Christoph von Graffenried and John Lawson. It was named after the capital of Switzerland, Bern. The first permanent seat of the colonial government of North Carolina was located in New Bern. Following the American Revolutionary War, New Bern became the first state capital. Tryon Palace, former home of British governor William Tryon, became the original state capitol building of newly-independent North Carolina and remained so until the 1790s.

New Bern was the site of a battle early in the American Civil War in which the town was captured and occupied by Union forces.

New Bern is also known as the birthplace of Pepsi Cola, which was invented by New Bern pharmacist Caleb Bradham.

[edit] Geography

Location of New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is located at 35°6′33″N, 77°4′9″W (35.109070, -77.069111)GR1.

New Bern is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 69.9 km² (27.0 mi²). 66.9 km² (25.8 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (4.30%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 23,128 people, 10,006 households, and 6,183 families residing in the city.

The population density was 345.7/km² (895.5/mi²). There were 11,094 housing units at an average density of 165.8/km² (429.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.96% White, 40.32% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population.

There were 10,006 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,139, and the median income for a family was $38,990. Males had a median income of $28,720 versus $21,687 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,499. About 14.7% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

In 1900, 9,090 people lived in New Bern, North Carolina; in 1910, 9,961; in 1920, 12,198; and in 1940, 11,815.

[edit] Colleges, Schools, and Universities

  • Craven Community College
  • New Bern High School
  • Grover C. Fields Middle School
  • H.J. McDonald Middle School
  • Trent Park Elementary School
  • Oaks Road Elementary School
  • J.T. Barber Elementary School
  • Brinson Memorial Elementary School
  • Ben D. Quinn Elementary School
  • James W. Smith Elementary School

[edit] Trivia

  • The town is the location of most of the action in the novel The Notebook. In the film adaptation, the culture and settings of the novel were replicated as a fictional town in South Carolina.
  • Christoph von Graffenried ordered that the layout of the town was made into the shape of a cross. The town is not in the shape today due to growth of the town and towns surrounding it.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.


[edit] References

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/e/w/New_Bern%2C_North_Carolina_33ed.html"
In other languages