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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. 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. Research Tips
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