New Bern

New Bern NC Weather

New Bern Weather Forecast, NC

New Bern Hotels
New Bern Restaurants
New Bern Real Estate
New Bern Attractions
New Bern Golf

New Bern North Carolina NC Street View Maps Pictures

View Larger Map

New Bern was first settled in 1710 by Swiss and German immigrants under the leadership of Christoph de Graffenried, Franz Louis Michel and John Lawson. It was named after the (later) 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. Christoph von Graffenried ordered that the layout of the town was made into the shape of a cross, although the town New Bern is not in the shape today due to growth of the town and towns surrounding it.

Tryon Palace was completed in 1770 and was the former home of British governor William Tryon. It then became the original state capitol building of newly-independent North Carolina and remained so until the 1790s, when it burned down. A replica, built from the original plans and on the original foundation, is now maintained as a historic site and tourist attraction. During the 19th century Federal period, New Bern was the largest city in North Carolina. New Bern recovered after Raleigh took its place as the state capital with the help of trade routes to the Caribbean and New England. It reached a population of 3,600 in 1815.

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