New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern (formerly Newbern) is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 31,291.
New Bern, North Carolina | |
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Main façade of the New Bern City Hall | |
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Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: The Birthplace of Pepsi | |
Location in Craven County and the state of North Carolina | |
New Bern Location in the United States New Bern New Bern (the United States) New Bern New Bern (North America) | |
| Coordinates: 35°05′45″N 77°04′20″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Craven |
| Founded | October 1710 |
| Chartered | November 23, 1723 |
| Founded by | Baron of Bernberg |
| Named for | Bern, Switzerland |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29.95 sq mi (77.56 km2) |
| • Land | 28.46 sq mi (73.70 km2) |
| • Water | 1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 31,291 |
| • Density | 1,099.59/sq mi (424.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 28560, 28562 |
| Area code | 252 |
| FIPS code | 37-46340 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404358 |
| Website | newbernnc |
It is located at the confluence of the Neuse and the Trent rivers, near the headwaters of Pamlico Sound on the North Carolina coast. It lies 112 miles (180 km) east of Raleigh, 89 miles (143 km) north of Wilmington, and 162 miles (261 km) south of Norfolk. New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi.
New Bern was founded in October 1710 by the Palatines and Swiss under the leadership of Christoph von Graffenried. The new colonists named their settlement after Bern, the Swiss region from which many of the colonists and their patron had emigrated. The flag and arms of the American city are nearly identical to those of the Swiss canton. The English connection with Switzerland had been established by some Marian exiles who sought refuge in Protestant parts of Switzerland. There were also marriages between the House of Stuart and notable people in the history of Calvinism. The colonists later discovered they had started their settlement on the site of a former Tuscarora village named Chattoka. This caused conflicts with the Tuscaroras who were in the area.
New Bern is the second-oldest European settled colonial town in North Carolina, after Bath. It served as the capital of North Carolina from 1770 to 1792. After the American Revolution (1775–1783), New Bern became wealthy and quickly developed a rich cultural life. At one time New Bern was called "the Athens of the South," renowned for its Masonic Temple and Athens Theater. These are both still very active today.
New Bern has four historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places; their numerous contributing buildings include residences, stores and churches dating back to the early eighteenth century. Within walking distance of the waterfront are more than 164 homes and buildings listed on the National Register. Also nearby are several bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, banks, antiques stores and specialty shops. The historic districts contain many of the city's 2,000 crape myrtles—its official flower—and developed gardens. New Bern has two "Local Historic Districts", a municipal zoning overlay that affords legal protection to the exteriors of New Bern's historic structures.